Back in San Diego

On Monday, 10/17, we returned from our trip up north. Rich and I flew to Portland to visit with Jesse, Rae and Sarah. It was fun to hear them talk about their jobs. Jesse is busy doing software integration at Thetus. Sarah is a lab technician at Revolt Technologies where they are developing zinc air batteries for cars. Rae is working at a lab at OSHU doing research with flies. We are very proud of them. Jesse tried a new recipe involving a hollowed out pumpkin, bread and gruyere cheese. It was very tasty.

We also took the opportunity while we were there to do some shopping. I picked up 6 containers of the coffee I like that they sell at Costco in Portland but not in California. Rich got some shorts at the Columbia Sportswear outlet store. We looked at inflatable kayaks but decided we were not ready to buy yet.

We also splurged and bought an IPad 2. We have been thinking of getting one for a while especially after seeing how Tucker and Victoria Bradford of SV Convivia are using it for their navigation.  They are using the IPad app, iNavX, with a Brookhouse imux that takes NMEA 0183 data and transmits it wirelessly to the IPad. Navionics Gold charts are available for a lot less than on other systems. iNavX also overlays gribs and AIS data. We purchased a wireless transmitter from DMK Yachts Instruments which supports NMEA 0183 and 2000. When I get it running, I will write more about it.

We also drove up to Tacoma to visit with my mother, Leah. She was not feeling well so we stopped by another day to check on her. She does not remember us but on the second visit she was pleasant and in a good mood even though our conversations a one sided for the most part, I talk and she sometimes asks a simple question.

In Seattle we made the rounds picking up our mail, dropping off and picking up stuff at the storage unit, shopping at the marine stores, and visiting with friends, etc. We also had doctors’ appointments for annual exams and shots. Poor Rich suffered an allergic reaction to his pneumonia shot which gave him the chills and shakes. He is glad you only have to have the shot once.

There is still no word on the Subaru. We rented a car to drive up to Seattle with and Sarah took the train up to Seattle to meet us. She attended a Steampunk convention in Bellevue. We exchanged the rental car to her so she would have a vehicle until they find the Subaru or not. Rich and I took the train back to Portland and a visit before our return to San Diego.

Now we are back and it is time to get the boat and ourselves ready for the Baja Ha-Ha rally which leaves on Monday, October 24.

San Diego at last

32 43.617 N, 117 11.998 W

Cabrillo Isle Marina

We left Oceanside Yacht Club at 8:00 am, along with several other Baja Ha-Ha boats. We had light winds most of the way so we motorsailed. And as typical of most of our trip, the winds picked up to about 15 knots as we were entering the harbor.

The trip was relatively uneventful. We saw 2 groups of dolphins and a small group of pilot whales. On the VHF we could hear notices about naval activity in the area with warnings to stay at least 3 nautical miles away from the live fire exercises. They were far enough away from our course we did not have to worry about it but we did see a lot of hovercraft and helicopter activity (cue Ride of the Valkyries).

We are now at Cabrillo Isle Marina on Harbor Island. It is not too far from the airport. Not only can we see the places but we hear them as well. Today we walked over to the Von's and Trader Joe's to check them out for provisioning before we leave for Mexico. I also purchase our fishing licenses for Mexico online. At first I was concerned about the price of $493.17 for a 1 year permit. As this is Mexican pesos, it translates to only $35.42 in US dollars which is quite reasonable.

We met a couple, Joe and Heidi on a Shannon ketch, called Huck. They are from New Orleans and will also be joining the Baja Ha-Ha. They were kind enough to help us find our slip yesterday when we pulled in. The numbers at the end of the slips were way too small for our aging eyes.

Rich and I are planning on buying 2 inflatable kayaks to take with us. If anyone has suggestions as to which kind, please send them. So far we are looking at the Advanced Element, Advance Frame Sport.

More later

Oceanside Yacht Club

33 12.625 N, 117 23.839 W

Currently we are at Oceanside Yacht Club. They are sponsoring a Baja Ha-Ha get together which included moorage and a free dinner so here we are. We arrived on Friday afternoon.

Wednesday morning we left the Newport Harbor Yacht Club where we had a great stay on one of their mooring buoys and sailed south for Dana Point. At the west end of the harbor is a small anchorage inside the breakwater and next to the Ocean Institute.

Thursday, Rich and I decided it was a good time to work the autopilot / HF radio interference issue. If we were sailing or motoring with the autopilot and then tried to send an email via the HF radio, the autopilot would give an alarm about no communication with the autopilot computer and then disengage. This is not something we would like to have happen during passage. I had sent some emails to the autopilot folks and they cautioned that if there was a drop in voltage, this problem could occur. We had the power for the autopilot communication bus separate from the computer and hydraulics power so we tried putting them on the same breaker to see if that fixed the problem. No joy. Since changing these connections required taking most of the navigation station apart, we looked at other wiring that might be causing the problem. Lo and behold the communication wiring between the autopilot computer next to the aft stateroom bed and the navigation station as well as the wiring between the autopilot control panel at the helm and the navigation station were routed near the cable between the HF radio and the tuner in the lazarette. This was not good and could be the source of the problem. So we temporarily pulled the wiring out and just ran it direct from the navigation station to the aft stateroom through the aft head and also to the binnacle. Success! So we rerouted the wiring to go through the engine compartment and then into the navigation station which required a new hole in the cabinet since the wire was not quite long enough. We also switched the communication bus power back to the breaker it was on previously. After testing sending emails with the autopilot on and the engine running and not running with no drop out by the autopilot computer we believe we have solved the problem. Hooray.

