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We left Catalina Island in the sunshine and motor sailed 23 miles to Alamitos. Alamitos is an inlet from the Pacific Ocean between the cities of Long Beach and Seal Beach near Los Angeles. On the way we sailed through a pod of dolphins which is always entertaining and passed many container ships heading to Long Beach.

The picture to the right is a man-made oil rig. As we got closer to shore, the oil rigs were made to look like Gilligan’s Island. They are the only decorated oil islands in the U.S. measuring 10 acres each. They were built in 1965 as part of a city beautification project to camouflage offshore oil derricks and muffle their sound. I thought they were real tropical islands!

There has been thunder storms and torrential rain since late yesterday. Intermittent storms are forecasted to continue today. When its not raining the sun comes out and dries everything and then another storm blows through. At least they are fast moving storms. When the sun is out its so beautiful with all the palm trees. We were going to wash the salt off the boat but the rain showers did that for us.

Between rain showers we will continue preparing the paperwork to get the boat and dinghy into Mexico. Its easy for Kevin & I and our crew to get in but the boat is much more complicated. We have Barreda Yacht Agency helping us with the import since they speak both English and Spanish. The downside is they require piles of documentation that we’ve had to locate. A big ‘Thank You’ to Mark for rummaging through the file cabinet at home to find the necessary paperwork for us.

Our crew, Dan & Julie, departed today and they will re-join us in a few weeks in San Diego to make the trek to Mexico. We’ve enjoyed their company and they were great tour guides on our trip to Catalina.

We left Two Harbors, the more rustic town on Catalina Island,4 days ago (Oct. 6,2022) and sailed 17 miles to the quaint and historic town of Avalon. It is located on the southeastern leeward side of Catalina island. It is an interesting anchorage here on the island. Mooring is done with a bow and stern tie, and sand line. We’ve never seen this set-up before. They don’t tell you in the guide books you need gloves for the dirty/slimey sand line that has been laying on the bottom of the bay and you have to pick it up and tie it to your boat. This system if used because it allows for many boats to anchor in the bay at one time. It looks like a parking lot for boats. The Harbor Patrol greeted us at the entrance and escorted us to our mooring buoy. They give you red tablets to put in your holding tanks so its obvious if any boat dumps their holding tank in the harbor.

Julie and Dan are with us doing a trial sail to see if they want to commit to crewing for us on our trip from San Diego to Mexico at the end of the month. Its a good thing they came along because they are familiar with the island and this type of mooring.

Today we rented a golf cart and the four of us went on a tour of Avalon and stopped at several incredibly beautiful scenic viewpoints. There are about 4,000 people that live on the island in everything from beach cottages to the Wrigley Mansion overlooking the beautiful bay (from Wrigley’s chewing gum).

Snorkeling and Scuba diving are popular here at the Casino Point Dive Park. Our group has gone snorkeling a few times but the water is still too cold for me. I’m waiting until I get a further South. I’ve been told I’ve missed out on seeing the popular garibaldi gold fish that are only in the Catalina Island area.

It’s a fun coastal town to walk around with many interesting shops and restaurants. Every 15 minutes the big clock tower high on the hill chimes so you always know what time it is. There’s a big black bat on it for Halloween.

At 5:00 pm all the boats in the harbor honk their horn for the start of Happy Hour. It’s a bustling town with several foot ferries each day bringing visitors to the island as well as a stop for crew ships. (We were thankful a crew ship did not stop while we were here). We did see one tonight all lit up passing the harbor probably returning to Long Beach. I spoke too soon. We woke up this morning with a big Carnival crew ship anchored in front of us.

Tomorrow morning we will pull up the anchor and sail about 25 miles to Alamitos in Orange County.

We left beautiful Ventura on Thursday morning as it was getting light. Dumping the tanks and getting fuel were the first tasks on our agenda. Our new crew, Dan & Julie, joined us at the fuel dock for a trip to Catallna Island for a few days. It is 60 miles with no wind so we will be motor sailing today.

We had been cruising for a couple of hours when we entered the Pacific Missile Range. Range management came out to our boat in a bright orange inflatable and radioed us that a missile was going to be fired soon and they didn’t want any debris raining down us. The officer instructed us to adjust our course for 6 miles and stay close into shore. We agreed!

Later in the afternoon we arrived at Two Harbors on the West End of the 22 mile island. It is absolutely beautiful with steep cliffs and clear, aqua-colored water. Dan & Julie are familiar with this area so they guilded us on a great hike where I took this awesome picture.

