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Cheers - Bryan
Sailing Tomorrow
- Thread starter Philpott
- Start date
I took Joan, her brother and my nephew out for a sail on Saturday. We left Berkeley around 11:00 and headed for Raccoon Strait. After puttering around the lee of Angel Island we tried to pick up a slip in Ayala Cove but half of them were out of commission. That meant heading for sausalito. The significant increase in wind velocity, combined with the usual cursing as I put in a reef, plus an inopportune wave, dunked the leeward deck and scared Joan to the point of tears. Opting to be the "good husband" instead of carrying out the "perfect tour" we had a late lunch in Raccoon Strait and sailed back to Berkeley.
My BIL and I took the boat back to the South Bay. It was brisk, but typical all way across to TI.
After coming out of the lee of Yerba Buena island, the wind started to build. I was flogging the main a lot, and still overpowered quite a bit, beam reaching most of the way to Hunters Point. I could see that a few ships anchored sound of Hunters Point were aligned WITH THE WIND, NOT THE CURRENT and I know what that means. So I put in the second reef and rolled up the jib in the lee of the Hunters Point Buildings.
Oh.
My.
God.
I have NEVER seen the South Bay like that. It was easily 30 knots, maybe 32-33 screaming around San Bruno Mountain. When it became clear that we wouldn't make it to Coyote Point by dark, I opted to try to sail into Serra Point. It's a couple hundred yards to windward up the channel to get there and we couldn't do it. With no headsail up, and two reefs in the main, we **crawled** to windward. After about 20 minutes in which time we make about 100 feet to windward, I opted to try Oyster Point.
We sailed over to that incredibly narrow entrance and **Barely** got in on the third try.
That was by far and away the windiest I have EVER seen the South Bay.
My BIL and I took the boat back to the South Bay. It was brisk, but typical all way across to TI.
After coming out of the lee of Yerba Buena island, the wind started to build. I was flogging the main a lot, and still overpowered quite a bit, beam reaching most of the way to Hunters Point. I could see that a few ships anchored sound of Hunters Point were aligned WITH THE WIND, NOT THE CURRENT and I know what that means. So I put in the second reef and rolled up the jib in the lee of the Hunters Point Buildings.
Oh.
My.
God.
I have NEVER seen the South Bay like that. It was easily 30 knots, maybe 32-33 screaming around San Bruno Mountain. When it became clear that we wouldn't make it to Coyote Point by dark, I opted to try to sail into Serra Point. It's a couple hundred yards to windward up the channel to get there and we couldn't do it. With no headsail up, and two reefs in the main, we **crawled** to windward. After about 20 minutes in which time we make about 100 feet to windward, I opted to try Oyster Point.
We sailed over to that incredibly narrow entrance and **Barely** got in on the third try.
That was by far and away the windiest I have EVER seen the South Bay.
I took a day off and brought the Wildcat down to Coyote Point, from Oyster Point on Tuesday. It's always kind of surreal to see a body of water absolutely shredded by the wind, with waves ripping downwind and the air shrieking around you...
...and then come back a day or two later and find it calmer than a swimming pool.
...and then come back a day or two later and find it calmer than a swimming pool.
Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
To the Meadows
073019 Looking at the chart sitting at the kitchen table, considering where DM will go next. With an eye to the depth finder, the chart plotter and google maps, names have changed.
Two years ago Tom Patterson told me about a mythical slough, The Meadows. There are photos in the old Delta books of boats anchored in the Meadows. Tom pointed to one and said, “Here we are!" But he was a little hazy as to how to get there nowadays. “It’s been a long time”. Maybe it was a challenge: Go find it yourself.
I've asked around a bit, and people sound a little cagey. They say things like, "Oh, you can't take a sailboat there," "I've heard about that," or "We went there in a motorboat/kayak/dinghy when I was a kid."
So that’s where we’ll go next.
What on the chart reads “Laurel Road”, on Google maps is Tri Cities Road. Huh? Maybe I’ll drive over there first, get a sense of it from the road, see how many sailboat masts I see poking up from the water. For sure go at high tide, just to be safe.
