Changes in ‘Lectronic Latitudes
It’s not often that we get to write about local cruising, but it’s nice to be reminded that you can. The Bay Area has never been known as a cruiser’s paradise. We have no Channel Islands, nor an abundance of harbors along the coast. But Berkeley sailors Mitchell Andrus and Quincey Cummings managed to sail out the Gate on their Kelly Peterson 46 Esprit for a long weekend, and were Truly Cruising.
My wife Quincey and I decided it was time to get out of the Bay and “head south,” but what could we get done in five days and four nights of “cruising?” Monterey? Well, that can be tough with a short window, and we had to get back to work on a Tuesday. A week before, the weather called for two days of typical northerlies at 15 knots, a day of calm, and two days of atypical southerlies, at 15 knots. “That’s it!” we exclaimed, we have our chance and we’ll have a day of rest in Monterey! Truly cruising. I did, however, tell the crew that it would be foolish to cross our fingers that early in the forecast.
We had a couple of friends join us for the trip. They’re interested in buying a Kelly Peterson 46, or similar, and wanted to do some night sailing as they had never had the opportunity before. We provisioned Esprit for 14 home-cooked meals for four, tied the dinghy down on deck, readied the jacklines, and departed the East Bay at 9 a.m. on September 27.
At 12 p.m. we rounded SF Main Ship Channel Buoy 84 with only three knots apparent wind, about 40 degrees off the starboard bow. We were motorsailing in very light southwesterlies. We had watched our perfect forecast wither down and peter out over the previous week, but we were going anyway. As is common when aboard with Q&M, we practiced a person overboard drill, this time to pick up a wayward and improperly disposed-of birthday balloon. Pillar Point Entrance Buoy was passed to port six hours after departure, and we had actually had two hours of wonderful light-wind sailing along the way.
We were pleasantly greeted by friends from our dock in Berkeley, and surprised to see them there. We were expecting to see them in Monterey, where they had spent more than a month enjoying their Hallberg Rassy 42E ketch. They had tales of chasing perfect opportunities to go downwind between Drakes Bay and Monterey numerous times in the past month. But these two never sail beyond those landmarks unless it’s aboard a jet. They also have seven summers in a row, spending our winters in Chile!
Truly cruising.
We had a calm, not too chilly night anchored in Pillar Point. Given the forecast for more light winds, we decided to pass on Monterey and instead head for Santa Cruz. Enjoying a not-too-rushed morning, Q, our two crew and I departed at 8 a.m. Our friends from Chile called “Fair winds!” on the VHF.
Motoring at an average six and a half knots brought us to Pigeon Point Light. about three hours into the trip. By now, the wind had built to about eight knots apparent and it was on the beam. We unfurled the genoa and shut down the d-sail. The wind continued to build, sticking around 11-12 knots the rest of the way to Santa Cruz. We averaged six knots and the passage took us a little over eight hours. Sailing was such a relief; we’d all wanted to shut the engine down or turn around to sail the Bay’s reliable winds.
We discussed the merits of boats and their size, where and when to cruise, emergency procedures, what gear to have aboard, and my favorite, the K.I.S.S. method — Keep it Simple, Stupid. “Don’t buy the biggest boat you can afford, buy the smallest boat you can tolerate.” Weather, among sailors, is always a topic not glossed over. Everything from dealing with calms to prepping for hurricanes.
Santa Cruz did not disappoint. Q and I were able to visit our favorite coffee shop and run along the beach barefoot, and even check out the boardwalk. Truly cruising. We docked Esprit three times in Santa Cruz Harbor, practicing close-quarters maneuvering and negotiating traffic that makes the Berkeley Marina look simple. Does anyone know how many charter boats are in Santa Cruz? More than I could count.
After 20 hours in town, it was time to get back to sea.
Stay tuned for part 2 of Truly Cruising in an upcoming ‘Lectronic Latitude.