Sailing Education Adventures

Join SEA for an amazing all-day push to the Farallones. Boats meet under the gate by 9:00 to steam out the gate in unison and head for the rocks.

Log

Two headed south toward Mile Rock, and two north toward Pt. Bonita, as a large container forced the fleet to split up. The winds were brisk -- 25kts easy -- with short period waves, chop and wind waves combining to make the first hour a rough ride.

For Fayaway it was also a wet ride out the gate. So wet in fact, we had to heave to at Pt. Bonita cove and putter around for a bit pumping the bilge, reefing the main and changing out the headsail.  Mark decided to take it slow, enjoy the sun and calm air, and let everyone re-group. First timers Wesley and Karen snapped into action to prepare Fayaway for round two, eager to get going again and catch up to the fleet.

Bodega Sunset passed to west, searching for the Bonita Channel, while Summer Solstice and Daisy could be seen in the distance, close-hauled and pushing on toward the islands on a more southerly route.

We headed back out into the choppy conditions, trying to north as much as possible along the Marin headlands shore. We rode out the rough but manageable potato patch and eventually crossed with Daisy, who was now coming into visible range again, her lone sail standing out on the horizon.

Three more tacks and a closer cross with Daisy brought us north of the lightship. As we headed farther offshore the seas seemed to stabilize, with a more consistent but still short swell running. Some snacks and water were shared but not much else. Steering and holding position in a our 23' sloop was no picnic.  Mark was about to impose Frank's rule of "You have used up all 6 questions, Karen" when Wesley, who had been unusually quiet announced it was not going well. By the time he was really feeling it, we had reached the 18nm weather buoy near the north channel.   The constant pounding over swells was getting to him, so after a short chat we agreed it best to turn back and head home.
The ride back was fast and provided some fun surfing opportunities, some intense jibes, and some close call accidental jibes.