We're certainly feeling at home in these California waters. The first day in San Fransisco was hot and sunny, but for nearly a week since then it has been overcast, cool and a little gloomy. We're in the middle of a two day passage from Monterey to Santa Catalina Island. Catalina is one of the Channel Islands; so named because the island chain forms the windward boundary of the Santa Barbara Channel. We'll be rounding Point Conception and entering the channel in a few hours.
There has been more sea life along this section of the California coast than boat traffic. There doesn't appear to be a lot of fishing going on. It's a welcome change. Sea birds, whales and porpoises drop by at odd intervals to investigate the little boat plodding through their waters.
The wind picked up during the night, but it was from directly behind us and we didn't want to deal with the whisker pole in the dark. Without the pole to hold the genoa out, the sail tends to flop around uselessly when we sail directly downwind. I confess I don't feel much like a sailor in moments like these. If we were racing, we would have to sail come what may and we'd deal with whatever conditions presented themselves. But cruisers like me who haven't raced in many years are more interested in efficiency. Why wrestle with the pole and sail when it's so much easier and safer to motor through the night? Alas, it's efficiency that comes with a little disappointment at motoring again and guilt at not sailing when we technically could be. It just doesn't feel like the right decision, all things considered.
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As you said in a previous post, Rod, you pays your money and you takes what comes. Yeah, there was some disappointment in all the motoring that we did, but I have exactly zero difficulty in agreeing with your decisions each and every time.
ReplyDelete-- Kevin --