Heavy weather sailing

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1

Posted by seychellois_lib (mcunningham@…>)

Lest you mock me for my earlier post regarding steaming to weather for
12 hours (what a wimp). I want to set the record straight on what
actually happened.

I keep my boat at the Stockton Sailing Club on the Sacto Delta about
50 miles east of San Francisco. I set sail on my annual summer cruise
in mid June and, as usual had a terrific sail all the way from the
club through the Carquinez Strait into about 35Kts of wind blowing
down San Pablo Bay (as usual it the late afternoon). No big deal, put
in the third reef and pounded to weather through 3 to 4 foot chop and
made it to my anchorage at China Camp.

My ultimate objective was Monterey, about 90 miles south of the Golden
Gate.

Next day I rigged up and sailed down to Pillar Point (Half Moon Bay)
about 17 miles sooth of the Gate and had a wonderful evening anchored
in the quiet harbor there.

Next day lazed around, got up late, and had a slow breakfast
anticipating the favorable northwesterlies that would push me south to
Santa Cruz about 50 miles down the coast. Lesson number one - turn on
the WX channel and take a listen before “lazing around”. Departed the
harbor at about 1000, set sail and immediately realized I was facing a
20Kt southerly breeze right on my nose and 50 miles to go. OK, cool,
this will be perfect on my return trip, might as well get the bashing
out of the way up front…yea, right.

Anyway, 13.5 hours later, one at sea diesel refueling, about two
thousand tacks, fog, and whale sightings (very cool) at 2330 I
(finally) entered the harbor at Santa Cruz, never been there before
and, frankly, thank God for my Garmin 478. The chart said there was a
red light blinking morse code “A” in the approach. Hell, I don’t know
what morse code A is so I fixated on a big red light which turned out
to be an oblique view of a local Target store. Lesson two - DON’T
FIXATE, THINK.

The next day headed down to Monterey and had one of those wonderful
clear day sails you always dream of. Spent a day in Monterey harbor
then back to Santa Cruz for another day and the trouble started. By
now I had learned lesson one but had not yet learned lesson 3. Lesson
three - do not voluntarily venture out into open ocean gail force
conditions from a nice, warm, dry, harbor.

Having not learned lesson three yet I ventured out. As my daughter
says - OH MY GOD - what an experience. I eventually made it about nine
miles to weather (of course the wind was now blowing from the
Northwest so right on the nose again). After five hours of incredibly
hard sailing in open ocean (lee shore) in 30 to 35 Kts. Swell running
8 to 9 feet at 7 or 8 seconds with another two to three feet of wind
wave. After the umpteenth green water over the deck and hearing the
interior of the boat groaning every time I went below to check the
bilge. I placed discretion (OK, OK mixed with a little fear) before
valor and turned tail back to Santa Cruz. I just felt something was
going to break and then the shit was going to hit the fan (excuse my
French).

This time I anchored out north of the Santa Cruz pier where I could
keep an eye on the tempest with binoculars and an ear on the WX radio.
Two days later I finally escaped. It was still blowing 20Kts with a
significant swell so I swallowed my pride and motored all the way back
to Pillar Point, the 12 hour steaming that started this story.

Upon arrival at Pillar Point I did a careful inspection of the boat
and noted that the portside cabinetry had moved about 1/4 inch
outboard. yikes. I inspected all the bulkhead tabbing and saw no
separation so I’m thinking this was simply the result of hull twisting
and I ought to be able to fix things later on. It did support my
decision to give up on the gail sailing.

The rest of the trip home was uneventful by comparison but some good
lessons learned. By the way, last year a fellow on the board warned me
about the California Coast above 30Kts, my hat is off to you Sir.

Mike Cunningham
F30 Hull 3
“Jacqueline”

2

Posted by Jay Glen (svfantasy@…>)
Mike,Like you Mike, I sail the Sacramento Delta, SF Bay, and the coast of California. I live aboard in Glen Cove Marina on the Carquenez Straights. The trip you described is one I have made numerous times over the past 30 yrs of sailing. It is a trip not to be made by the unprepared, unexperienced, or those faint of heart. Conditions along this coast can change dramatically in short order. With that said, it is also a lot of fun, usually a lot of sea life, often fog, usually wet and cold on the Northbound bash coming home, but more importantly, a real confidence builder. If you want calmer conditions, the best time to make this trip is in the late Summer, early Fall. I like to go in September, as this is the Indian Summer on SF Bay and along the coast. The weather is warmer, the seas calmer, and the winds usually lighter, or, regretfully, not there at all. But it is a safer time of year for this trip. Reading your story was pleasurable, as it reminded me of the many trips I took in which I had to turn back and run for cover when the wind and seas came up. But, if every trip we ever took was uneventful there would be no real stories to tell!!
JayF-40 CKOn 8/5/07, seychellois_lib <mcunningham@…> wrote:




Lest you mock me for my earlier post regarding steaming to weather for
12 hours (what a wimp). I want to set the record straight on what
actually happened.

