I have been asked to crew on a Gulfstar 50' sailboat during a delivery from Long Beach, CA to Astoria, OR. The boat is being delivered due to her owner's relocation. What can I expect to encounter along this route? We'll try to leave in May and leap frog up the coast, going from port to port. Weather will be essential to when we're out to sea and an experienced router will guide us. I've heard stories about Point Conception and other areas along the way. Apparently this boat is well suited for this type of passage. I've asked the obvious questions concerning maintenance. But what am I setting myself up for? Should be a great experience as the coast line in this neighborhood is quite beautiful. Your thoughts will be appreciated. John Richard, s/v Jack's Place
- Status
John, you are a brave man!
Going that direction near the coast is scary. And ports are few. Also plan to spend much time in one of those few ports waiting for favorable wind. And favorable wind in that direction means fowl weather. Don't get me wrong, I've heard of sleigh rides north on the route. Spinnaker the whole way. But still. *yks Just be sure to stay off shore. Tsunami you know.
Going that direction near the coast is scary. And ports are few. Also plan to spend much time in one of those few ports waiting for favorable wind. And favorable wind in that direction means fowl weather. Don't get me wrong, I've heard of sleigh rides north on the route. Spinnaker the whole way. But still. *yks Just be sure to stay off shore. Tsunami you know.
Delivery advice
Amen! It's a slog, but May is as good a time as any. Within 25 miles of the coast is usually flatter, but you are in the sealanes and fog, and there aren't many places to duck into anyway. Get a copy of Charlie's Charts. For that area, he starts out opining that no place between Cape Flattery and Golden Gate should be considered except in an emergency, so be prepared for long passages. It will be one of those experiences you will be glad to have done. Bon voyage!
Amen! It's a slog, but May is as good a time as any. Within 25 miles of the coast is usually flatter, but you are in the sealanes and fog, and there aren't many places to duck into anyway. Get a copy of Charlie's Charts. For that area, he starts out opining that no place between Cape Flattery and Golden Gate should be considered except in an emergency, so be prepared for long passages. It will be one of those experiences you will be glad to have done. Bon voyage!
Good advice so far
You all have provided some good advice. I will be going with a licensed 50-ton captain; another who regularly does the Merrian to Bermuda race and recently completed this year's ARC; a third who sails with me regularly and has crewed with me in Bermuda and a forth who is a well seasoned racer. The Charlie's Charts is a good idea and if it looks like the boat is going to pass muster, I will definitely get a copy. Again, our weather router will consider the complexities of the CA coast line as he suggests way points. JR
You all have provided some good advice. I will be going with a licensed 50-ton captain; another who regularly does the Merrian to Bermuda race and recently completed this year's ARC; a third who sails with me regularly and has crewed with me in Bermuda and a forth who is a well seasoned racer. The Charlie's Charts is a good idea and if it looks like the boat is going to pass muster, I will definitely get a copy. Again, our weather router will consider the complexities of the CA coast line as he suggests way points. JR
Equipment?
John, Make sure that your vessel is equipped with an EPIRB and survival suits. You never know what is going to happen up here but the water is mighty cold. I sail without a survival suit inside Puget Sound (maybe should but not much space on my 27') but have always had one when offshore on commercial vessels. Be prepared for the worst but have fun when it is going well. Have a good trip.
John, Make sure that your vessel is equipped with an EPIRB and survival suits. You never know what is going to happen up here but the water is mighty cold. I sail without a survival suit inside Puget Sound (maybe should but not much space on my 27') but have always had one when offshore on commercial vessels. Be prepared for the worst but have fun when it is going well. Have a good trip.