From Owl Harbor in the Seven Mile Slough I go east along the San Joaquin, turn to port at the Mokelumne. Where the Mokelumne splits into North and South I go south, to starboard, up and around and around and around to Snodgrass Slough up and up again until we get to Dead Horse Cut, with Dead Horse Island to port. Up and around into the Meadows. That’s the plan du jour.
073019 Looking at the chart sitting at the kitchen table, considering where DM will go next. With an eye to the depth finder, the chart plotter and google maps, names have changed.
Two years ago Tom Patterson told me about a mythical slough, The Meadows. There are photos in the old Delta books of boats anchored in the Meadows. Tom pointed to one and said, “Here we are!" But he was a little hazy as to how to get there nowadays. “It’s been a long time”. Maybe it was a challenge: Go find it yourself.
I've asked around a bit, and people sound a little cagey. They say things like, "Oh, you can't take a sailboat there," "I've heard about that," or "We went there in a motorboat/kayak/dinghy when I was a kid."
So that’s where we’ll go next.
What on the chart reads “Laurel Road”, on Google maps is Tri Cities Road. Huh? Maybe I’ll drive over there first, get a sense of it from the road, see how many sailboat masts I see poking up from the water. For sure go at high tide, just to be safe.
From Owl Harbor in the Seven Mile Slough I go east along the San Joaquin, turn to port at the Mokelumne. Where the Mokelumne splits into North and South I go south, to starboard, up and around and around and around to Snodgrass Slough up and up again until we get to Dead Horse Cut, with Dead Horse Island to port. Up and around into the Meadows. That’s the plan du jour.
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WBChristie
New member
Currently tooling along in 2k apparent behind the longest spit in the world. Soon to anchor where the Duke hung out
Intermission
Member
Thirty plus years ago, I went there in a 26' swing keel pop top.
A long trip to get a half mile away from the Sacramento river.
It felt like I was on the jungle boat ride at the mouse house.
Best take a snub nose revolver in case any angry hippos charge the boat.
Jackie, If you decide to go, be prepared for a loooong day of motoring in narrow, depth challenged sloughs between levees up and another back down. Be sure to check tides - there are several online Delta fishing (the big activity up there) websites with up-to-date tide info. Take everything you need; there are no facilities. Guisti's Place is just above the Highway 311 bridge - funky Italian. Two bridges: Highway 12 and Highway 311 - check opening regulations.
I was up there twice in the 1980s in my Newport 30 (draft 5'8") and only found the mud a few times. There's nothing to do up there, but I guess you'd have bragging rights and be able to say you made it up and back. When I was up there were a few "summer time' sailboats anchored near the railroad trestle. They left cars at Walnut Grove and zipped up from there and back in inflatables for weekend getaways. Snodgrass gets very narrow and shallow.
Another idea would be to go up the Mok and turn into Georgiana Slough, motor back Horseshoe Bend (say hello to Chris and Jon) and continue on to Walnut Grove that way. Overnight along Georgians tied up to a tree. Tie up at the Walnut Grove dock in the Sacramento Rivers and explore Walnut Grove and Locke. Motor/Sail back down the Scramento.
I was up there twice in the 1980s in my Newport 30 (draft 5'8") and only found the mud a few times. There's nothing to do up there, but I guess you'd have bragging rights and be able to say you made it up and back. When I was up there were a few "summer time' sailboats anchored near the railroad trestle. They left cars at Walnut Grove and zipped up from there and back in inflatables for weekend getaways. Snodgrass gets very narrow and shallow.
Another idea would be to go up the Mok and turn into Georgiana Slough, motor back Horseshoe Bend (say hello to Chris and Jon) and continue on to Walnut Grove that way. Overnight along Georgians tied up to a tree. Tie up at the Walnut Grove dock in the Sacramento Rivers and explore Walnut Grove and Locke. Motor/Sail back down the Scramento.
Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
WBChristie Currently tooling along in 2k apparent behind the longest spit in the world. Soon to anchor where the Duke hung out[/QUOTE said:That is too cryptic for me. Where are you, please? Was the Duke a surfer or John Wayne? You sailors and your esoteric references
That is too cryptic for me. Where are you, please? Was the Duke a surfer or John Wayne? You sailors and your esoteric references
I'll bite. The spit is Dungeness Spit, 4.3 miles in length on the Eastern Straits of Juan de Fuca. Nearby at Sequim is the John Wayne Marina, where the Duke hung out with WILD GOOSE, his converted minesweeper that had headroom on the bridge for the Duke in cowboy boots and Stetson hat.
