When I was seven or eight I had in my room, a toy chest. Not an ordinary Toy Chest, mind you. This one contained fantasies and adventures. Such an enticing item, sitting there quietly, yet always ready to play. It was actually a bench that when you lifted the seat, revealed the treasures collected by a boy of that age (a plastic “Tommy Gun”, Army Helmet, Lincoln Logs, toy airplanes, boats and I can’t remember what else). A place to store one’s fantasies and bring them out on demand to “play”.
As I sit here today, I’m struck by how I still have a toy chest standing ready to reveal new adventures. Now it’s called the Lazarette and it’s under the hatch of one of the cockpit seats. Open it and deep in the recesses of the boat it reveals toys with which to discover the world’s oceans. Snorkel gear, storm sails, diving spear, fishing tackle and other stuff. And as when I was a child, some of the stuff is only revealed when I dive in deep into the locker among the “treasures” and search. Still unorganized as ever, but as always, when you open the lid there are so many adventures just waiting to emerge.

I was also thinking about how I’ve been “planning” this adventure that Ann and I are going on for as far back as I can remember. Back in second grade I used to “doodle” desert islands that I would invent and “live on”. Elaborate fantasies that no doubt contributed to my not paying near enough attention to the teacher when the subjects were multiplication or division. Robinson Crusoe and Swiss Family Robinson were my heroes and then later, Robin Lee Graham who sailed around the world when he/and I was/were 16. I was with him via his articles in National Geographic and later his book; “Dove”. Then the books from Sir Francis Chichester, Joshus Slocum, and so many others who wrote of sailing to far off places that lined my bookshelf- when as before, I should have been studying math or physics. But they kept the dream alive.
In my teens I sailed San Francisco Bay on, among other boats, a schooner named Landfall II. She and her owners had sailed around the world in the early 1960’s and being able to crew on her in the Bay was somehow getting me closer to the fantasy of sailing to the South Seas.

Just some ramblings while sitting here in King Harbor, Redondo Beach getting ready to leave this afternoon for San Diego (and beyond). This leg will be about sixteen hours, so we’re not leaving until this afternoon so as not to get in before sunrise.
So anyway, with these thoughts in mind I’m thankful that I have such a great partner in Ann Adams who is enthusiastically sharing this adventure and the support of family and friends all of whom allow me to reach into my “toy chest” and pull out a new adventure. Only this time it’s not the fantasy adventure of a seven year old, it’s a reality realized some years later. I hope all those reading this will stay with us and share our discoveries along the way!

Finally, catching up with the blog.  My “blogging” computer died at sea and I was very tempted to bury it there as well.  An old Dell laptop, the hard drive finally failed catastrophically, so we were left without the ability to send updates (the shortwave radio doesn’t easily conform to Macs).  Today, I’m going to buy a new, cheap, PC laptop for future communications.  But for now, I have internet access with my trusty MacBook Pro (yay, Apple!)

So…since Santa Cruz harbor…we waited out a couple days last week due to large waves/short period (in the 13 foot, 12 second range) and finally left on Thursday morning deciding to go direct to Santa Cruz Island which would be an almost two day trip.  Once out on Monterey Bay, the wind and waves came up and we had a glorious 24 hours of 8-10 foot waves and 18-20 knot winds, both out of the NW.  Truly some great sailing and after a beautiful sunset, a full moon rising over the coast and starlit sky that were stunning.

Captain Ann had her first “solo” night watches and was stellar.  She was enjoying the moon and stars so much she let me sleep a little extra through her watch.

That was the first 24 hours.  The second day, not so fun.  Clouds came in and the wind clocked around (not in the forecast at all) and turned to the SE.  Of course, right smack from the direction we wanted to go and a fairly unusual direction for this time of year.  Our only resort since we’re on a bit of a schedule at this point due to a late departure from Berkeley was to motor-sail, otherwise we would still be out there tacking back and forth.  So motor-sail we did down the coast until Pt. Conception.  About 15 miles off Pt. Conception, I was sound asleep when Ann shouted down from the cockpit that we had run into some fog.  I got up, stuck my head out of the hatch and WOW, we really ran into the fog.  Couldn’t see more than about 50 yards.  Very disconcerting when visibility drops that low.  Turned on the radar changed course 90 degrees to angle back offshore as well as head closer to our destination and we ran for about two hours with Ann driving and me watching the radar for boats and ships.  Not much fun.  In retrospect I really should have done a 180 degree turn and just stayed further offshore.

The other thing about the second half of the trip was the waves.  They changed from a nice downhill ride to something more resembling a vicious carnival ride.  They were such that we were only half joking that we going to rename “Charisma” to “Lurch”.  The NW swell was down a bit to 5-6 feet, but it was colliding directly with a Southerly swell of about 3 feet to produce a confused sea.  You rode down halfway from the top of a nice NW swell then suddenly slammed into the southerly sea and were thrown up in the air and then splashed back down.  Very uncomfortable and we were glad to have our harnesses and tethers firmly attached to the boat.

Anyway, after about 40 hours, half of which was glorious sailing, at 0700 we made it to Forney’s Cove on the NE tip of Santa Cruz Island, about 20 miles off Santa Barbara.  Dropped anchor and quickly went to sleep for about four hours to recharge.  Spent a delightful afternoon anchored, lazing in the sun, enjoying the view of this beautiful cove.  Later in the day, while having dinner in the cockpit, we saw a bald eagle fly right over the boat.

Decided to leave at 1800 for Redondo Beach (as it’s a 14 hour trip), so Ann and I could spend a couple days with her sister Joan and family before making the final push to San Diego another 14 hours!

So, “Charisma” is sitting right now at the King Harbor Yacht Club in Redondo Beach (where we stopped last year on the way North)  Great hospitality from these nice folks!

Heading out now to try and get the new laptop, so we’ll see how that goes.

Sitting at anchor on Santa Cruz Island

A little out of sequence, we actually left a week ago, but I like this picture.

(Photo by Lucy Phenix)

“Chance?!!”. What do they think chance means? It rained all day! South winds right on the nose and precip with fog meant we were hunkered down in our foul weather gear behind the wheel, motoring our way south. Whereas yesterday we had some glorious sailing, today was diesel day. But, we’re now in Santa Cruz where we’ll stay for a couple days working on finishing some boat projects, seeing friends and waiting for more promising weather.
(P.S. Ann looks hot in her new foulies)

Finally! Left today at 0900 with many thanks from our group of “well-wishers” who came (I think they heard my Mom was bringing donuts). Anyway, thank you all for coming.
A great day. Many porpoises joined forces to wish us “bon voyage” as we passed under the Golden Gate Bridge. A foggy start, but as we went under the bridge, the sun and blue sky broke through for a fantastic departure into the Pacific.
Today’s trip was modest. We’re just meandering down the coast. Day tripping so as to get into the swing of cruising without getting thrown into the deep end all at once. So…we are in Half Moon Bay Harbor, anchored outside of the marina proper, but inside the breakwater. Ann’s chopping onions for a sausage/tomato pasta. Pretty nice snugged in here. Tomorrow, Santa Cruz (or thereabouts).
(This post brought to you with the wonder of iPad with 3G service).