September, 2011:

We finally got a break from motoring this morning as we rounded Cape Mendocino, the last of the tricky spots. We’re on the home stretch now. If we can keep our speed up we may be in Sausalito by tomorrow night. Most likely we’ll stop at Drakes Bay in the late afternoon and then pass under the gate Saturday morning.

We had a lovely 15-20 knots from the NW for several hours as we rounded Mendocino this morning, really fun sailing. However the winds abruptly shut off as soon as we got around the cape and underneath the land. We’re back to motoring again in the fog, surrounded by undulating gray seas and a misty white sky. It’s been foggy for the most part of the past three days and we haven’t even seen the California coast yet and we’re only 5-10 miles offshore. Hopefully we’ll get a little scenery before we actually reach the Golden Gate.

When we’re traveling like this, hour after hour after hour you can’t help but think about how nice it is to have so much free time. I’ve spent literally hours just watching the sea go by while the children nap or play below. It’s been a long long time since we’ve had this much time to just be. I’ve even felt bored and that’s not something that’s happened in years. This morning while the guys were outside sailing the boat I cuddled with the girls in our bunk. Surrounded by blankies and stuffed animals and pink pillows we read stories for about two hours. No pressure to do anything else or be anywhere else because there just isn’t anywhere else to be. I could get used to this.

Of course, we’ll be in San Francisco in a day and a half; we’d better relish all this time while we can.

Total miles at noon: 568

We spent last night anchored in Port Orford, Oregon. The anchorage is exposed to the south but delightfully protected from the roaring northwesterlies we could still hear howling outside the bay. We definitely all enjoyed the break from moving and relaxed thoroughly. Not long after dinner we all went to bed and slept like rocks.

It was still out when we awoke. Michael downloaded the latest weather forecasts; today’s weather was supposed to be (and has been) light winds but with more gales coming on Thursday to that area. It was definitely time to get going again.

After a quick cup of coffee we cranked the chain up and were off by 0830. We’ve been motoring all day, only a few knots of SW wind to speak of. We’re only about 5 miles off the coast and have been watching the beautiful coastline go by. Nothing remarkable happening which is just fine by us.

We continue to be surprised by how quiet and easy the girls are underway. Yesterday while we were rounding Blanco, they spent hours in our bed, reading books and (I admit) eating Oreo cookies. While we were sluicing down the steepest waves they’d discovered that they could lay sideways in our bed and as the boat would roll they could just lay there and slide from side to side without any effort. They were laughing uproariously and having a great time. Today after breakfast we let them watch a few DVDs. After lunch they both were apparently exhausted and napped most of the afternoon.

Around 1700 we passed the border into California and are passing by Crescent City as I type this. Less than 300 miles to go!

Total miles at noon: 429

Dear Cape Blanco,

First off, you are a beautiful coastline (when you’re not covered in dense fog that is). Your water is clear blue, your skies often sunny and warm. So why do you so despise small sailboats sailing past you? You send wind howling down onto your waters, kicking up waves that are steep and treacherous. You laugh at weather forecasters. They say to expect 15 knots from you and you instead throw up 30 or 40. Especially when it gets dark you love to kick it up yet another notch. When small boats want to reach a safe harbor onshore your steep close waves prevent them from safely traveling eastward. You must really get a kick out of that.

We’ve truly have enjoyed our sail down the west coast. Up until now it hasn’t been too windy, it’s been sunny and we’ve been steadily making our way to California. The Cape Blanco forecast was for 10-15 knots and we thought that we might get another sweet spinnaker run in today. But alas it was not to be. In your classic Blanco fashion when we were but 20 miles north of your Cape you switched your wind on from 0 to 20 then when we were committed to rounding, you kicked it up to 30. We spent the morning hand steering, surfing down your ridiculous waves and making our way painstakingly eastward to safe harbor.

You didn’t get us this time though and we get the last laugh. We were anchored down in the safety of Port Orford just to the south of you by early afternoon and enjoying the gorgeous scenery of southern Oregon and clear turquoise Pacific waters. And cold beer and zucchini pancakes.

Not your fans,
The Wondertime Crew

Total miles at noon: 405

We kept the spinnaker up until nearly sunset last night then took it down before nightfall. With this coast’s reputation (at least in my mind) of the wind picking up at night we’re only using our best downwind sail in the daytime. That was fine anyway because it was barely an hour later and our genoa started flogging badly; the wind had dropped below 10 knots and the engine was started with reluctance after nearly 26 hours of sailing.

At 8 pm we tuck the girls into bed. They’ve been sleeping with their heads at the foot of our bed which is a wonderful protected cubby. Michael and I each stuff ourselves between them when we are off watch. They make the most marvelous lee cloths and the whole bunk is warm and cozy with all the bodies. It’s a lovely way to sleep and the nights don’t seem chilly at all.

With our third crewmember, Garth, onboard our watch schedule has been truly luxurious and for the first passage ever we’ve all been getting plenty of sleep. I take the 8p-12a watch after the girls are in bed, Michael has the dark 12a-4a watch and Garth gets to watch the sunrise during his 4a-8a watch. During the day we each take turns napping and playing with the girls.

Our appetites returned our second day out and last night I was able to put together a lentil sausage stew (actually Michael put most of it together when my stomach couldn’t handle anymore after chopping the onion…still working on my sea legs). Thanks to some mealtime teamwork, we all savored the warm meaty meal.

This morning brought even less wind so we continue to chug along. Thankfully we have had a 1.5 knot current running south with us and are making great time. We passed Newport, Oregon around noon today and should be crossing the California border Tuesday morning. Almost half way there!

Total miles at noon: 263

After sleeping nearly all day yesterday the girls finally woke up this morning. All of us are getting our sea legs on now in fact; we are less queasy, have a little bit more energy, and have been given sailing conditions so perfect that it would be impossible not to be having a good time out here.

We had the motor on and off until yesterday evening. When we were finally free of the mouth of Juan de Fuca and south of Cape Flattery the NW wind filled in. We rolled out the genoa and put two reefs in the mainsail for stability and set our course for 170 south. All night long we had a steady 15-20 knots of wind and rolled back and forth in the sea and swell that always live here. I was able to put together a quick macaroni and cheese dinner and the crew wolfed it down, a good sign.

Last night was the kind of night I’d only read about until now. The phosphorescence was so bright we watched the glowing green waves flicker and dance around us and bright foamy billows light up our keel when we’d surf down a wave. Our wake left behind a glowing trail. After the half moon set around 11 pm the quantity of stars out was simply awesome. A night of pure magic.

The wind let up a bit this morning to less than 15 knots. Our genoa started flogging back and forth in the leftover wind waves and Michael I doused it and put up our spinnaker. We’ve been cruising along all day like this with bright sunshine above, clear green water below and a rainbow of color pulling us along.

All five of us sat in the cockpit just watching the sea for several hours this morning. The girls asked for books and toys and started to get back into their regular play routines. In the distance we saw a little brown bird fluttering its wings, exhausted. This little woodland guy, at 40 miles offshore, had clearly made a wrong turn. He flapped around our boat and then landed on our stern rail and rode along with us for an hour or two, resting and snacking on cracker crumbs the girls tossed to him. Our little visitor making the ride all the more sweeter.

Total miles at noon: 132