Year End Sail 2013

12/30/2013  HAPPY NEW YEAR and thank you for reading my journal.

In a way, I hesitate on posting this because those who see the beauty of our weather and ocean may all want to move here.   When we lived in Colorado as our grandchildren were growing up we saw the amazing beauty of the Rocky Mountains and the changing Fall colors there, but alas, this is about sailing in Long Beach California.  

I have mentioned my friend Fred and he and I had planned on going sailing on this beautiful Monday.   Fred brought his wife along to enjoy the day with him and that probably prompted me to ask my neighbor Marc if he wished to go out sailing with me. Marc has a boat in the slip right next to mine and is the proud owner of Reasonable Rigging.  http://reasonablerigging.com

Marc had his iPad handy and got some great pictures that I will gladly post here.

 Raising the main is something that I do each time I go out sailing, but usually I do this by myself.   Most of the time I single hand Spirit of Adventure.   The way it usually works is just outside of the breakwater with the engine running, I set the boat on a course heading directly into the wind.  With my tiller pilot connected to the tiller, I simply push one button and the boat stays on that same heading.

With the mainsail set, I head back to the cockpit.

 Once the boat is holding it's course to windward, I move forward and raise the main sail.   Note that I am wearing an auto inflating life jacket (suspenders) and that I am not harnessed to the boat.   One hand for the boat, one hand for keeping me on the boat is my usual rule.   The water is extremely calm and if I had to do this with stronger wind or waves, I would harness myself to the boat also.

 LOOK OUT!  This is a sight that you really don't want to encounter when the tanker or cargo ship is moving.   I shared with Marc that I believe it only takes about 17 minutes for one of these moving at full speed to get from the horizon to your boat.    This one (thankfully) was anchored so we could get pretty close to it with no fear.

A very scary sight when these are moving in the ocean.

 

As we enjoyed this sail, I communicated with Fred and his wife on Later Gator and we laughed at just how beautiful this end of the year sail was.   Even Sharon (Fred's wife) commented on how perfect it was for her.

Marc, owner of Reasonable Rigging.

As we returned to our slip, we were treated with a beautiful, beautiful sunset.   The perfect ending to a great day of sailing.

Sailing With Andy

12/14/2013

The weather report proclaimed that we would have winds 15-20 knots w/gusts to 40.   I sent Andy a quick text and we both agreed that it could be a real fun time for sailing.  We met at the boat around 11 AM and the wind was almost non-existent in the marina.    Andy is a new friend and the husband of Dawn who I play racquetball with on a regular basis.   This was a first for me on Spirit of Adventure because Andy is a very experienced sailor who has owned his own boat.  I knew that I would learn from him and I did.

As we left the marina we saw a few boats barely sailing and so we motored out a ways before raising the main and unfurling the jib.   Soon Andy had us moving as we headed South and out from behind the Long Beach breakwater.   It ended up being one of those perfect days for sailing with no wind over 10-12 knots.   I could tell that Andy loved sailing as much as I do.   All in all, it was a great day.

For a short video of this sail go to-  http://youtu.be/P0uH-xryajo

Alyssa and a Thanksgiving Sail

Thankgiving 2013

This Thanksgiving was a special one for us.  First we had our great niece Alyssa come over from Tempe Arizona where she is a junior at ASU (Go Sun Devils).   It was also her 21st birthday on Thanksgiving day.   We picked her up at the bus stop in Westminster late in the afternoon and drove directly to the Thanksgiving celebration at our friends home.   What a special day that was with another neat family and getting to celebrate Alyssa's birthday with 21 candles in a pumpkin pie.

Alyssa's visit included lots of time to visit, walks along Newport Beach, dinner out at her favorite place, a movie and of course (if I am posting this here) a sail on the Spirit of Adventure with Mary and myself.   Alyssa is always up for some adventure so I was pretty sure that she would enjoy the sailing.  She did!

As Alyssa said good-bye on Sunday morning, Mary and I both reflected on just how perfect this Thanksgiving was.

For a link on Alyssa's visit including our sail go to-

http://youtu.be/sl4tXobtzRI