Getting Depressed

“We’re having quite a ride here in Musket Cove,” report John and Debbie Rogers of the San Diego-based Deerfoot 62 Moonshadow. “I, John, first noticed the wind when I thought I had lost my sense of balance up in the forward head. But no, Moonshadow was really listing about 12 degrees as the first gusts hit. Up in the cockpit we watched the wind speed march through the 20s and 30s, until it pegged at 40 knots for 15 minutes. We saw a top of 48 knots, while others reported low 50s.

“It’s two hours later now, and the wind has settled back down to the low 30s. While there are a lot of cruising boats in close quarters here at Musket Cove, we haven’t heard of any damage. Yesterday’s forecast called for winds in the 40s, and the cruisers anchored here seem to have prepared well. By the way, do boats on starboard tack have the right away while anchored?

"We just now heard from friends on the catamaran Blue Lagoon, who were hit with 60 knots. Cats tend to have a lot of windage, so they had to abandon two anchors and pick up a mooring used for visiting cruise ships.

"Our Rocna 55 — over 110 pounds — and 3/8-inch chain did just fine."

Meanwhile, yesterday’s winds back at Moonshadow’s home port of San Diego were light. We briefly got Profligate up to 8.2 knots in a light Santa Ana before the wind died completely.