I am moving my Oday 26 to Brookings,OR and plan on doing some coastal sailing. Any advice, comments, thoughts, or words of wisdom? Thanks, Andy
Ocean Sailing
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Be careful
Not sure where you are from and what ocean experience you have but suggest you be careful.....the NW Pacific is a different animal. On shore winds, rocky shorelines, few place to duck into. etc. have fun but be careful. jeff http://home.teleport.com/~salmo/DejaVu/
Not sure where you are from and what ocean experience you have but suggest you be careful.....the NW Pacific is a different animal. On shore winds, rocky shorelines, few place to duck into. etc. have fun but be careful. jeff http://home.teleport.com/~salmo/DejaVu/
Stay Alert
Always triple check the weather before going out and monitor the weather while you are out. The newer radios have a Weather Alter function that can be set for your local cruising area. However, nothing takes the place of staying alert to your surroundings (360 degrees), always knowing where you are, and having a Plan B and a Plan C in mind if things get bad. A good GPS chartplotter, experience with paper chart navigation, a good depth sounder and a reliable radio are all critical in my opinion. Good luck.
Always triple check the weather before going out and monitor the weather while you are out. The newer radios have a Weather Alter function that can be set for your local cruising area. However, nothing takes the place of staying alert to your surroundings (360 degrees), always knowing where you are, and having a Plan B and a Plan C in mind if things get bad. A good GPS chartplotter, experience with paper chart navigation, a good depth sounder and a reliable radio are all critical in my opinion. Good luck.
Read a Lot
As already noted the most iterestng part of ocean sailing is getting in and out of an inlet especially in bad weather. Often there will be only swells in the open but when they hit the current from a falling tide these harmless swells become another creature. Inlets are also close to the rocks and ships etc. IMHO running inlets is the hardest part of coastal sailing. Read Chapman's as a good start. For practice start going out only on nice days. Gradually go out when conditions are less than ideal. You will find your limits. "A man has got to know his limitations" Dirty Harry.
As already noted the most iterestng part of ocean sailing is getting in and out of an inlet especially in bad weather. Often there will be only swells in the open but when they hit the current from a falling tide these harmless swells become another creature. Inlets are also close to the rocks and ships etc. IMHO running inlets is the hardest part of coastal sailing. Read Chapman's as a good start. For practice start going out only on nice days. Gradually go out when conditions are less than ideal. You will find your limits. "A man has got to know his limitations" Dirty Harry.
Well, You only got shore on one side in the
ocean and that's the dangerous part, so avoid it. Lot of people seem to feel more secure near the shore to the point of sailing near breakwaters etc. Most ocean sailors have a deep rooted fear, hatred,and dread of lee shores, can't hardly get hurt near as bad in deep water. Only time I get tense is coming into and leaving land.
ocean and that's the dangerous part, so avoid it. Lot of people seem to feel more secure near the shore to the point of sailing near breakwaters etc. Most ocean sailors have a deep rooted fear, hatred,and dread of lee shores, can't hardly get hurt near as bad in deep water. Only time I get tense is coming into and leaving land.
Cape Mendocino
Where do you people find all this time???? I couldn't answer so many topics even if I were qualified to do so. Have made the trip north well over a hundred times, once in a small 28ft Cape Dory; would never do that again. Between Pt Gordo and Cape Mendocino is the toughest, most dangerous stretch of water from Mexico to Alaska, ask the USCG. I have personally known of many rescues and deaths occuring there. Sure, it can be done, and you have Shelter Cove to anchor just below as well as Ft Bragg Noyo River too. As soon as you round 'The Great Break' it calms down and you are clear but Eureka has a nasty break when it is pumping on the bar. I suggest going on up to Crescent City or into Brookings. Brookings is tough, never go in at night as I did my first time stopping there. Narrow fairway with breakers and volkswagon sized boulders on either side; calm once inside. The coasties do a safety check on all non-local yachts entering their harbor here, and are quite serious on all regs. Truck the yacht up is my professional advice.
Where do you people find all this time???? I couldn't answer so many topics even if I were qualified to do so. Have made the trip north well over a hundred times, once in a small 28ft Cape Dory; would never do that again. Between Pt Gordo and Cape Mendocino is the toughest, most dangerous stretch of water from Mexico to Alaska, ask the USCG. I have personally known of many rescues and deaths occuring there. Sure, it can be done, and you have Shelter Cove to anchor just below as well as Ft Bragg Noyo River too. As soon as you round 'The Great Break' it calms down and you are clear but Eureka has a nasty break when it is pumping on the bar. I suggest going on up to Crescent City or into Brookings. Brookings is tough, never go in at night as I did my first time stopping there. Narrow fairway with breakers and volkswagon sized boulders on either side; calm once inside. The coasties do a safety check on all non-local yachts entering their harbor here, and are quite serious on all regs. Truck the yacht up is my professional advice.
Have a look at this,
Open the attached link and open Coast Pilot #7. The info is very detailed on conditions, hazards, weather etc. It should give you an idea of what to expect. (if the link doesn't work, go to www:nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/cpdownload.htm ) EG
Open the attached link and open Coast Pilot #7. The info is very detailed on conditions, hazards, weather etc. It should give you an idea of what to expect. (if the link doesn't work, go to www:nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/cpdownload.htm ) EG
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