Thursday, October 9, 2008

26 Miles Across the Sea



After mounting our outboard motor hoist, we dashed out of Oceanside at about 11:30 am headed for Two Harbors at the Isthmus on Catalina. We motor sailed across the channel, playing with our new chartplotter and AIS (Automatic Identification System) which locates and identifies the big ships coming our way. Its really cool - it tells you when you're on a collision course with the big guy, and exactly the time of your impending death! Hopefully you steer clear before that happens.


FINALLY, we saw some dolphins leaping and frolicking and totally ignoring us.....I kept a keen eye out for whales...but still nothing.





We had fog, moderate waves and 10-15 kt winds and we were skimming away at a fabulous 7.8 kts when we heard a loud POP. Once we picked ourselves back up off the deck from our heart attacks, we discovered that the clew had pulled itself right out of the main sail and the main was flopping wildly. We pulled in the main and continued on under motor and jib and only lost about a knot or so of speed. But we're now officially a motor boat until further notice.


Recalculating our new slower speed and distance, we diverted to Avalon Harbor so that would get in and on a buoy before sundown. What a cool little town! Good margaritas too!







No comments: