This morning we departed Bodega Bay in the near early morning darkness. We're bound for the Golden Gate at around 2PM near slack current. Then it's down the Bay to Redwood City and Westpoint Harbor arriving around 4PM where we expect to keep the Wild Blue for several months. Once again we're in front of a new set of storms that are expected to thrash the ocean starting tonight. Hopefully we'll finally complete this journey southward after planning an early to mid-October finish.
This morning's leg is usually ugly as the swell and seas come from the northwest and our course is initially southwest to clear Point Reyes. This puts the seas on our beam, beyond what the roll stabilizers can handle. So any loose furniture, unsecured table items, and unlatched drawers can become mobile as they did on this leg in September 2013. We expect to get a little current push at point Reyes. Check back later.
10:30AM Update:
The fog arrived about an hour into our motor to Point Reyes. It then cleared just after the Point. Surprisingly the ocean is mild today, way less than the forecast 6 foot swell, and all furniture is staying put this time! Winds are below 5 knots so far. Expecting the Gate around 1:45PM. Later.
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| Fog bank reduces our visibility to about 200 yards. |
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| Point Reyes Light. Known for its great Blue Cheese! |
We safely navigated over the San Francisco Bay Bar, under the Golden Gate and across the busy Bay. Just 90 minutes and we'll be ready to tie the boat at Westpoint Harbor for a few months and enjoy the NoCal winter. It been a fun but lengthy cruise southward, and sometimes seeming a bit like a chore rather than a boat cruise. Thanks to Dick Squire and Denny Haythorn for their, as always, excellent crew work aboard the Wild Blue in sometimes exciting conditions.
Have a great winter...... Alex
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| Point Bonita just northwest of SF Bay entrance |
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| The gate with tower tops missing. |
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| The City |
Dick is cleaning up bow area, and taking a bow for good crew work.
Now in his mid-eighties, Dick has owned some 30+ sail and
power boats. His most recent Seagate, a GB East Bay 44 that does
30+ knots, was delivered this past June. He's every boaters idol!
Now in his mid-eighties, Dick has owned some 30+ sail and
power boats. His most recent Seagate, a GB East Bay 44 that does
30+ knots, was delivered this past June. He's every boaters idol!
Dick Squire Interview from 2013
I saw the article in Boat Us and have been reading your blog. I just wanted to say thank you. I have had the desire to motor up and down the west coast for some time and your blog makes that desire even stronger. My husband and I fish the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Delta regularly. We recently purchased a Bayliner 2452 and look forward to seeing the underside of the Golden Gate soon. Again thank you for this wonderful blog..See you on the bay...Cheryl
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words Cheryl. A couple of good books that greatly help in cruise planning for the Pacific Coast are "Exploring the Pacific Coast—San Diego to Seattle" by Don & Reanne Douglass, and "Cruising the Northwest Coast - Golden Gate to Port Angeles" by George Benson (no relation). We're looking forward to cruising the California Delta this coming year so call if you see us. Alex
ReplyDeleteBeautiful ship and great blog :)
ReplyDeleteLooking to start cruising PNW and SE Alaska sometime soon. Took our 28' from Sitka to Glacier Bay this past summer, but shopping for something larger now for future living and cruising.