I keep my boat at the Stockton Sailing Club on the Sacto Delta about
50 miles east of San Francisco. I set sail on my annual summer cruise
in mid June and, as usual had a terrific sail all the way from the
club through the Carquinez Strait into about 35Kts of wind blowing
down San Pablo Bay (as usual it the late afternoon). No big deal, put
in the third reef and pounded to weather through 3 to 4 foot chop and
made it to my anchorage at China Camp.

My ultimate objective was Monterey, about 90 miles south of the Golden
Gate.

Next day I rigged up and sailed down to Pillar Point (Half Moon Bay)
about 17 miles sooth of the Gate and had a wonderful evening anchored
in the quiet harbor there.

Next day lazed around, got up late, and had a slow breakfast
anticipating the favorable northwesterlies that would push me south to
Santa Cruz about 50 miles down the coast. Lesson number one - turn on
the WX channel and take a listen before “lazing around”. Departed the
harbor at about 1000, set sail and immediately realized I was facing a
20Kt southerly breeze right on my nose and 50 miles to go. OK, cool,
this will be perfect on my return trip, might as well get the bashing
out of the way up front…yea, right.

Anyway, 13.5 hours later, one at sea diesel refueling, about two
thousand tacks, fog, and whale sightings (very cool) at 2330 I
(finally) entered the harbor at Santa Cruz, never been there before
and, frankly, thank God for my Garmin 478. The chart said there was a
red light blinking morse code “A” in the approach. Hell, I don’t know
what morse code A is so I fixated on a big red light which turned out
to be an oblique view of a local Target store. Lesson two - DON’T
FIXATE, THINK.

The next day headed down to Monterey and had one of those wonderful
clear day sails you always dream of. Spent a day in Monterey harbor
then back to Santa Cruz for another day and the trouble started. By
now I had learned lesson one but had not yet learned lesson 3. Lesson
three - do not voluntarily venture out into open ocean gail force
conditions from a nice, warm, dry, harbor.

Having not learned lesson three yet I ventured out. As my daughter
says - OH MY GOD - what an experience. I eventually made it about nine
miles to weather (of course the wind was now blowing from the
Northwest so right on the nose again). After five hours of incredibly
hard sailing in open ocean (lee shore) in 30 to 35 Kts. Swell running
8 to 9 feet at 7 or 8 seconds with another two to three feet of wind
wave. After the umpteenth green water over the deck and hearing the
interior of the boat groaning every time I went below to check the
bilge. I placed discretion (OK, OK mixed with a little fear) before
valor and turned tail back to Santa Cruz. I just felt something was
going to break and then the shit was going to hit the fan (excuse my
French).

This time I anchored out north of the Santa Cruz pier where I could
keep an eye on the tempest with binoculars and an ear on the WX radio.
Two days later I finally escaped. It was still blowing 20Kts with a
significant swell so I swallowed my pride and motored all the way back
to Pillar Point, the 12 hour steaming that started this story.

Upon arrival at Pillar Point I did a careful inspection of the boat
and noted that the portside cabinetry had moved about 1/4 inch
outboard. yikes. I inspected all the bulkhead tabbing and saw no
separation so I’m thinking this was simply the result of hull twisting
and I ought to be able to fix things later on. It did support my
decision to give up on the gail sailing.

The rest of the trip home was uneventful by comparison but some good
lessons learned. By the way, last year a fellow on the board warned me
about the California Coast above 30Kts, my hat is off to you Sir.