This weekend is Buccanneer Days here in the harbor so there are lots of pirates, bands, music blaring from boats, costume contests, string bikinis, and craziness. There are small boats that will transport you to shore from your anchored boat so people won’t drink and drive their dinghy’s.

We will leave here tomorrow for the town of Avalon on the other side of the island.

These fun little paddle boats are available to rent once it gets dark in the marina out in front of the restaurants. They are really pretty out on the water. We love this marina and have decided to stay a few more days. This area has good restaurants and great outdoor music every night. We had a nice lunch and visit with my cousins, Catherine and John, at the Fish Market yesterday. It was great catching up with them. They live not too far away in Simi Valley.

Our bikes have been very handy but they don’t quite work for everything. Kevin went to his new favorite place, the marine consignment store, and traded in an extra anchor we had onboard. He had to carry it over his shoulder down the road a few blocks and then carried the one he bought back to the boat along with 45′ of chain. We learned we need 2 anchors (bow & stern) for Mexico so he’s setting up the second anchor while we’re here at the dock.

We will be leaving at the end of the month to join the Baja Ha Ha Sailing Rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, MX. We will need crew since we will be sailing 24/7 for 2 weeks to go the 750 miles. We met a great couple, Dan & Julie, who responded to our Crew Finder ad. They came and spent time with us today to get familiar with the boat and we made a plan to go sailing together for a few days to Catalina Island before departing for Cabo on Oct. 31.

There are several Great Blue Heron’s on the dock catching fish. They are fun to watch. I posted a picture in the photo gallery. Also in the gallery is a picture of a great guy we met on the street riding a scooter. Google maps was failing us so we asked him for directions to Old Town and he said “follow me”. What a great guy!

We are not far from Vandenberg AFB and SpaceX is launching 52 Starlink satellites tomorrow afternoon so we’re hoping to see it from here in V

After being on the boat for 5 days out in the rough Pacific Ocean we sailed to Ventura. What a beautiful sight through the binnoculars! In the distance I could see light sand and towering palm trees. This is my kind of place! The 32 mile sail over from Santa Cr uz was a good one. We set the sails and pretty much left them alone all day. As we crossed the shipping lanes Kevin had to hail the captains of two commercial vessels and inquire as to whether we needed to do any course adjustments. At one point we needed to stop and wait for a ship to pass. It’s a little unnerving floating out in the shipping lanes waiting. The large container ships do not have much manuerability so us smaller vessels are the ones that have to change course and/or speed.

Upon arrival, we learned there is a 2.5 mile boardwalk along the beach and through a small shopping village. We are staying at the Ventura Isle Marina and when we arrived yesterday the marina sent 2 dock hands out to help us dock. That was refreshing since there were big sea lions on the dock and we weren’t sure how to get them off. The marina staff has all the trick to get them to leave. They put white plastic bags on their hands and run towards them like a crazy person waiving their arms and the sea lions jump in the water and move to an open pier and continue to watch us from a distance. We spent the next couple of hours trying to hook up the electricity to the dock. The marina is new with 50 amp power and we had a 30 amp cord so the marina let us borrow an adapter but it didn’t fit. There was a second-hand marine store not too far away. The people docked across from us were just coming back from a day sail and offered to drive us. We bought another adapter and brought it back but that didn’t fit either. The marina went through their lost and found box and located an adapter that eventually worked. We are meeting the nicest people along our journey. This is the 3rd person who has given us a ride.

Since we are finished struggling with the electrical cord, it is time to take a walk on the boardwalk. Ventura Village, which is next door to the marina, is full of nice restaurants and upscale boutiques. We ended our day having a late dinner overlooking the bay and discussing how the world is different on land. Both experiences are great. The contrast from switching from solitude to society is interesting.

We arrived at Santa Rosa Island yesterday after a long day of sailing in rough water. Every once in awhile I could hear something flying around in the cabin even though I’ve tried to carefully stow everything. I feel like a flight attendant before take off because I have to stow anything that is loose or can slide around and then batten down any open hatches.

Santa Rosa Island is 8 miles long and 4 miles wide. We were anxious to pull into Ford’s Point (pictured) to get out of the blustery winds that were 27+ knots. It was challenging to get through the entrance to the bay with such forceful winds comiing at our beam. Once anchored, the winds continued to blow. Our guidebook described it as a shelter but there was no shelter today. We decided we were swinging too much and it was uncomfortable so we pulled up the anchor and continued on to find a calmer anchorage. The extreme weather in these islands is what creates the interesting rock formations, beautiful beaches, towering cliffs and steep sand dunes.

