At San Francisco at last

N 37 50.284, W 122 18.742
Emery Cove Marina, Emeryville, CA

Left Wednesday, 9/15 @ 10:00 am, Arrive Thursday, 9/16 @ 11:15 pm
Winds: 0 - 16 knots
Seas: 1-3 foot swell with 1 foot seas
Skies: sunny, clear on Wednesday, foggy on Thursday, clear, foggy, clear today, Friday
Distance: 240 nautical miles
Total distances traveled since leaving Seattle on 6/24: 2374 nautical miles

Wednesday morning we left at 10:00 am after a stop at the fuel dock in Eureka. It was clear with little to no wind. We watched the coast go by. Rounding Cape Mendicino was a non-event the antithesis of what we experienced in 2001. In the evening the stars were out and you could see their reflection in the sea it was so smooth.

Thursday morning the fog set in. Visibility was less than a boat length at times. We watched a tug and barge pass us on radar and AIS within 2 miles and we never saw it or heard it.

In the past we entered San Francisco Bay, at night with some fog. Once in 1999 when we first brought Windarra up from Long Beach and in 2001 when we left to go cruising the first time. We estimated 5 knots an hour for our transit from Eureka to San Francisco and believed we would be in early Friday morning so we could see the bridge. Well, we were going too fast. By 8:30 pm we were already in the middle of the traffic circle for entry to the bay. We certainly were not going to stop and wait for morning. It would not have made any difference, we still did not see the bridge even when we were directly under it since there was so much fog.

When we entered the traffic lane from the north we were about to notify Vessel Traffic Service for San Francisco on VHF channel 14. They already had us on AIS and called us first. They were extremely helpful and courteous. We indicated our planned course for entry and they notified the other vessels in the traffic coverage area. We switched to VHF channel 13 when we entered the traffic circle so we could communicate ship-to-ship with others in the 'traffic pattern'. We talked with the pilot boat, Drake, and the pilot on boat the container ship Maersk Merlion to negotiate our respective transits through the circle. They were north bound, we were east bound and meeting in the middle. Our distances apart were within 1.5 miles but we could not see them other than radar and AIS. It was comforting to know that they were aware of us and did not want to 'run us over'. We finally saw some markers as we headed up the channel to the bridge. We saw the lights marking the pillar of the bridge be we could not see the bridge. AT ALL!
If you look at the screenshot from our charter/plotter with the AIS, we are the red boat on the upper left. The green triangles are the other vessels reporting AIS with the red arrows pointing which direction they are going. The longer the arrow the faster the vessel is going. The green triangle on the lower left is going 20 knots. You can see that our speed is 6.5 knots.

We made out way over to Sausalito and picked a spot and dropped anchor. After an omelet, we went to bed to get some much needed sleep. It was past 11:00 pm and we had been traveling for 37 hours and it was time for a rest.

This morning we got up leisurely and enjoyed our coffee in the cockpit, looking at Sausalito. There was still a lot of fog in the bay and we could not see the bridge, still. After breakfast we weighed anchor and again using radar and AIS and later visuals, crossed the bay to the Emery Cover Marina which will be where we keep Windarra for the next months until we are ready to leave again.

We have enjoyed our summer cruising a lot but we are ready to be in one place for a while. I think Katmandu would agree as well.

No worries,
SV Windarra

Eureka !

N 40 48.431, W 124 10.002
Eureka, CA
Left @ 7:15 am, Arrive @ 6:15 pm
Winds: S, 0 - 10 knots
Seas: 3 foot swell with 1 foot seas
Skies: fog
Distance: 65 miles

We motored all day today in little to no wind. It was foggy the whole way so we had to watch the radar for other craft. To make it more interesting there were a lot of crab/shrimp pot floats we had to watch for and then dodge.

When we arrived, Rich when up to check in. The office was closed but he did see Ponderosa. The last time we saw them was when we were entering Newport and they were just leaving.

If all goes well we will fuel up in the morning and continue south. We would like to get around Cape Mendecino, in the day light. The thought is we will either stop at Bodega Bay or go the whole way to San Francisco.

No worries,
SV Windarra

Is this the Coast Guard?

N 41 44.861, W 124 11.024
Crescent City, CA

Passages are sometimes nerve wracking and also sometimes very boring. You can't always read or do anything else besides checking the surroundings, watching for traffic, monitoring the radar, navigation, VHF channel 16 and trying to stay awake during your watch.

