California, Here We Come!

Crossing the bar at Eureka

The journey down the Washington, Oregon, and Northern California coastlines is often a harrowing tale, complete with gales, enormous seas, broken equipment, and frazzled sailors. Our trip has been exactly the opposite, thanks to a huge high-pressure cell. In fact, our annoyance has been the lack of wind. In 12 days and 900 miles from Seattle to Bodega Bay, we have powered all but six hours (predictably off of Cape Mendocino). Oh, well-you take what you are given!

A Fishing Couple at Brookings

We last wrote to you as we were leaving Westport. From there we did day hops to Garibaldi (near Tillamook), Newport, Charleston (near Coos Bay), Bandon, Brookings, Eureka and Bodega Bay, before heading on into San Francisco. A few highlights included the gobs of fishermen leaving Garibaldi at daybreak, finding the Charleston breakwater in the fog, talking with the firefighters and fishermen at Brookings and seeing the old Victorian charm of Eureka. Another thrill was a spirited crossing of the Eureka bar. We surfed and slewed our way in, pushed along by 8’ rollers against an ebb current. It makes be shudder to think what it is like when the seas are big! Now after a bunch of miles (way, way too much motoring) and even a few over nighters, we are ready for the bright lights of San Francisco.

Fanciness in Eureka

Having spent some time now on both the Eastern and Western US coasts, it is interesting to compare the two. The West Coast is certainly more challenging, due in large part to the absence of anything like the East Coast Intra-coastal waterway. The West Coast sailor is at the mercy of the elements, with 50-150 miles between ports or anchorages, a predominate north west swell and much colder waters. Both coasts have a struggling fishing industry, although the sea life is more evident on the West Coast. The West Coast has the scenery, the east Coast has the history. But on both coasts the local down-home people, ready to help out however they can.

Another observation is regarding absence—the absence of boats on the West Coast. Here is the listing of fellow boaters that we saw from Port Townsend to Bodega Bay, over a 12-day passage:

***1 submarine off Port Angeles

Sunset at Crescent City

***A dozen or so fish boats, mostly off Oregon

***Three cargo ships, seen on AIS

*** ONE recreational boat, a 70’ powerboat, north bound off of Cape Mendocino

That’s it—it’s a really lonesome ocean out there!

As we head into the Golden Gate, we send you our best, as we are now relieved to have the perilous Northwest Coast in our rear-view mirror.

Roger, Lynne, and Salty (who is really relieved to put four feet on the ground for a while)

206-755-4193 or rdwerner47@gmail.com

Mexico Beckons

Lynne, Andy, Lorraine & Clark

When we returned from our East Coast cruise in October, 1016, all of you and certainly us, were certain that we would swallow the anchor for a while. And we did. Along with catching up on the neighborhood, yacht club, church, and family (including a jaunt to the Space Needle) goings on we made a few land journeys. After replacing vehicles, making a couple grandson trips, and doing some boat maintenance, we wondered what came next. Then came the LONG, dreary 2017 Northwest winter…and Mexico came calling!

But first Schatzi needed some attention after sixteen years of ownership and the recent two and one-half year cruise. We had invaluable counsel and expertise from numerous friends and vendors in re-freshening Schatzi and let me mention them and also give you a sense of what we have been doing in the past eleven months:

Mile 1--Leaving Seattle

***Steve Leonard coached us on Mexico cruising and our equipment needs.

***Bill and Kathi Cuffel offered a deep lore of cruising advise, and especially all things electronic,

***Howard and Lynn Bradbrook offered us experiences from their five-year odyssey.

 ***Bill at Sure Marine and Larry at Elliott Harbor Marine guided Roger in installing the new refrigeration and diesel heater.

***Alex and Joe at Ballard Sails made a new main sail and replaced life lines.

*** Mark at Ocens set us up with a satellite phone for communications and weather.

Tatoosh Is from the North Pacific

***Shawn at Marine Safety Service set us up with an emergency life raft.

***Mark and Howard at Auxillary Marine Engine overhauled our trusty Volvo engine (much needed but this was our most expensive repair—read many boat units!).

***Kathy at CSR oversaw the haul out and bottom touch ups.

Thank you everyone and many more!

We are writing this to you at sea, off the Columbia River entrance as we motor sail south bound to Garibaldi, Oregon. We cast off from Seattle on Sunday, September 10, since, as superstitious sailors, we were careful not to leave on a Friday, nor to have bananas aboard. For our first night, we made it clear to Sequim, where we had a rather elegant meal at the Dockside Café. From there it was on to Neah Bay, where the highlight was the Makah Museum. (Are you aware that one member of a Makah whaling crew had the assignment to jump into the really cold

One of the few vessels we saw cruising

water and sew up the mouth of the deceased whale so that it would not sink? Volunteers, anyone?). Then it was time to take a deep breath and push on out into the Pacific Ocean. We rounded Tatoosh Island at 1600, on our first (and hopefully only one of a few?) overnight passage to Westport. Once again, we sought out a locally recommended restaurant, this time Bennett’s Seafood, from which we emerged feeling stuffed and fully recovered from our walk to the beach.

That about catches us up. We will periodically send out more blogs as we have something to report. In our next blog, we will compare cruising on the West Coast to that on the East Coast, but meanwhile we look forward to hearing back from you any time you want to email or phone us.

Roger, Lynne, and I (of course) Salty

206-755-4193 or rdwerner47@gmail.com