Hi All, I'm looking for someone with California costal sailing experience to help me sail my 2001 Hunter 340 from Alameda CA, to Santa Cruz, CA The weekend of February 15, 2003. I tried it yesterday and chickened out! Although I've been sailing in an a variety of conditions all over the SF bay, and I've been on a trip from SF to Half Moon Bay about three months ago, conditions on that trip were 2 foot swells and the wind never got over 12 knots (smooth Sailing). Yesterday at the R "8" SF bouy it was a steady 28knots gusting 32 knots with 12 to 15 foot swells, wind out of the North West. I beat out to the R "8" bouy and tried to turn south. Then I broached a couple of times and realized it was a little much for me, so I headed back into the bay. It was a little too much fun for this inexperienced skipper. So I would love to have someone who knows how to handle it go with me next time. I talked to someone who has the experience and he knows how to handle it and he said he would have kept going. But he can't go next time. I know its just a matter of experience to get it done. Let me know if you want to help! mtmccollum@yahoo.com
- Status
Experience
Michael, It is probably a good thing you retreated. Turning south at the R8 bouy in those conditions could have exposed you to conditions that would be much worse. If you look at your chart there are shallow waters south of the bouy line. In particular there are shallows south west of R8. Those shallows have the ability to shorten the wave period and build them higher. On a day such as you are describing you would want to go all the way to R2 before thinking about turning south. My opinion. In fact, conditions would have to be pretty good for me to shortcut those shallows. I've seen 11 feet in that area when the regular pattern was 5-6' outside. Same can be said for the Bonita channel. When the surf is high, it is safer to go farther out prior to turning north (outside the shallows). I have captained on one trip with an instructor on board where entering the shallows was automatic failure of the class. We went north on that trip and saw winds of over 40 knots sustained and 11' seas later that afternoon. We were in a 42' boat. Going all the way to Santa Cruz will require overnight. I'm presuming that you know that. I suspect you might make it if you left in the middle of the night or late at night and still have light when you get there the next day. This time of year, I would not count on the weather being acceptable for the trip. Frankly, the decision should be made anytime of year based on those conditions. You can go online and find wind/wave predictions for some days in advance of a planned trip. It is not a round trip in one weekend, unless you are into marathon sailing. I am assuming you are going one way on that weekend. That all said, I'm concerned that you have not had coastal navigation experience. I know it sounds like just keeping the coast to the left should do the trick, but that is not necessarily going to be how it plays out. Fog, or lowered visibilty might prevent you from navigating using coastal landmarks. A good understanding of charts, and ded reckoning is imperitive. Radar never hurts in those conditions either. If you have to put in somewhere along the way, such as half moon bay, you will want to understand the chart and lights very well, as this may occur at night. And there are a few ways in there you don't want to try. Finding someone with some experience to go along is a very very good idea. Look for someone who has done the trip before if you can. It can be a great learning expereince. I would have to know a lot more about your boat before I would volunteer to go. Such as safety equipment (jack lines, epirb, liferaft, etc.), condition of the boat and equipment, shoal draft or deep, etc., radar, and given your experience, you would not be captain. Hope this helps a little. Stay out of those shallows! Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
Michael, It is probably a good thing you retreated. Turning south at the R8 bouy in those conditions could have exposed you to conditions that would be much worse. If you look at your chart there are shallow waters south of the bouy line. In particular there are shallows south west of R8. Those shallows have the ability to shorten the wave period and build them higher. On a day such as you are describing you would want to go all the way to R2 before thinking about turning south. My opinion. In fact, conditions would have to be pretty good for me to shortcut those shallows. I've seen 11 feet in that area when the regular pattern was 5-6' outside. Same can be said for the Bonita channel. When the surf is high, it is safer to go farther out prior to turning north (outside the shallows). I have captained on one trip with an instructor on board where entering the shallows was automatic failure of the class. We went north on that trip and saw winds of over 40 knots sustained and 11' seas later that afternoon. We were in a 42' boat. Going all the way to Santa Cruz will require overnight. I'm presuming that you know that. I suspect you might make it if you left in the middle of the night or late at night and still have light when you get there the next day. This time of year, I would not count on the weather being acceptable for the trip. Frankly, the decision should be made anytime of year based on those conditions. You can go online and find wind/wave predictions for some days in advance of a planned trip. It is not a round trip in one weekend, unless you are into marathon sailing. I am assuming you are going one way on that weekend. That all said, I'm concerned that you have not had coastal navigation experience. I know it sounds like just keeping the coast to the left should do the trick, but that is not necessarily going to be how it plays out. Fog, or lowered visibilty might prevent you from navigating using coastal landmarks. A good understanding of charts, and ded reckoning is imperitive. Radar never hurts in those conditions either. If you have to put in somewhere along the way, such as half moon bay, you will want to understand the chart and lights very well, as this may occur at night. And there are a few ways in there you don't want to try. Finding someone with some experience to go along is a very very good idea. Look for someone who has done the trip before if you can. It can be a great learning expereince. I would have to know a lot more about your boat before I would volunteer to go. Such as safety equipment (jack lines, epirb, liferaft, etc.), condition of the boat and equipment, shoal draft or deep, etc., radar, and given your experience, you would not be captain. Hope this helps a little. Stay out of those shallows! Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
A very honest post and very sage advice!