John,
I want to tell you a short story so that you know what I am saying. About 4 or 5 years ago I was in Erie PA. A friend lent me his boat for the week. Well, I ran into a guy that was working on his boat so I asked what was up. He said he was going to sail the light house race that night. I asked if people ever follow the race. He said I am short handed, come with me. I went. Only to find that he has only been saing for about two years and the other person on the boat had sailed once before. Things got ugly: wind, chop, darkness, main sheet parted,... We came about and the other crew turned green. The owner went below to find a pin for the main sheet. He came out of the cabin green. I sailed the boat back to the dock with minimal help from the boat owner. My point is what do you know about the people you are sailing with? Is everyone required to take motion sickness meds and dawn life jackets and harnesses for preventative reasons sould conditions START to deteriorate? If things deteriorate..it is to late. What will be the order of command should someting happen to the captain? I would highly advise that you learn all the systems on the boat and all the through hulls. Where emergency equipment is and do you know how to use each one. I do this on family trips! It is only prudent that if things happen, can you operate that boat yourself? Did this make you think? Have a great trip! r.w.landau
I want to tell you a short story so that you know what I am saying. About 4 or 5 years ago I was in Erie PA. A friend lent me his boat for the week. Well, I ran into a guy that was working on his boat so I asked what was up. He said he was going to sail the light house race that night. I asked if people ever follow the race. He said I am short handed, come with me. I went. Only to find that he has only been saing for about two years and the other person on the boat had sailed once before. Things got ugly: wind, chop, darkness, main sheet parted,... We came about and the other crew turned green. The owner went below to find a pin for the main sheet. He came out of the cabin green. I sailed the boat back to the dock with minimal help from the boat owner. My point is what do you know about the people you are sailing with? Is everyone required to take motion sickness meds and dawn life jackets and harnesses for preventative reasons sould conditions START to deteriorate? If things deteriorate..it is to late. What will be the order of command should someting happen to the captain? I would highly advise that you learn all the systems on the boat and all the through hulls. Where emergency equipment is and do you know how to use each one. I do this on family trips! It is only prudent that if things happen, can you operate that boat yourself? Did this make you think? Have a great trip! r.w.landau
I left something out John.
The trip you want to do is the reason they invented I-5 and the 18 wheeler. But have fun.
The trip you want to do is the reason they invented I-5 and the 18 wheeler. But have fun.
Crew, boat and weather need to be AOK
By all accounts this is one of the toughest coastal routes one could sail in North America. There are many discussions of the various possible strategies on usenet (e.g. in the Google groups archives of rec.boats.cruising). Most experienced ocean sailers would rather go offshore and follow the so-called clipper route. Under some weather conditions an offshore trip from San Diego to Seattle can start looking a lot like a trip to Hawaii and back to the US mainland though.... To focus directly on the 3 trip essentials: crew, boat and weather: The crew lookss good to me. The boat is at least 20 years old and needs to have had relatively recent and thorough rigging, sail, electric and engine overhauls/upgrades to be up to this type of trip. Spring and Summer weather along the US Pacific coast are strongly influenced by the Pacific High. If the Pacific High is strong enough to deflect the endless succession of strong lows spinning down from the polar region you are likely to encounter modest to strong NW winds producing tough but manageable conditions along the way and on the bars blocking the entrance to most harbors. However, if the Pacific High is absent or weak, as has been the case so far this year, the lows come much further South before slamming into the California and Oregon coast. Just go to the FNMOC weather site and look up the current wave and wind forecasts in the East Pacific to see some very impressive systems doing just that. Is this likely to improve by May? Who knows! Thus far, however, the amounts of rain and snow these storms have brought to the Western United States over the past few months have broken many records. Since we are at the tail end of a (weak) El Nino period, the Pacific High might be slow to establish itself, if at all, this Spring. In other words: Fred is right! (as has happened before
) Flying Dutchman
By all accounts this is one of the toughest coastal routes one could sail in North America. There are many discussions of the various possible strategies on usenet (e.g. in the Google groups archives of rec.boats.cruising). Most experienced ocean sailers would rather go offshore and follow the so-called clipper route. Under some weather conditions an offshore trip from San Diego to Seattle can start looking a lot like a trip to Hawaii and back to the US mainland though.... To focus directly on the 3 trip essentials: crew, boat and weather: The crew lookss good to me. The boat is at least 20 years old and needs to have had relatively recent and thorough rigging, sail, electric and engine overhauls/upgrades to be up to this type of trip. Spring and Summer weather along the US Pacific coast are strongly influenced by the Pacific High. If the Pacific High is strong enough to deflect the endless succession of strong lows spinning down from the polar region you are likely to encounter modest to strong NW winds producing tough but manageable conditions along the way and on the bars blocking the entrance to most harbors. However, if the Pacific High is absent or weak, as has been the case so far this year, the lows come much further South before slamming into the California and Oregon coast. Just go to the FNMOC weather site and look up the current wave and wind forecasts in the East Pacific to see some very impressive systems doing just that. Is this likely to improve by May? Who knows! Thus far, however, the amounts of rain and snow these storms have brought to the Western United States over the past few months have broken many records. Since we are at the tail end of a (weak) El Nino period, the Pacific High might be slow to establish itself, if at all, this Spring. In other words: Fred is right! (as has happened before
) Flying Dutchman- Status