We sailed another 14 miles and anchored at Culyer Harbor on San Miguel Island. This island is 19.6 miles long and has beautiful beaches with some new critters we hadn’t seen before, elephant seals. They are tan in color and blend in with the sandy beaches. They were happy just laying in the sun and were not bothered by our arrival. The wind is still blowing but we are out of options of places to anchor since the sun is starting to set. It may have been windy and we were stuck on the boat but the sunset and the huge waves crashing on the beach made up for it.

After rocking back and forth all night, we left this morning while the winds are calm. Did I mention I’m getting use to watching tv in the evenings on a rocking boat?We are sailing to Santa Cruz Island about 15 miles away. The winds come up strong in the afternoon so we will have to wait until tomorrow morning to cross back over to the mainland to Ventura.

The Channel Islands are managed by the California parks department. A company called, Island Packers, will bring you out here in a boat and drop you off with your camping gear and you can trek across the island of your choice. Hopefully, they will be able to pick you up (weather permitting) when you are ready. We saw two tents tucked back in the rocks for shelter from the sun and wind.

It’s a beautiful morning for sailing with fairly calm water and lots of California sunshine!

We arrived at Willows Anchorage on Santa Cruz island and immediately found a beautiful beach that appeared to be untouched. We decided the swells had calmed down so we would launch the dinghy and head for the beach. We strategized our plan of attack. We will get the dinghy on top of the surf, give the engine more throttle and ride it down the back side of the wave onto the beach while lifting the motor and then quickly hop out. Well, that was a successful landing. The beach was sunny and beautiful.

After hanging out for awhile we noticed the surf had gotten steep again. Oh no! We made several attempts to wade out in the water with the dinghy with each of us holding a side but the water had so much force it took the boat right out of my hand and knocked me down and drug Kevin underwater. He knew he couldn’t let go of the dinghy. That’s why you see in the picture Kevin’s life vest inflated. Note to self: Wear a regular life jacket when attempting beach landings in the dinghy. The C02 cartridge in the water activated vest went off. The waves were repeatedly crashing into the stern of the dinghy and filling it with water and sand and the portable gas tank was floating upside down.

This is the first time water has scared me. I couldn’t believe its force. In this picture the water looks calm just like it did in the binnoculars. The dinghy is a heavy boat with an aluminum bottom with a 108 lb. outboard motor. The waves were literally throwing the boat around. There was finally a short lull in the waves so we decided to aim the boat facing outward and when the waves retreated Kevin said “go”. We ran and both jumped in the dinghy and Kevin started the motor and off we went flying over the surf. Whew!

I came back to the boat and made us margaritas while Kevin drove the dinghy around to make sure he got all the water out of the engine. We raised the dinghy out of the water and it was full of sand. This whole time I was trying to keep the camera and phones from floating away in the dry bag. I don’t know how to convey in words how alarming this ordeal was. We’ve learned so much about cruising in this first month we’ve been out but we still need to refine some of our techniques.

San Luis Obispo Pier doesn’t have much for ammenities other than two large fishing piers. The actual town is 10 miles away. CalPoly is using the harbor for marine research but there wasn’t much activity today other than a barge anchored in the middle of the harbor. Pismo Beach was close by with beautiful beaches, wineries and it’s where the Monarch butterflies migrate in the cooler months but we decided not to get off the boat today. We knew we wouldn’t be here long and it’s a process to lift the dinghy off the forward deck into the water even with the use of a halyard. After looking at the winds and wave height we decided it would be safe to cross Point Conception but we would need to get an early start.

We got up at 3 am this morning and left San Luis Obisbo Bay. Needless to say, it was very dark since the moon and stars were behind the low clouds. We found our way by a fog horn, blinking lights on the buoys and jetties, and our trusty radar. We hung a red light in the cockpit so we could see our way around the boat and it would not interfere with our night vision. We saw the first sign of daylight about 6:30 am. The days are definitely getting shorter. Starting out the seas were big rollers and it was hard to judge their intensity and when you will hit them since its so dark.

Along our 56 mile journey we saw the usual whales, sea lions and dolphins but this time we dodged oil platforms in the ocean. We also passed Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant and traveled through Vandenberg Air Force Base Missile Test Site. The steep waves and 27 knot winds made us rock-n-roll all the way here. Some waves would literally pick us up and shove us forward. These are the steepest waves we’ve been in without a crew but we managed to get here safely. For safety, we attach one end of our tether to our safety vest and the other end to safety lines on the boat and hang on!

