This post includes 2 destinations on Santa Cruz Island:
Leg 5a: Santa Barbara (mainland) to Lady's Harbor
Leg 5b: Lady's Harbor to Forney Cove
Saturday November 6, 2021
Lo/Glo traveled by Amtrak Train from Santa Barbara to San Jose
Lawrence and Gloria took the Amtrak superliner train from Santa Barbara north to San Jose to meet people, tie up loose ends and acquire boat parts. It's a GREAT train ride!
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| Gloria enjoying nice views by train! |
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| Gloria & Lawrence are always welcome in Belmont! |
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| YAY! Bluewater's new trampoline's (I mean nets) arrived! The old one's started to rip on the last leg and Barracouta Sails based out of Austrailia now refers to them as "nets" to discourage jumping on them (?) |
Wednesday November 10, 2021
After spending a few days in the Bay Area, Lo/Glo finished up business and boarded the train and returned to Bluewater in Santa Barbara.
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| Pre-departure, San Jose |
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| Liz waving goodbye at San Jose Diridon Station |
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| And they're off... |
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| Looks like a great meal on board the Amtrak train with lots of ambiance! |
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| Great views! |
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| View of the sunset along the coast from the train |
Thursday November 11, 2021
Happy Veterans Day!!
A day to honor our military veterans.
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| Lawrence in Santa Barbara |
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| Veterans Day Flags on the Beach in Santa Barbara |
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| Happy Veterans Day to all who served / are serving |
According to Lawrence, this was another very busy day preparing to depart tomorrow morning. Today he worked to install his new trampolines (aka 'nets') on Bluewater's bow after the old one's started to rip on the last leg. Mark thought the interim project (one on, one off) looked like a good fishing hole but luckily Lawrence finished installing both and evened out the tension - Lot of work for one person and very difficult to tension them.
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| Trampoline (net) - one on, one off |
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| New Trampolines (nets): Lookin' good! |
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| Bluewater's new Trampolines (nets) make a great lounging area for watching dolphins |
Friday November 12, 2021
Leg 5a: Santa Barbara to Lady's Harbor, Santa Cruz Island
Bluewater is underway again....Departure from Santa Barbara to the Channel Islands
First Destination: N Santa Cruz Island, Lady's Harbor
Future destinations: Santa Barbara Island and then on to Santa Catalina Island
Friday November 12, 2021
8:25am departure
2 souls aboard:
Lawrence KerverGloria Vilchez
Departure from: Santa Barbara
Destination: N Santa Cruz Island
Weather: Looks amazing!
From Lawrence:
Departure 8:25 from the fuel dock, Santa Barbara harbor. 2 souls aboard. 44 gal fuel, 90 gal water, 3 bottles of NyQuil, DayQuil, approx 16 beers. Calm seas, blue skies, light n variable wind. 2 rods, 2 boat lines in. We’ll see how long we can last out here. ✌️6-6.5 kts with the full main, one motor
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| Santa Cruz Island ahead (view from Bluewater's bow)! |
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| Adios Santa Barbara (view from Bluewater's stern)! |
Arrived safe n sound. Anchors fore and aft. Hot, gorgeous conditions. @12:15
Beautiful spot in Lady's Harbor, Santa Cruz Island
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| Bluewater approaching Santa Cruz Island |
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| Satellite view of Santa Cruz Island |
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| Satellite close-up view of Lady's Harbor, Santa Cruz Island |
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| Photo from Gloria at 3:38pm Response from Mark: Nice Calico! Those are really tasty. From Liz: I looked them up and they're Calico Bass (also known as kelp bass) They live in kelp forests primarily in Southern California and Baja. From Lawrence: Yum! Just a little bigger than Ron’s ocean whitefish 😂 From Ron: That’s a nice calico, but it looks a bit “smaller “ than my whitefish 😂 |
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| Photo from Lawrence around 4:40pm Lawrence reports: Ya’all should be here! It’s crazy good, calm and warm. Unbelievable conditions. Water is crystal clear |
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| Cruising Log Reading the log reminds me that Lawrence said his AIS (Automated Info System) alarm was sounding repeatedly enroute, meaning another boat is either nearby or on a collision course. He soon realized that the other boat was on a semi-parallel course likely headed to his (ideally 1 boat) anchorage spot. Luckily, Bluewater won the competition to Lady's (destination) and the other boat turned toward another anchorage location. |
Saturday November 13, 2021
A day spent anchored in Lady's Cove, Santa Cruz Island
At 8:40am Lawrence reported: Good morning. Got great sleep and some close anchoring neighbors 😱
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| A boat anchored close by |
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| Neighbors! Lady's Harbor, Santa Cruz Island |
Sunday November 14, 2021
Leg 5b: Lady's Harbor enroute to Forney Cove, Santa Cruz Island
Bluewater is underway again.
Sunday November 14, 2021
8:30am departure
2 souls aboard:
Lawrence KerverGloria Vilchez
Departure from: Lady's Harbor, Santa Cruz Island
Destination: Forney Cove, Santa Cruz Island (arrival 10:45am)
Weather: Calm clear gorgeous conditions
Lawrence reported at 8:39am: Departed Lady’s 0830. Calm clear gorgeous conditions. Destination Forney cove for hiking possibilities.
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| Another sailboat and sailor waving |
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| Bluewater's bow, heading West along Santa Cruz Island |
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| Bluewater's stern looking back toward Lady's Harbor |
And here is another text received around 9:30am: 0920 Abeam Painted Cave waving to our new friend Martine
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| Gloria abeam Painted Cave waving to new friend Martine |
...and another text: May lose service. Heading to Forney for hiking and possible overnight. May forge on to Morse Pt or even Willows for an early start to Santa Barbara Island ✌️
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| Sunday November 14, 2021 Bluewater departed Lady's Harbor 8:30am enroute to Forney's Cove |
Bluewater and Crew (2 souls, Lawrence and Gloria) checked in Safe & Sound in Forney’s Cove at 10:45am 11-14-2021
Text from Lawrence received 11:49am:
We arrived at Forney Cove 1045. Gorgeous, calm, blue skies. Hiking, snorkeling soon then heading out early to Santa Barbara Island
Sometime around noon (just got off the phone with Lawrence):
He said they are anchored in Forney Cove and the day is just perfect. Beautiful sunny skies and warm. There are a few other boats anchored in Forney’s. There are rolling waves and a sandy bottom and kelp forests. The dinghy (with landing wheels!) is working great. Soon they’re going to go swimming, dive down, check the anchors and then dinghy to the island (Santa Cruz Island) for hiking.
Lawrence and I are adjusting to our new communication system. Mostly he texts me but he lost service rounding the west end of Santa Cruz Island, as he predicted. I did receive his arrival text be he did not receive my reply - it could be just a delay, unknown. He called me through his Iridium Go Satellite connection.
They are tentatively planning to depart tomorrow, possibly 4 or 5am HOWEVER, they might sleep in! Then again, they might stay a week.
Santa Barbara Island is approx 60-70nm away so it will be a long sail whenever they choose to go.
Liz
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| Lawrence on Santa Cruz Island with the dinghy on wheels and Bluewater anchored in the distance Forney Cove, Santa Cruz Island |
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| Lawrence with a mussel |
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| Mussel |
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| Gloria on a hike, Santa Cruz Island |
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| Panoramic view from Santa Cruz Island, around 4pm |
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| Gloria on a hike Santa Cruz Island |
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| Late afternoon view from atop Santa Cruz Island |
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| Dinghy and Bluewater and the moon...What a setup! Forney Cove, Santa Cruz Island |
Great times on Santa Cruz Island!!!
