Back at Clipper Cove

Clipper Cove, Aug 8, 2011
37 48.957 N, 122 21.925 W

This morning we got up early to make our appointment with Dan, the D Street Bridge tender and a long ride back down the Petaluma River. The scenery is beautiful and the ride pleasant. The wind picked up after we got back into the San Francisco bay proper and of course on the nose. We originally planned to stop at Emery Cove to top off our fuel but at the wind had piped up to 23+ knots we decided to head directly to Clipper Cove and delay these tasks until tomorrow morning.

Sorry that some of the blog entries are out of order. I will repair once we have internet access again, tbd.

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Checking out the town

Sunday, August 07, 2011 Petaluma

This morning we got up early so help Greg and Melissa leave. We decided to stay another day and explore more of Petaluma. Rich went to start Windarra but there was only a click and no starting of the engine. Hmmm, this is not good. We untied Windarra and with their help we pulled her forward and tied directly to the dock so that Pura Vida could depart. We waved goodbye as the passed through the open bridge then Rich went down to troubleshoot.

After checking wire connections, verifying that the starter battery was charged and providing power, wiggling the starter relay, the engine started. Rich replaced the relay with our spare and now the engine started reliably again. Not sure what is wrong with the relay but we will get another spare just in case.

It was time to explore but first some lunch was in order. We stopped at the Petaluma Yacht Club but the door was locked. We met the commodore in the parking lot and she said that the yacht club was only open on Fridays and Saturdays. Off to the Applebox for lunch. I needed some beads for our boat necklace. Google revealed 2 bead stores in walking distance, so walk we did only to find that both were not open but we did get to see some of the town including a rare seed store.

Tomorrow we will return to San Francisco Bay

Petaluma Music Festival

Saturday, August 6, 2011 - Petaluma

This morning after breakfast, the four of us, Matey stayed to guard the boats, walked to the fairgrounds to attend the Petaluma Music Festival, http://www.petalumamusicfestival.org/. It is a one day affair to raised funds for the music programs at the Petaluma public schools. There were 3 outdoor stages with plenty of booths selling all sorts of food and drink. We enjoyed Sambada, a Brazilian/African band. A group a performers did mock combat, ala handstands and cartwheel type moves.

There was also a band from New Orleans that was quite good. Next to the stage an artist painted on canvas sometimes to the rhythm of the music, including a portrait of Frank Zappa, a guitar and a rooster head. To enjoy the music we spread out a blanket and sat on our new cockpit chairs - just a seat and a back, in the warm sun. We were covered in plenty of sunscreen but we did get a might toasty. Other bands included Cornmeal, The Devil Makes Three, The Mother Hips, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Stompy Jones, Smokehouse Gamblers Red Meat, Hillside Fire and Skylark.

Melissa and Greg of Pura Vida and Rich enjoying the music

Late in the afternoon we left Greg and Melissa at the festival and went back to Windarra for dinner and to cool down.

What a fun experience!

Up the river to Petaluma

Friday, August 5, 2011 - Petaluma, 38 14.132 N, 122 38.253 W
In the morning we left for some sailing around the bay as we waited to rendezvous with Greg and Melissa Davids on SV Pura Vida. Their boat is a Hylas 47, a sistership, so to speak of Windarra, a Stevens 47. It was built in the same boatyard in Taiwan but it is a little newer. We followed SV Pura Vida as they have been up the Petaluma River before. The trip up the river included 2 railroad bridges, always open, a freeway bridge 70 feet above waterline, (our mast is 65 feet tall not including the VHF antenna), passing vineyards and wineries, small shanties along the river, and finally the D street bridge which we waited to open before the turning basin where we tied alongside Pura Vida on the long dock.

Windarra

Pura Vida

Going up the river

After enjoying some sundowners (rum and coke was the drink de jour) we walked into downtown and had a great dinner at Sugo's, an Italian restaurant, then to bed. It was a long day.

KKMI

Thursday, August 4, 2011 - KKMI
After a rolly night at Paradise Cove we decided to move. But first we went over to Point Richmond and stopped at KKMI to pick up some wire so we could connect the alternator to the shunt of the flexnet (monitor for the Outback system). We tied up and went to the chandlery and then started our chores.
The first order of business was to get our new outboard motor operational. The Yamaha 4HP, 4-stroke we had bought in 2001 was on its last legs so we took it to a consignment store in Alameda and ordered new Mercury 8HP, 4-stroke from Cabela's. It weighs more but with the new motor lift we installed on the aft deck it is manageable. We launched the dingy, put the motor on, put in some oil, connected the auxiliary fuel tank and voila, our new 'car' is operational.
The next task Rich took on was the alternator connection. I assisted by doing other projects like washing the salt off the boat and helping run wire around the engine compartment and into the navigation station. Now we can monitor the input of the wind generator, solar panels and alternator. We were also able to get the last fittings needed to connect the watermaker to the input thruhull. We will not turn it on until we get farther south.

A bit too shallow

Paradise Cove
N 37 53.861, W 122 27.451

This morning we left Clipper Cove. After we pulled up anchor, I was steering and following the course that we had taken entering the cove. Unfortunately the tide was a little lower and we ran aground in the soft mud. A little maneuvering and a slightly different course, closer to the pier and we were able to exit the cove. This place reminds me a little of Australia but that is a different story.

We are now at Paradise Cove, north of Angel Island. The anchorage is a bit rolly but it is settling down now that the winds have decreased.

More exploring of San Francisco bay.

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Six Vaka from Fakarava

Clipper Cove
37 48.922 N, 122 21.911 W

Yesterday afternoon a kayaker from the junk rigged sailboat, Gia, paddled by and told us about some Polynesian boats that would be arriving from Hawaii and would be stopping in Clipper Cove today. So we decided to stay and find out.

We learned more from the website, http://www.pacificvoyagers.org/. Six vaka or traditional ocean going sailboats of the Polynesians had left from New Zealand, Fakarava to be exact and sailed to Hawaii to attend a conference on the oceans. From there they sailed to San Francisco, a journey of about 30 days. Vaka are a type of catamaran, 70 feet long and 18 feet wide. It has two sails mounted fore and aft with a long oar for a tiller. They are very impressive and we got a chance to watch them enter the cove and beach on the shore. Some members of the local Polynesian, specifically Maori culture, performed a Haka or traditional chant to welcome them. You might have seen an example of a Haka in the movie, 'Invictus', where the New Zealand All-Blacks rugby team does the Haka before a game against South African Springboks. It is very impressive.

The voyage is intended to draw attention to the oceans and to help revive the Polynesian culture and teaching. It is amazing the traveling the Polynesians did across the Pacific ocean without sextants, GPS, radar, radios, etc.

The vaka were quite a sight. We waved and clapped to welcome them and to cheer their arrival. You never know who will be arriving in an anchorage.

Tena koutou i tenei ahiahi (good evening in Maori)

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