Friday morning as we prepared to leave we got a call from Sarah. The Subaru was stolen from the parking lot outside her apartment. She checked to make sure it was not towed away even though she has a parking sticker for the apartment complex. Rich called the police to report the vehicle stolen and then called the insurance company. The police visited Sarah to take her statement and give her a case number. According to the police officer that Rich talked to, Honda Accords are becoming scare and now they are stealing Subarus for the air bags, which are expensive to replace. So Sarah is without a car, again. As the vehicle was registered in our name, she will have to wait until we arrive in Portland next week and rent a car for her to use until the Subaru is recovered or declared gone. What is it about Portland? First the Honda was stolen and not recovered, now the Subaru. We have never had a car stolen before and now twice in three months. Now she will have to look for a good, cheap used car, as we don't have any more!

After the call we sailed to Oceanside. Friday evening we attended the Italian buffet at the yacht club. We sat with Russ and Doreen of SV August Moon whom we met at Marina del Rey and some friends of theirs, Ken and Carole of SV Nauti Moments. Both boats are Canadian and will be joining the Baja Ha-Ha. I am sure that tonight we will be meeting some more cruisers.

By the way, we have travelled over 3000 nautical miles since leaving Seattle in June 2010.

Out for a sail at Newport Harbor

On Sunday, we took Peter, Lenora, Kate and Jenny Wannier out for a sail. We now are at a mooring buoy with the Newport Harbor Yacht Club and were able to tie up to their guest dock making it easier for everyone to get aboard. We gave the typical short tour of Windarra (it does not take long so there are no long tours), had some coffee and bagels to give everyone a chance to settle in. We motored around the harbor for a tour before heading out and raising the sails. The seas were calm and the winds were light. We put of the main and just the yankee. We saw a large group of dolphins pass by. Kate did great, helping with lines, learning about the bowline knot, walking on deck. Around 3:00 pm we returned to the mooring for light meal. Two at a time Rich ferried our guests to the dock. We had a nice relaxing time.

 Peter, Rae's father

 Jenny, Rae's twin and Lenora, Rae's stepmom

Kate, Rae's half sister

Now we just need to find a way to get Greg Wannier, Rae's other brother out for a sail.

Today, Monday, Rich and I walked along the harbor shore and caught the car ferry over to Balboa Island. The ferry only takes about 3 cars at a time. It is very different from the ferries in Puget Sound. We walked the island and then took a bus up to Trader Joe's and a stop at Minney's Yacht Surplus. It is very similar to Second Wave in Seattle but I would be hard pressed to say which one was bigger. We took a bus back to the yacht club.

Tonight we plan to take the dingy and go to one of the restaurants along the harbor. It should be another adventure.

p.s. We have seen many sea lions camped on aft decks and even on / in some boats here in the harbor. Many boat owners put plastic lawn chairs, kayaks, plastic snow fences and other items on their aft decks to discourage these marauders. 

Rake?

Do you like the rake of this mast? There is a garden rake on the top of many masts we have seen in California. I assume it is to discourage birds.

Newport Beach

Newport Beach
33 36.541 N, 117 54.400 W

This morning we raised the anchor at 10:45 am and said goodbye to Hen Rock Cove after 4 days at anchor. It was nice and relaxing. Very few boats were there and it was quiet except for the giggles and shouts of kids in kayaks during the day, especially when the sea lions came by to check them out. We did some reading and a few chores. It looks like Rich has fixed out engine start problems. As we were going over to Catalina, we noticed that the oil pressure gauge for the engine was not working correctly, and more erratically when we increased engine RPM. On Tuesday, Rich found that there was a loose connection on the oil pressure sensor and a loose terminal strip in the binnacle there the engine start connections were attached. He corrected both issues and the engine has been starting immediately, hot or cold. Hooray!

After anchor up we motored by Avalon, just to see what it was like. The harbor was not jammed packed with boats but all day we saw boats going over. We assume it will be crowded this weekend. After we passed we headed over to Newport Beach. At first we we having a great sail but then the winds petered out and it was a motorsail the rest of the way.

Now we are anchored near Lido Island. There a just a few other boats in the anchorage. While it was still light we saw small sailing dingies making there way around a course that went right by Windarra. There were also paddleboarders, crew shells, small electric boats and some larger sailboats going up and down the channel. This evening the party boats are plying their way, as many as 5. Could any one of them be for Flosten Paradise?

Tomorrow we will look for slip space for a few nights and do some exploring.

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Hen Rock Cove, Catalina Island

Hen Rock Cove, Catalina Island
33 23.784 N, 118 22.006 W
We left Marina del Rey at 10:45 am after a quick run to the store for ice, then showers and topping off the water tanks. In the fog we crossed to Catalina Island. We had planning to stay at Goat Harbor again but with the winds from the WNW we chose Hen Rock Cove instead. We are anchored outside of the mooring field as of 5:30pm . A three masted schooner named American Pride, with a home port of Long Beach, CA, just anchored near us. It looks like a group of sea scouts on board,

 http://www.americanpride.org/

I'm not sure I want to ride way up front on this boat.

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