We always monitor VHF channel 16. This is the hailing channel as well as the US Coast Guard channel. Some of the traffic is benign, such as the Coast Guard indicating that bar reports for such-and-such harbor will be reported on channel 22A or Pilots contacting ships to arrange for a pilot to come on board before transit of the bar. Occasionally there are requests for assistance from the Coast Guard. Below is a conversation we heard on our way into Crescent City. It is not word for word but it is pretty close. By the way, the boater has a southern US accent.

First hailing announcement: Is this the Coast Guard?
CG: This is the *garbled* Coast Guard, do you require assistance?
Boater: It won't start, not even a trickle. Just a click.
CG: This is the *garbled* Coast Guard, do you require assistance?
Boater: Yes, it won't start.
CG: What type of vessel is it?
Boater: I'm on a 26 foot Stryker.
CG: Captain, what is the name of your vessel?
Boater: I haven't gotten around to naming it yet.
CG: How many persons on board?
Boater: myself.
CG: Captain, how many persons are on board your boat?
Boater: just myself.
CG: Do you have a lifejacket on?
Boater: yes.
CG: Are you in danger of sinking or is there a fire on board?
Boater: no.
CG: What is your location?
Boater: Near Campbell Rock. I am drifting toward shore.
CG: How far away from shore are you?
Boater: About 300 yards.
CG Captain, do you have an anchor?
Boater: yes.
CG: Can you put out your anchor?
Boater: yes but I will be away from the radio for a bit while I put out the anchor.

pause in conversation

CG: Coast Guard calling vessel requiring assistance near Campbell Rock.
no response
CG: Coast Guard calling vessel requiring assistance near Campbell Rock.
Boater: yes.
CG: Is this the vessel requiring assistance near Campbell Rock?
Boater: yes, I need help.
CG: Could you please switch to channel 22A?
Boater: Do you want me to change to channel 22A?
CG: yes.
Boater: ok.

On 22A:
CG: Coast Guard calling vessel requiring assistance near Campbell Rock.
Boater: This is 22A.
CG: Is this the vessel requiring assistance near Campbell Rock?
Boater: yes, I need help.
CG: We are sending out assistance. It should be there within an hour. Have you put out an anchor?
Boater: yes the anchor is holding.

later on 22A:
CG: Coast Guard calling vessel requiring assistance near Campbell Rock.
Boater: yes.
CG: What are your current weather conditions?
Boater: what?
CG: What are your current weather conditions? Winds, Visibility, Sea State.
Boater: Visibility is great. I can see the Coast Guard cutter in front of me.

We got in before we heard any more conversation. We trust that the boater is okay. At least we were entertained for a while during the 'drama'.

We are still at Crescent City. Our plan is to fuel up tomorrow morning and then leave for Eureka.

No worries,
SV Windarra

At Crescent City, CA

N 41 44.861, W 124 11.024
Left Saturday, 9/11 @ 6:30 am, Arrive Sunday, 9/12 @ noon
Winds: 0 - 33 knots
Seas: 8 foot swell with 4 foot seas
Skies: Clear, no moon, fog on arrival
Distance: 192 miles

We just got in and tied up to what we think is the transient dock. Rich made some BLTs and now we are going to rest.

The gribs predicted 0 - 20 knots but we had 0 - 33. Luckily the seas were with the wind so it was not a bash as it was between Westport and Newport. We looked for a green flash at sunset but no joy. The moon was just a sliver and provided no light.

Occasionally we had porpoises join us. They would race along the boat and dive under the bow. Sometimes there would be several of them. Then they would suddenly disappear without so much as a "So long and thanks for all the fish".

We are going to check the gribs and see when we will continue. The weather report on the VHF was indicating gusts to 35 knots tonight and tomorrow. Hmm....

No worries,
SV Windarra

To Portland and back

N 44 37.441, W 124 03.135
Newport, Oregon

While I was doing laundry and Rich was checking the hydraulics, Adam and Cindy of SV Bravo arrived with 2 other crew members.

Rich went and picked up the rental car and we drove to Portland to visit Sarah, Jesse and his fiancee, Rae. We took everyone out to dinner including Sarah's roommate, Jess. We stayed at a hotel near the airport, the first time we have slept on land since leaving in June.

Thursday we had lunch with Sarah, Jesse and Rae before returning to Newport. We did a little provisioning on the way.

We had a great time visiting with our kids and catching up with them. Rae recently returned from a visit to the Galapagos and we enjoyed seeing her videos.

Based on the gribs we are planning on leaving on Saturday for Crescent City, California.

No worries,
SV Windarra

Bash, Bash, Bashed

N 44 37.441, W 124 03.135
Newport, Oregon
Winds: 2.3 - 26 knots
Seas: 8 foot swell with 7 foot seas
Skies: Overcast, fog, rain
Distance: 160 miles

We left on Monday morning, with the idea from the gribs that the winds would be 5-15 knots starting from the south and moving to the northwest. A light pattern. The fact that the winds were 10-15 knots at Westport in the harbor made us think that it would lighten as the day when on. No such luck.