Mike Cunningham
F30 Hull 3
“Jacqueline”




– Jay Glen ki6jtks/v FantasyFreedom 40 Cat-KetchSan Francisco Bay Area

3

Posted by george huffman (thatboatguy2@…>)
Mike,I also got a kick out of your story. I’ve never sailed out there but some day I will. Thanks for sharing with us. GeorgeJay Glen <svfantasy@…> wrote: Mike,Like you Mike, I sail the Sacramento Delta, SF Bay, and the coast of California. I live aboard in Glen Cove Marina on the Carquenez Straights. The trip you described is one I have made numerous times over the past 30 yrs of sailing. It is a trip not to be made by the unprepared, unexperienced, or those faint of heart. Conditions
along this coast can change dramatically in short order. With that said, it is also a lot of fun, usually a lot of sea life, often fog, usually wet and cold on the Northbound bash coming home, but more importantly, a real confidence builder. If you want calmer conditions, the best time to make this trip is in the late Summer, early Fall. I like to go in September, as this is the Indian Summer on SF Bay and along the coast. The weather is warmer, the seas calmer, and the winds usually lighter, or, regretfully, not there at all. But it is a safer time of year for this trip. Reading your story was pleasurable, as it reminded me of the many trips I took in which I had to turn back and run for cover when the wind and seas came up. But, if every trip we ever took was uneventful there would be no real stories to tell!! JayF-40 CKOn 8/5/07, seychellois_lib <mcunningham@zinnianet.net> wrote: Lest you mock me for my earlier post regarding steaming to weather for 12 hours (what a wimp). I want to set the record straight on what actually happened. I keep my boat at the Stockton Sailing Club on the Sacto Delta about 50 miles east of San Francisco. I set sail on my annual summer cruise in mid June and, as usual had a terrific sail all the way from the club through the Carquinez Strait into about 35Kts of wind blowing down San Pablo Bay (as usual it the late afternoon). No big deal, put in the third reef and pounded to weather through 3 to 4 foot chop and made it to my anchorage at China Camp. My ultimate objective was Monterey, about
90 miles south of the Golden Gate. Next day I rigged up and sailed down to Pillar Point (Half Moon Bay) about 17 miles sooth of the Gate and had a wonderful evening anchored in the quiet harbor there. Next day lazed around, got up late, and had a slow breakfast anticipating the favorable northwesterlies that would push me south to Santa Cruz about 50 miles down the coast. Lesson number one - turn on the WX channel and take a listen before “lazing around”. Departed the harbor at about 1000, set sail and immediately realized I was facing a 20Kt southerly breeze right on my nose and 50 miles to go. OK, cool, this will be perfect on my return trip, might as well get the bashing out of the way up front…yea, right. Anyway, 13.5 hours later, one at sea diesel refueling, about two thousand tacks, fog, and whale sightings (very cool) at 2330 I (finally) entered the harbor at Santa Cruz, never been there
before and, frankly, thank God for my Garmin 478. The chart said there was a red light blinking morse code “A” in the approach. Hell, I don’t know what morse code A is so I fixated on a big red light which turned out to be an oblique view of a local Target store. Lesson two - DON’T FIXATE, THINK. The next day headed down to Monterey and had one of those wonderful clear day sails you always dream of. Spent a day in Monterey harbor then back to Santa Cruz for another day and the trouble started. By now I had learned lesson one but had not yet learned lesson 3. Lesson three - do not voluntarily venture out into open ocean gail force conditions from a nice, warm, dry, harbor. Having not learned lesson three yet I ventured out. As my daughter says - OH MY GOD - what an experience. I eventually made it about nine miles to weather (of course the wind was now blowing from the Northwest so right on the nose
again). After five hours of incredibly hard sailing in open ocean (lee shore) in 30 to 35 Kts. Swell running 8 to 9 feet at 7 or 8 seconds with another two to three feet of wind wave. After the umpteenth green water over the deck and hearing the interior of the boat groaning every time I went below to check the bilge. I placed discretion (OK, OK mixed with a little fear) before valor and turned tail back to Santa Cruz. I just felt something was going to break and then the shit was going to hit the fan (excuse my French). This time I anchored out north of the Santa Cruz pier where I could keep an eye on the tempest with binoculars and an ear on the WX radio. Two days later I finally escaped. It was still blowing 20Kts with a significant swell so I swallowed my pride and motored all the way back to Pillar Point, the 12 hour steaming that started this story. Upon arrival at Pillar Point I did a careful
inspection of the boat and noted that the portside cabinetry had moved about 1/4 inch outboard. yikes. I inspected all the bulkhead tabbing and saw no separation so I’m thinking this was simply the result of hull twisting and I ought to be able to fix things later on. It did support my decision to give up on the gail sailing. The rest of the trip home was uneventful by comparison but some good lessons learned. By the way, last year a fellow on the board warned me about the California Coast above 30Kts, my hat is off to you Sir. Mike Cunningham F30 Hull 3 “Jacqueline” – Jay Glen ki6jtks/v FantasyFreedom 40 Cat-KetchSan Francisco Bay Area
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