Left Catalina at 1600 and made it to San Diego at 0745 this morning, completing Part One of the trip. We stop here for a few days before leaving for Baja on Monday.  The most challenging part of this leg was getting a slip in San Diego. The whole of San Diego is booked and it looked like we were going to have to anchor out.   Fun to do when we’re in Baja and actually want to be “off the grid”, but a real pain when we need to provision the boat for the trip, recharge the batteries, get water, fuel, do laundry, etc, etc to get ready for being in Mexico for over a month.

So after getting turned away from the harbormaster who claimed “no slips”, I charged down the waterfront stopping at each Marina, rather aggressively requesting a space for a few days (I think I scared a few Marina Managers. After thunderstorms, lightning, rain and not much sleep I’m guessing as I think about it, I might have appeared, well…a little scary. The beard, wet clothes, sea boots and crazed, stressed look might have contributed to this clear misunderstanding). One place I called said yes, they had some space. After racing over there to get it before it got taken by some of the other boats that I saw pulling in, I was told, well, they actually made a mistake and had no vacancies for at least a month.

I. Was. Not. Happy!!

As noted I think I scared someone, because the manager at that marina personally drove me in his own car to the next Marina on my list.  Chain smoking the whole way and making nervous chit chat.  I think I detected a distinct facial tick as well.

As luck would have it though I scored the last spot in a great marina right in the middle of Shelter Island, which is where all the stuff I need is available and at a discount no less (possible serial killer discount?). It also comes with access to the hotel amenities behind the marina; hot tub, pool, gym, laundry, etc.

Sometimes the adventure of cruising isn’t out at sea at all.

Definitely the case on this leg. Left Catalina to a pretty sunset and other than some more rain on the way, the on-water part of this leg was pretty uneventful.  There wasn’t even much wind, so we motored most of the way.  I even slowed the boat down a bit halfway in, to make sure we wouldn’t arrive to an unfamiliar area in the dark.

So, hopefully the next few days will be boring and I won’t have much to write about.

Stay tuned though as we leave Monday morning and will no doubt have more adventure to share.

In the mean time all you folks in the Bay Area will be enjoying the wet weather we’ve had the last couple days as I see it’s heading North.  Have fun!  We’re going South.

After such an eventful arrival yesterday morning in the driving rain dodging thunderstorms and lightning bolts, today’s departure is positively peaceful.  It’s very calm, still cloudy, but no rain.  We’re motoring to San Diego with an expected arrival time of around 0700.  We’ll check in at Shelter Island, but I called them yesterday and it’s not likely we’ll get a slip.  We’ll likely have to anchor out.  Not a problem, but makes it a lot more hassle to provision for the trip into Baja using the inflatable.

Two Harbors was a nice spot, but next time I take a shower there I’m wearing shoes, but I’ll get to that in a minute.  Coming ashore is nice.  You just call the Harbor Taxi and for three bucks, they come out and pick you up in a small launch.  Nice!  I organized my gear; laundry, soap, shaving kit, grocery bag, garbage to dump, all accounted for.  Then a call on VHF channel 09 and the launch arrives.

Went up to the laundry, got the clothes started, then went to the shower and that’s when the problem started. Got in one of the stalls and the coin machine was broken.  OK, moved to another stall…coin machine, good…took off my clothes, opened the curtain and YIPES the local wildlife started scurrying around. Cockroaches, crickets and earwigs daring me to turn on the water.  Well, I’ll tell you-they won round one. Clothes back on, went down to the handicapped stall, CHECKED the shower first.  Immaculate (well, no wildlife anyway).  Took off clothes, set up my soap, put the money in the meter and…it was broken.  Put on clothes, moved to another shower, it was muddy, but worked and only one cockroach on the curtain.  That was easy, I just flicked him into one of the other stalls!  That’s taking a shower in the cruising life (oh, did I mention I forgot my towel and had to use my jacket to dry off?).  Oh and the shoes?  That’s to stomp on the cockroaches so I can use the first shower in the future.

