We’re comfortably moored right now in Two Harbor, Catalina, but had quite a ride in.  More on that in a minute.

First, had a 155 mile run yesterday.  In total with these kind of daily runs on 10-20 knot winds, we’ve arrived Catalina in a few hours less than three days from SF.  With the exception of about four hours from 3AM last night to 7AM this morning, all the the time has been sailing and we haven’t touched the wheel.  Wilson has been happily steering (much to Amanda’s consternation as she was hoping for some helm time).

Great dinner of Pork Loin in Calvados sauce, potatoes and brocolli (again) done in the pressure cooker. We’re got three more converts for cooking that way.

Long night coming through the Channel Islands from outside, via Santa Barbara Island.  Past Santa Barbara Island, the wind eased and finally stopped completely which is when we cranked the diesel for the first time other than to charge batteries.  Started seeing lightning on the mainland and went below to check the radar and saw a whole line of Thunderstorms moving toward us.  Maneuvered around a couple cells, but finally got swallowed by cloud and rain on toward what should have been dawn.  Instead of sunrise, it stayed ominously dark and soon it was clear the lightning was now getting very close.  Little did I know.  Within an hour or so, just as we were about a mile from Two Harbors, the sky near and above us lit up.  Lightning and Thunder with no separation, hitting the water around us and the hills on the Island (Catalina).  Half mile from the Harbor, one bolt hit the water so close Amanda about jumped out of her foulies.  Geoff has a picture of me looking “angst-ridden” as the crew now describes it.

Not only did the lightning hit the water right near us, but we could hear the static “crackle” through the rigging.  I pushed the throttle all the way forward in an attempt to get into the bay before we got hit–which would have fried all of the electronics and turned them into molten plastic and silicon.  Couple other boats were racing for the Harbor as well.  We got there in time though, picked up a mooring and snugged in listening to the thunder and rain as the cell passed.  Wow!  Don’t want to get that close to a T-Storm again thank you very much.

Pancakes for breakfast to celebrate the comfort of harbor and the gang has taken the water taxi ashore for showers and refreshments.  I’m cleaning the cabinet where the baking soda container blew open.  Can’t have a load of white powder floating around the boat as we cross into Mexico!

That’s it for now – time for a little rest and to plot our leg into San Diego which we’ll likely start either late tonight or early tomorrow.

For more of Geoff’s Baja Haha photos, check out GeoffreyByrne.com