My compliments to both the original poster and the first responder. This is the board at its best! In addition to Daniel's great advice I would like to add that it is not wise this time of the year to try to sail on a strict schedule. A very good weather window might open up any day or it might take 1 or 2 months. Just have the vessel ready and let the experienced skipper you are willing to trust with your vessel and your life make the decision when to go. Have a safe trip! Flying Dutchman
My compliments to both the original poster and the first responder. This is the board at its best! In addition to Daniel's great advice I would like to add that it is not wise this time of the year to try to sail on a strict schedule. A very good weather window might open up any day or it might take 1 or 2 months. Just have the vessel ready and let the experienced skipper you are willing to trust with your vessel and your life make the decision when to go. Have a safe trip! Flying Dutchman
Bad timing
The conditions outside the gate can be difficult anytime of year but especially during winter. Even if bay conditions/weather is decent there can be serious swells and waves outside the gate from storm systems not on, but approaching the coast. Now is a bad time to venture out for anyone experienced or not.
The conditions outside the gate can be difficult anytime of year but especially during winter. Even if bay conditions/weather is decent there can be serious swells and waves outside the gate from storm systems not on, but approaching the coast. Now is a bad time to venture out for anyone experienced or not.
Need to adjust for the weather window.
Michael: Sounds like you make a good executive decision. I suggest that you pick a weather window. Regardless if you have a crew or not, you are going to responsible for their survival. With the chances of impending storms this time of year, I'd suggest that you have your crew on stand-by. If the weather gets bad, just move it departure to a later time. I think that they normal is to stop over in Half Moon Bay on day one and then continue to San Cruz the follow day (providing you have good weather).
Michael: Sounds like you make a good executive decision. I suggest that you pick a weather window. Regardless if you have a crew or not, you are going to responsible for their survival. With the chances of impending storms this time of year, I'd suggest that you have your crew on stand-by. If the weather gets bad, just move it departure to a later time. I think that they normal is to stop over in Half Moon Bay on day one and then continue to San Cruz the follow day (providing you have good weather).
Wind-less small-craft advisories
Hi Michael, One of the great mysteries (to me) of sailing in this area was how we could have no wind and small craft advisories at the same time. I found out when I was out that way a couple of weeks ago in light winds but 11' swells, and there were breaking waves just south of 8 where it gets real shallow. I turned tail and caught the flood back in. (offshore flow tomorrow - I may sneak out again...) I'd like to do that trip myself sometime soon, but I'll wait for spring. If you are ever interested in buddy boating for trips in the area, let me know. Also, I've found the local surfing sites great resources for swell predictions. Regards, -Keith
Hi Michael, One of the great mysteries (to me) of sailing in this area was how we could have no wind and small craft advisories at the same time. I found out when I was out that way a couple of weeks ago in light winds but 11' swells, and there were breaking waves just south of 8 where it gets real shallow. I turned tail and caught the flood back in. (offshore flow tomorrow - I may sneak out again...) I'd like to do that trip myself sometime soon, but I'll wait for spring. If you are ever interested in buddy boating for trips in the area, let me know. Also, I've found the local surfing sites great resources for swell predictions. Regards, -Keith
- Status