As we crossed the bar, the winds built to 20-25 knots from the south and the seas were short and choppy. We had water over the bow and running towards us in the cockpit. We like the new dodger as it has a gasket that helps keep the water from coming underneath and soaking the cockpit. This time we stayed relatively dry but we did have a lot of water down the anchor hawser. (Note to self: remember to stuff something in the anchor hawser before the next passage). At one point we were only making 3-4 knots, speed over the ground. It took forever to pass the entrance to the Columbia River.

Around 4:30 pm on Monday, the seas started to abate and the winds lightened. We now had a favorable current as well and our speed over the ground was averaging 7 knots with highs as much as 8.5 knots. This certainly helped our attitudes.

At 9:30 am on Tuesday morning we were ready to head across the bar into Newport, Oregon. A tug and barge decided to come out, so we had to turn back and wait for them to pass. On the way through the breakwater we passed Ponderosa, a fellow yacht from "E" dock at Shilshole Marina, they were headed to Coos Bay and points south. Its a small world after all. After a quick stop at the fuel dock by 11:00 am we were tied up at the marina. Rich and I are tired and feeling beat up. Mandu, on the other hand, having slept most of the way, was energetic, awake and feeling curious. Go figure.

We plan to go up to Portland to visit with Sarah, Jesse and Rae. We will touch base later.

No worries,

SV Windarra

Still at Westport, still

N 46 54.615, W 124 06.717
Westport, Washington, USA

We are still at Westport. The last night's gribs were not showing favorable conditions until Monday.

We will check tonight's gribs.... Hoping to leave Monday morning for Newport, Oregon.

No worries
SV Windarra

Still at Westport

N 46 54.615, W 124 06.717
Westport, Washington, USA

We are still at Westport. The last night's gribs were not showing favorable conditions until Monday. Even the fishermen are staying in.

So we walked around town and went out to lunch. In the afternoon we went to the fuel dock. Mandu is so trained that after the boat started moving he came up to the cockpit and lied down. He was a little miffed that his bed was not already in place but got over it once we returned to the dock.

We will check tonight's gribs....

No worries
SV Windarra

Arrived at Westport

N 46 54.615, W 124 06.717
Westport, Washington, USA
Winds 0 - 21
Seas 1-2 meters
Skies Clear Mostly, but fog over Straits and near entry to Westport

In 24 hours we covered 142 miles from the west coast of Vancouver Island to Westport. We motorsailed most of the way. As soon as we did try just sailing, the winds decreased and we were doing less then 3 knots, sails slatting, etc.

Crossing the Straits of Juan de Fuca themselves was not a big deal. Crossing traffic was. AIS is great by the way. We are able to get speed over the ground, course, closest point of approach and time to closest point of approach for the ships coming in (1 cruise ship, 2 bulk carriers). This way we were able to time crossing the traffic lanes. Imagine you are trying to cross a street, with no traffic lights and a Winnebago and 2 semis are coming down the road on after the other. You are riding a bicycle and can not peddle faster or even half as fast as the traffic. Now try to cross the street, knowing that when you start across, none of the traffic can stop or see you other than radar and AIS. Besides if you stopped in front of them, they would run you over before they could stop. Now, cross the street. This is what it was like.

Entering Westport and crossing the bar was an experience. Not as bad as some places in Australia (near Fraser Island) but still interesting. There was plenty of boat traffic, commercial fishing boats, sport fishers, large car carriers, etc. Throw in some swells, some fog, and folks who are too anxious to go out there and catch the big one before anyone else and you have the conditions.

We are safe and sound at the marina's transient dock. Time to check the gribs to see if we push on tomorrow to Newport, Oregon. Maybe some dinner at the One-eyed Crab.

No worries,
SV Windarra

Effingham Island

N 48 52.627, W 125 18.483
Effingham Island, Barclay Sound

Yesterday we did some provisioning between the rain drops. This morning before leaving we filled our water tanks. Right now we are anchored in a small bay next to Effingham Island. We have it all to ourselves. Barclay Sound is a popular place to go cruising on the west side of Vancouver Island. On the other side of Effingham Island is the remains of a First Nations village. We hiked there when we visited here many moons ago. You can see the midden and where the long house was. The trail is rough, indicated by bits of colored string and yarn on branches and tree trunks.

Tomorrow we leave for Westport, WA and to check back into the US. It is about 140 miles so we will arrive sometime on Friday.

No worries,
SV Windarra