Sailing the California Coast - Cruising Blog

S/V Dolce Vita

ON MY WAY

My first leg on Sunday was all the way to South Beach where yet again, I found another party.

I departed the next day to Half Moon Bay. As many times has been the case for me, I had to motor if I was going to make the harbor before dark. I arrived after six hours and was placed in slip A16 which is the area next to the showers and clean toilets. Always ask the harbor master for that location if you don’t want to walk from the other side of the marina. By the way, a good place to eat there is Catch Joanne’s.

The next day I set sail (motor) for Santa Cruz. The heaviest winds were 7 kts and again if I was going to make the harbor by dark, I had to motor. I was treated by visiting whales along the route but not close enough for a photo.

So now I set just inside the marina on the fuel dock extension. There are few if any choice spots for transit boat when you arrive and it is always best to call ahead if you don’t want to find yourself going on to Monterey.

Both Marina’s are $25 for a 36ft boat plus key deposits. $10 deposit in HMB and $40 in SC.

Tomorrow I am off to Monterey. It should take no more than 4 hours and it is a great sail over if the wind are fair.

Until next time, happy sailing to all.

Dennis Gade

As proof that I was out to sea:

This is about 1/2 mile from that marina in Santa Cruz where I stopped for the day. We took the kids here and also came here to play on the beach and BBQ. Interesting that there was little wind today until I was within 1 mile of here and then it starts to blow. Blow while you are off shore, not when you try to dock, but dock I did and as far as I can tell, the dock should be OK.

I saw four whales today and should see many more as I go farther south. They are leaving Ba Ha hearing that I am headed that way.

As promised, here is a photo of the shore which is about half way between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. This is near where I sighted the whales.

Tomorrow I am off to Monterey and will hold up there a few days while I wait for my crew. Bob had some business he had to attend to and will meet up with me again before our next leg. The next leg will take 23 hours at best so it will be a long day before we find the next port which is Morrow Bay. This is where Steve teaches. Steve, Jessie and Ray live in a town near by, Los Osos.

Until tomorrow, that is all for today.

UPDATE 1425 PDT: Just arrived in Monterey on yet another day of motoring, this time in light rain. Laying up here until Saturday when we set off to Morrow Bay