Question: what notable author, SSS member and SHTP vet recently "vacationed" with his wife at the New Dungeness Spit lighthouse, accessible only at low tide?
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Go for it Jackie! Bring plenty of fresh water and food... and a few bathing suits. Had the Buffalo up that way... just short of the Meadows... 10 years or so ago. You will have no problem getting DM there (except for the somewhat lengthy motor up the river). Getting the bridge to open at Walnut Grove makes for an interesting story. Be sure to stop at the Italian restaurant - Guisti's - just after the bridge at Walnut Grove (assuming you get there via the San Joaquin and N Mokelumne River). Google Maps view of the Meadows Slough that shows a number of houseboats... https://www.google.com/maps/@38.2653935,-121.5056639,942m/data=!3m1!1e3
WBChristie
New member
Sleddog wins! Al Hughes for lighthouse keeper?? Guessing, because I thought I read somewhere that he lives up here..or maybe Jim Kellam??
Nope, not Al nor Jim. If you want a hint, you'll have to re-read post 1681 of Oct.7, 2016. You too can be a guest lighthouse keeper! https://www.sfbaysss.org/forum/showthread.php?655-New-Boat-4-Sled/page169
FYI, New Dungeness Spit is the longest spit in North America. The longest spit in the world is the Arabat Spit in the Sea of Azov. It is approximately 70 miles long. The Sea of Azov is located in Eastern Europe near the Black Sea and has several other spits of about 20 miles in length.
Here's 15 other interesting spits: http://www.theworldgeography.com/2013/07/incredible-spits.html
WBChristie
New member
Ah..right! Robert Crawford. My Waggoner cruising guide calls Dungeness spit "the longest natural spit in the world". I suppose this is similar to driving highway 101 and seeing the worlds largest and most famous things.
New Dungeness (yum, yum, I always think of crab when I see that reference) is at the top of Washington State and the Long Beach Peninsula is at the bottom. It's 28 miles from Iwaco the tip. The tourist folks claim it's the longest beach in the world (a dubious claim), but it it impressive since it protects the mainland from the open North Pacific rolling in from way out there.
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Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
Sailing Dura Mater Down the Coast
We will leave from Half Moon Bay following the SSS race on September 12. Maybe after a day of rest. I did enjoy helping Dave Morris unplug that little floatie dock from its danforth anchors last year. Hope he'll let me help again. Then I'll leave the next day, first down to Santa Cruz, then Monterey, then on down.
I grew up in Orange County, WAY before I started sailing. Maybe I'll sail down there, see what it looks like from the water. Maybe sail over to Catalina Island, see if it offers an appealing option to our 2021 Transpacific Yacht Race, should Kauai still require 14 days of quarantine in late June. What have I learned during recent years? One never knows what tomorrow may bring. Do It Now.
I know that lots of you have sailed down the coast already. But some of you haven't. I'll write about it and you'll learn what you always learn from this thread: If I can do it, so can you.
Dura Mater is a safe tank of a boat with a new rudder. The mainsail is dacron, bought in September of 2013. I have a single burner butane stove that I bought for $11.99. Butane canisters cost about $1.79/each at the Asian food market. I'll rinse out the porta pottie and refill my water bottles. I still have gallons hidden away from last year's ShortPac. I'm going to sail what I got. So, southward goes Dura Mater and her skipper, too.
We will leave from Half Moon Bay following the SSS race on September 12. Maybe after a day of rest. I did enjoy helping Dave Morris unplug that little floatie dock from its danforth anchors last year. Hope he'll let me help again. Then I'll leave the next day, first down to Santa Cruz, then Monterey, then on down.
I grew up in Orange County, WAY before I started sailing. Maybe I'll sail down there, see what it looks like from the water. Maybe sail over to Catalina Island, see if it offers an appealing option to our 2021 Transpacific Yacht Race, should Kauai still require 14 days of quarantine in late June. What have I learned during recent years? One never knows what tomorrow may bring. Do It Now.