A final thought: The crew asked me to mention that while stealthily stalking Island Buffalo, Geoff stepped in some Buffalo poop, let out a kind of shriek, then fell and slipped down the hill after which Jansen was laughing so hard, he also stepped in it.  Alcohol might have been involved.  As Amanda noted; “Boys will be boys”.

(this photo courtesy of Geoff – more at GeoffreyByrne.com)

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

October 18th and we’re off San Miguel Island which is in turn is off the Santa Barbara Coast.  Getting a bit warmer, but still doesn’t feel like SoCal.  Very cold last night (or was it that I was so sleepy I couldn’t keep warm?)

We passed Pt. Conception in the early hours.  Not too bad.  Wind came up gusting into the twenties.  We already double reefed the main so Wilson could steer better on a broad reach.  As the wind came up, we needed to reef the jib at about 2300.  Tried, but it wouldn’t budge.  I went up to the bow and found the furling line had jumped off the furler drum.  Had to go out on the bowsprit to fix it.  Definitely lonely out there in the dark rising up on the face of waves, then plunging down into the shadow.  At the bottom, water gurgling around my knees as Charisma stopped, then started to rise with the wave.  Ten minutes and all was fixed and we could furl and ultimately jibe out just North of the shipping channel.

Asked the crew what they wanted to say on this post.  Geoff thought a moment, then; “Let’s see…Moon, Stars, Wind, Offshore…hmmm it’s all there”.

The second exchange:
Amanda: “I heard Jansen snores”
Geoff (under his breath): “(On Watch)”
Jansen: “It’s Wilson’s fault!”

At this point, we’ve plotted a course just West of Santa Cruz Island, past Santa Barbara Island and then to Catalina.  Plan is to stop at Catalina for a day before continuing on to San Diego.  Should make Catalina in the early morning hours.

That’s it for today!

By the way, thanks to Jen for the last minute add to our stores. Geoff made amazing steak Tacos with the stuff you gave us and Jansen masterfully BBQ’d the meat, onions, and bell peppers. Topped off with rice and avocado and all was good!

The photos in this post are courtesy of Geoff – thanks Geoff! For more of Geoff’s Baja Haha photos, check out GeoffreyByrne.com

What an eventful couple of days.
First off the party at the dock Friday night was fantastic.  So great to see all the friends and family.  Special thanks to Andy for catering and Ann for helping me get provisioned and organized.

Saturday morning was great too.  Inspiring to have so many folks stop by to see us off and fun to see you all out at the Marina entrance as we left.

Motoring out was uneventful other than just as we were getting to the Gate, Geoff said; “Oh #@%! I forgot my foulies and shoes!”  Fortunately he still had cell coverage and his Mom will bring them to LA where we’ll pick them up.

Accompanied by Porpoises under the Gate, we motored with the ebb tide about 10 miles out to the Lightbucket.  Once there, we set sails, turned left and haven’t had the motor on since.  With 10-20 knots of wind out of NW, we’re been doing from 5-8 knots.  Gybed early this morning about 68 miles off the coast and now heading more toward Pt Conception.  It’s 1130 now and our 24 hour distance is 130 miles (from where we started sailing).  Good time, especially considering much of it was more on the 10 knots of wind side.

Dinner was chicken, potatoes and broccoli in the pressure cooker.  Most of us were queasy, and I had to jump up into the cockpit every couple of minutes to get fresh air while cooking, so not a very fancy version.  Just the basics.  We all have our sea legs now, so tonight’s dinner should get more attention.

We’re well South of Carmel right now and about 140 miles from Santa Cruz Island.  GPS says at this speed we should get there early tomorrow morning.  Good time, so we might drop the hook and stay overnight.

That’s it for now.  It’s been overcast, but really nice wind, 5-7 foot following seas and it hasn’t been too cold, so we’re having a blast!

Much love to everyone.  We’ll check in again in a day or so.

“S/V Charisma”