We are at Cojo anchorage at Government Point. It is just a stop over for tonight. The conditions are not ideal because of the wave action but its fine for one night since the next anchorage or harbor is 25 miles down the coast. We are the only boat anchored here. We are surrounded by a light house, a few sea lions sharing a coast guard float, sand dunes, warm winds, and the sound of waves tumbling onto the beach. The Amtrack train just came by so now we don’t feel so alone.

We will leave this anchorage at 6 am tomorrow and sail about 23 NM to the Channel Islands, an eight-island archipelago out in the Pacific. It requires crossing Santa Barbara Channel which is open water and can be rough but we are hoping for fair winds and foll

We left San Simeon this morning and sailed 6 hours to our next stop, Morro Bay located in the Sequoia National Park. Morro Bay is a marine protected area so there are many species of sealife and birds. Morro Rock, in the background of this photo, is a historical landmark that towers 576 ft. It is the last of a line of long-extinct volcanoes formed about 23 million years ago. The waterfront town is a popular vacation destination full of hotels, restaurants, boat tours, surf shops, nice beaches and sand dunes. There is a state park at the end of town with several campsites and a 2.5 mile boardwalk over an estuary.

Since the entrance to the harbor has a hazardous bar that we had to cross, and its is closed about 40 days a year because of high swells and hazardous conditions, Kevin played it safe and contacted the Coast Guard for current conditions. The Coast Guard reported it was safe to cross the bar today but if we found ourselves in trouble or needed an escrort they were there to help.

Sailboats have to closely watch their depth as they wind around the buoys marking the channel in the harbor. It is a busy place right now with all the boats heading South so we are spending the night at a public dock in the center of town which is designated for day-use only but the park is making an exception for tonight. We are learning some harbors along the coast are considered “safe harbors” which means they will not turn anyone away. If they have to, they will raft boats together.

On our journey today I could see commotion on the water in the distance. First we saw big tuna jumping, whales spouting, diving birds, and as we got closer there was a herd of sea lions being chased by something . . . most likely sharks. Everyday we see something spectacular out in the ocean. Tomorrow we will be moving down the coast about 20 miles to San Luis Obispo. We may be staying there for a few days while we wait for a good weather window to sail around Point of Conception, also referred to as the “Cape Horn of the Pacific”.

We left Monterey Bay around noon for our 96 mile journey to San Simeon. The journey was about 19 hours which means we are sailing through the night since there are no harbors to stop at along the way. It started out great with fair winds and sunshine. After dinner we were prepared to watch a beautiful sunset when the fog rolled in. At one point you could not see in any direction. Knowing we were relying solely on our AIS and radar was a little unnerving (to me) but we were already 8-10 NM out in the ocean and commited to the journey. As it became late, Kevin and I traded off on watch. The fog was so dense it was almost raining. It was cold even with foulies on. I was on watch at 3 am curled up in a ball on the seat at the helm harnessed in with a blanket around me sipping tea. It was so dark I couldn’t see very far into the distance but I could hear splashing next to the boat. Not the kind of splashing of water hitting the hull but, splashing of animals in the water. To my surprise there was a dolphin show going on right on the side of the boat. I must have watch the 5 dolphins for over an hour which made my watch go by quickly. They are truly amazing animals the way they glide through the water, under the boat, around the stern and jumping in unison. With the phosphoresence in the water the dolphins were illuminated as they swam. It was an incredible light show and performance by the dolphins.

This reason for stopping here was to tour the Hearst Castle. We can see it from the anchorage but how will be get to it? We decided to take the dinghy through the surf and leave it on the beach, walk down the beach through the state park and up the hill to the visitor center, and take a tour bus up an even steeper hill to the castle. What an amazing castle and stories that go along with it. The photo above is of the Roman Swimming Pool. Oh how I wanted to jump in. This castle is a national histoical landmark managed by the State of CA Parks Dept. If you are ever passing though San Simeon on Hwy.1 it deserves a stop. The views from the top of the hill are breathtaking. We even got a glimpse of our boat anchored in the bay. Once back at the beach we had to figure out how to enter the surf with the dinghy. This was our first attempt since we’ve always had a dock at other places we’ve stop. Well here goes! We timed the breakers and ran with the boat out in the water and hopped in. It worked pretty well although our timing was a little off and a large wave broke over the bow of the boat (we expected this might happen so we had our belongings in a dry bag.) Since the waves didn’t tip the boat over in the surf we’ll call this a win! I’m looking forward to practicing in warmer water. I’m happy to be leaving this anchorage because of the exposure to the ocean the waves are always rocking the boat side-to-side. In the morning we will be sailing to Morro Bay 23 miles down the coast.