Arrived Drakes Bay

Arrived Drakes Bay around 3 pm 9/4. It was a 112 mile run from Noyo River. Rounded Pt Arena(another of the major capes) without any problem and this time the wind stayed at about 10-15 knots and it was nice sailing all night until about 5 am when it went pretty light and the engine needed to come on. The night started out with fog on shore but clear overhead and I could see the stars and moon. Later it got really foggy and soon every thing was dripping wet outside.

The fog cleared a bit outside Bodega Bay and I got a view though somewhat hazy of the Pt Reyes lighthouse on the cliff. I'll post my poor pictures later.

The headlands around Drakes Bay are high and bare. I can't believe it has changed much since Drake himself anchored here in 1579. It's well protected from the wind and only a few building dot the inside hill side.

Pt Reyes Lighthouse

Headlands of Drakes Bay

This afternoon it's been take a nap, fix dinner, and figure out the tides and times for entering San Fransisco tomorrow.

Drakes Bay

Ed

Noyo River.. continued

Planning to leave this morning 9-3, but found I needed the change the oil(hours add up with these 24 hr runs). Figured I could leave later anyway since it would put me in Drakes Bay in the afternoon instead of morning.

While changing the oil, I got to talking with a fisherman working a couple of boats over. He was working this netting boat now, but has been a sea urchin diver for the last 30 years. He offered a ride up to town if I needed anything and I did need to replenish the oil supply(since it was handy). Thanks for the ride Jamie ! People are really willing to help out the visiting boater.

Ed

Arrived at the Noyo River boat basin at about 7:30am. Very foggy on the way in, maybe 100 yard visibility improving as you went toward the highway 1 bridge, so it was find the bouy and then go from bouy to bouy. At the bridge it cleared up. A couple of turns through the narrow river lined with buildings, small piers and fishing boats leads to the Noyo river public marina.

In the previous post, I mentioned a great rounding of Cape Medecino, and it was. For several hours after, the sailing was great. I put of the jib and staysail, winged them out of each side and moved like a freight train on a track. Thor, steered dead down wind in 15 or 20 knots and we moved at 5.5 to 6 knots. After a couple of hours, I noticed some breaking wave tops and bigger waves. We were doing 6 plus knots consistently and 7-8 knots down the face of the waves. Hummm, I think it's blowing harder than 20 knots now. The wind waves were now easily 6-8 feet but flowing under the boat no problem. I knew I needed to reduce the sail area and get the main jib down. Unfortunately when I released the sheet and then the halyard to lower it, it immediatly wrapped itself around the headstay a few times. Took about 20 minutes of fussing and untwisting, but it finally came down. Mind you that this is all on hands and knees because no way are you going stand up in that kind of motion. Anyway, with it down and only the staysail we were still doing 5 and 6 knots and the wind was increasing. I went below to dig out the storm jib. I have been pretty diligent in keeping the hatch boards in and closing the hatch when not going in or out. Good thing. While standing below, theres this big slam on the stern quarter and as I looked out the portlight over the chart table, it's filled with water, and water's spirting in the cracks between the drop boards. I went up to see the last of the water draining out of the cockpit drain and my coffee cup in the cockpit filled with sea water. The boat was still on course and it must have been one of those bigger than normal waves from a little different direction.

At this point, the winds began to moderate a bit, and we continued under staysail. Later in the early morning, the wind really went light and I raised the main to keep some speed up.

Walked around the jetty entrance a bit this afternoon. Very scenic when there's no fog. Pictures when I can find internet.

Taking a look at the weather to round Pt Arena and probably end up in Drakes Bay. That will be about a 26 hour run.

Ed

Rounded Caspe Medecino

Rounded Cape Medecino a few minutes ago. Sunny skies, 1-2 foot wind waves and 4-5 foot long period swell. Thor is steering the boat, pretty much dead down wind. Flying the jib and staysail wing and wing. Making about 4 knots. Toasted the sea with a shot of rum for giving up such good weather around the cape.

Ed