Anacapa Island Report: Frenchy's Cove

Jul 27, 2011
4,989
Bavaria 38E Alamitos Bay
We finally saw one day in a month of NW gales and SCAs, NE Santa Ana winds and SCAs, overcast skies, below normal temps, seas in the 6, 8 to 10-ft range---one day, that wasn't one of those. An ordinary Sunday!! So, Admiral and I with three friends motored 13 n.mi. across the Channel to Frenchy's Cove from Channel Islands Harbor where we had spent Saturday night, and dropped the hook just before noon in 18-20 ft.
Frenchy's 2.jpg

Two dozen bow-riding common dolphin escorted us for a mile or so before we noticed the blows of two humpback whales traveling in tandem, off about a half mile. We watched for two or three minutes until they dove; flukes breaking the water with the descent. A very satisfying scene. Deli sandwiches from Lassen's of Ventura, a round of chardonnay, followed by Milano's Dark Chocolate, made our happy lunch.:D The guests rowed ashore; Admiral and I just took in the surroundings until their return.
Frenchy's 1.jpg


Anchor up; hoist the new mainsail, steady up on 032 M for the sail home....; it was nice.
Frenchy's 3.jpg

Not quite enough wind pressure on the reach to get us home by 1700; so a little help from the diesel was accepted!
 
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Nov 22, 2011
1,192
Ericson 26-2 San Pedro, CA
Most excellent! Not sure if I'll get up that way this summer, and certainly will be too busy in the fall for such a trip. But I hope it won't be too much longer. I've never anchored at Anacapa, though I've been by it a number of times. Your conditions looked ideal.
 
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Oct 22, 2014
20,995
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Looks to be an enjoyable cruise. A day on the water is worth 5 at work on the desk.
We know the weather issues up here in the PacNW. It has been one storm after another. But That may be nearing an end for a few days. If so.... Sailing is on my agenda. Work will have to fend for itself.
 
Jul 27, 2011
4,989
Bavaria 38E Alamitos Bay
There were only two or three days in March/April where these conditions coincided with my availability to go there. The boat has not been fully ready for travel until recently. I just finished installation of the last component of the Balmar alternator up-grade last week-- a bigger (140 amp) battery isolator that required new ring terminals on the wires, and some new routing of them. Plus, you have to mail order these things. Not recommended by the professionals here, but the simplest thing to do--i.e., drop in place where the original one was mounted. I also just finished installing the mainsail which needed some tweaking. For one thing, a new Cunningham arrangement which I might change yet again. Another was an up-grade to the lazy jacks to form a 4-pt cradle from a 2-pt one. The ST60 weather station had to be taken down from the mast head and cleaned (stopped turning), plus I swapped my incandescent light for an LED at the anchor light, etc. Now, I still have to re-calibrate (re-initialize) the instrument station of the ST60.

I also just discovered that the starboard jib car track may be a source of leaking, so that has to be inspected and probably re-bedded. My life raft certification expired at the end of March, so I had to lug it home and take to the re-cert. shop. Luckily, there's one near here in Wilmington so I did not have to ship it anywhere. I just got the new hinges which had to be ordered from Marine Outfitters of Ontario to fix my 2-leaf cockpit table. The list goes on.
 
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Oct 22, 2014
20,995
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Oh yes.... The list. At first I could keep it in my head... But now as I think about it a fog starts to cover my brain. Then I remember the statement of sailors who have sailed... It will never be perfect. So untie the lines and sail....