I know that lots of you have sailed down the coast already. But some of you haven't. I'll write about it and you'll learn what you always learn from this thread: If I can do it, so can you.
Dura Mater is a safe tank of a boat with a new rudder. The mainsail is dacron, bought in September of 2013. I have a single burner butane stove that I bought for $11.99. Butane canisters cost about $1.79/each at the Asian food market. I'll rinse out the porta pottie and refill my water bottles. I still have gallons hidden away from last year's ShortPac. I'm going to sail what I got. So, southward goes Dura Mater and her skipper, too.
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Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
EVERYTHING about this trip will be determined by the weather forecast. I don’t want to be frightened, I want it to be a pleasant trip down the coast. I hope it will be a pleasant trip back up the coast.
I have heard people say, “Oh, it’s the trip back that’s a bash.” Well, I’ve bashed my way back from the Delta three times. What if I had listened to people who said that? What if I hadn’t gone to the Delta because it’s a bash back to the Bay? Well, that would have been silly. I figure this will just be a longer bash.
I love learning new things. First I read Brian Fagan’s Cruising Guide: SanFrancisco to Ensenada, Mexico, 1994. Yeah. Cover to cover. Don’t want to miss anything, then re-read it later and say to myself, “Well, that would probably have been good to know, Jackie.”
Next I started looking at the NOAA forecasts for the Central Coast. It’s different. Yeah. It’s National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS56 KLOX. When we use the NOAA site to check out sailing conditions off the coast up here in the Gulf of the Farallones, we use the NOAA SF area forecasts (National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS56 KMTR). I realized that I will (duh) need to change my waypoints. In order to do that I looked up the coordinates for NOAA buoys and wave riders all down the coast. Here they are. You’re welcome.
Then I got a text from a sailing friend. Not appreciating the complexity of my mission, he wants to know what I’m going to eat. Yeah. And he’s one of my smarter friends. So now I have to go make lists of food to eat.
I have heard people say, “Oh, it’s the trip back that’s a bash.” Well, I’ve bashed my way back from the Delta three times. What if I had listened to people who said that? What if I hadn’t gone to the Delta because it’s a bash back to the Bay? Well, that would have been silly. I figure this will just be a longer bash.
I love learning new things. First I read Brian Fagan’s Cruising Guide: SanFrancisco to Ensenada, Mexico, 1994. Yeah. Cover to cover. Don’t want to miss anything, then re-read it later and say to myself, “Well, that would probably have been good to know, Jackie.”
Next I started looking at the NOAA forecasts for the Central Coast. It’s different. Yeah. It’s National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS56 KLOX. When we use the NOAA site to check out sailing conditions off the coast up here in the Gulf of the Farallones, we use the NOAA SF area forecasts (National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS56 KMTR). I realized that I will (duh) need to change my waypoints. In order to do that I looked up the coordinates for NOAA buoys and wave riders all down the coast. Here they are. You’re welcome.
Then I got a text from a sailing friend. Not appreciating the complexity of my mission, he wants to know what I’m going to eat. Yeah. And he’s one of my smarter friends. So now I have to go make lists of food to eat.
No doubt your experience will be different.
The insurance rider that covers the boat from one location to another is very good.
Back in July / August 1990, Scoop was sailed south. No wind. Yup, it happens.
Stopped at Morro Bay to pick up more gas. Wind picked up around Pt Conception. Just as we began to surf with spinnaker up, the mast section failed at exit point for topping lift. The mast and sails lazily dropped, and fell fully reefed on the deck.
It took no more than 20 minutes to clean up sails and lines in the water. Next motoring stop was Santa Barbara.
Cheers,
Ants
The insurance rider that covers the boat from one location to another is very good.
Back in July / August 1990, Scoop was sailed south. No wind. Yup, it happens.
Stopped at Morro Bay to pick up more gas. Wind picked up around Pt Conception. Just as we began to surf with spinnaker up, the mast section failed at exit point for topping lift. The mast and sails lazily dropped, and fell fully reefed on the deck.
It took no more than 20 minutes to clean up sails and lines in the water. Next motoring stop was Santa Barbara.
Cheers,
Ants