Ocean Echo 1: October 2010

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Avila Beach to Long Beach, L.A., Cal. - 2010

Dear friends

We are anchored at Long Beach California behind Island White, inside the Los Angeles harbor. Trip from Avila B. to L.A. was fairly easy, since there was not much wind, motoring most of the time. Point Arguello and Point Conception are well-known for high winds and seas. After passing them, sea got light again. Santa Barbara to L.A. area is sheltered by Channel Islands and curve in the land.
Offshore oil rigs start showing up, when approaching Santa Barbara. It was a surprise finding our, that this area is full of crude oil spills and floating tar. I was told later, that these are natural leakages?! Top sides of the boat got quite dirty, while staying around S. Barbara. Anchoring near S. Barbara is not too good, since there are 2 mixed swells and currents, which makes it rolly even with stern anchor.
Channel Islands are just 25 miles south of S. Barbara and 20 miles west of Ventura. Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands are very beautiful with clear water (visibility 30-40 feet) and rich sea life. Channel Islands are National Park and landing ashore requires a permit. Local Stellar Sea Lions are very friendly, playful and curious. They like to jump around, just like dolphins. I have spent a few days exploring these two islands and it was well worth it. Weather, higher winds and kelp can be an issue around Channel Islands and passages between them.
From Anacapa Island I have sailed to Paradise Cove (Malibu) and to Los Angeles harbor. Port Police issued 2 nights anchoring permit for me at Cabrillo Beach anchorage. After two days I had moved to Long Beach area on the other side of L.A. harbor. Presently I am anchored behind Island White, which is quite comfortable anchorage, but little too far to get ashore. I have used my kayak to land on the beach, but last 2 take off from the surfy beach were not too successful. Today was my worst wash over ("ditch") with one good wave rolling over me. Kayak was full of water and sand instantly. It was a challenge to get away from the beach. Naturally I had a lot of cleaning to do, when I got back to the boat. Mainly getting rid off sand everywhere, even from my pockets! :-)
I am leaving tomorrow to Santa Catalina island for a few days. I have been waiting out some higher winds offshore in last few days. From S. Catalina I plan to sail to San Diego, it will be last US port before entering Mexico in a few weeks.
Southern California harbors and marinas are large, busy and full of regulations. Research ahead of time is necessary. Most of Yacht Clubs are closed on Monday and Tuesday and it is not easy to get reciprocal slip. First come first serve rule applies and there is enough boats going south now days. Private marinas charge $1.00 - $1.80 per foot/night. Getting groceries while cruising can be a challenge (with out car), because most of grocery stores are far away from shore. People are friendly and helpful.
California coast line is very interesting with a lot of beautiful places. I am glad to have a chance to see some of it.
Little note about my photos. Most of them are taken at rolling sea from the boat or kayak long distance away. There for many pictures are not too sharp (fussy, out of focus - zoom). There is not much I can do to improve the quality, while being in the craft at open rolling sea.

Maintaining this blog could by complicated time to time, because Internet signal/connection for uploading pictures, will not be as good/fast as it is in large cities/communities. Please, excuse my poor writing skills and grammar. Google translate does good job converting text to other languages.
I hope, that you will find something interesting in this blog - enjoy.

Jara (JJ) Holcman sv. Ocean Echo 1

New passenger

Offshore oil rig

Point Conception

Santa Barbara - Pizza parlor

Santa Barbara - wharf

Santa Barbara - State street shops

Santa Barbara - shops

Santa Cruz Isl. - north side, Pelican Bay anchorage

Santa Cruz Isl. - north side, caves, colors

Santa Cruz Isl. - north side, twin caves

Santa Cruz Isl. - north side, colors, caves

Santa Cruz Isl. - north side, caves, colors

Santa Cruz Isl. - north side, caves, small beach

Santa Cruz Isl. - north side, caves

Santa Cruz Isl. - south side, arches, caves

Santa Cruz Isl. - south side, cave, colors

Santa Cruz Isl. - south side, land cracks, colors

Santa Cruz Isl. - south side, land cracks

Santa Cruz Isl. - south side, caves, colors

Santa Cruz Isl. - south side, colored layers

Santa Cruz Isl. - south side, colors

Anacapa Island - caves

Arch Rock - Anacapa Island

Arch Rock - north side

Arch Rock - south side

Cat Rock - Anacapa Island

Anacapa Island

Leaving Anacapa Island

Sunset at Cabrillo Beach, L.A.

Cruise ship terminal (white dome), fast ferry for S. Catalina, Queen Mary

Long Beach - Downtown

Island White - oil rig

Long Beach - California

Long Beach - waterfront market

Queen Mary

Friday, October 8, 2010

San Francisco to Avila Beach Cal. - 2010

Dear friends.

I am anchored at San Luis Obispo - Avila Beach, while writing these lines. After departure from San Francisco, there has not been much of wind so far, but a lot of fog. Soonest I get away from the shore, there comes the fog. Motoring most of the time in light sea. However shore visits are good and mostly in sunshine.
Half Moon Bay was just stop over for the night in sheltered bay, about 25nm (nautical miles) south from SF.
Santa Cruz was an interesting place with casino and fun park. Small craft harbor had some good facilities for general public, with area designated for kayakers. Santa Cruz has a nice beach.
Monterey was my next stop. It is a touristy town with public Wharf and Cannery Row. I have gone "walkabout" for half a day to see local attractions. Monterey bay was full of small, dark green Jellies/Medusas, which would not allow for swimming, even if the water was warm.
Next leg was planned to San Simeon Bay (Hearst Castle), but when I was approaching it in the middle of night, I have decided to continue for 20 more miles to Morro Bay. It was foggy and I figured, that I can be in Morro Bay by day light. After motoring for 25 hrs in the fog, suddenly this big rock shows up not far from the boat. It was impressive to see it first time and during the stay in MB. Morro Bay is a shallow shelter, full of (paid) mooring buoys. The bay is also home to a few Sea Lions, Pelicans and Sea Otters. West side of the MB shoreline are dunes. The Rock is a volcanic "plug" - cap and there are about 6 of them between Morro B. and San Luis Obispo. I call it small Gibraltar rock of US. Change in the weather made me to stay for couple of days and look around. When I arrived to MB, there was a Sea Festival with couple of live bands playing all kinds of music. MBYC has a dock tie up and mooring buoys for about 50 cents/foot.
My trip to San Luis Obispo turned out to be in sunshine with out the fog and no wind. It was a joy to see the coast of Central California, since fog did not allow me to see much on last few legs. I did not anticipate much from SLO. It turned out to be nice bay and a little town of Avila Beach are surrounded by beach and rocky coastline. I have spotted some caves at rocky part of the shore, so I decided to stay one more day to explore them with kayak. Federal holiday - Columbus Day is coming up this weekend, there for I do not want to go to Santa Barbara too early. Well, kayaking trip was definitely worth of staying one more day in Avila Beach. Cliffs and caves turned out to be quite nice with very clear water and lot of marine life. San Luis Obispo is large bay with a lot of mooring buys and clear (not too warm) water. There is enough room for everyone without any marine traffic and noise. I definitely enjoyed visiting here!
So far most of the anchorages have been in shallow depth 10-15feet (3-5m), which we are not used to at Pacific Northwest.

Maintaining this blog could by complicated time to time, because Internet signal/connection for uploading pictures, will not be as good/fast as it is in large cities/communities. Please, excuse my poor writing skills and grammar. Google translate does good job converting text to other languages.
I hope, that you will find something interesting in this blog - enjoy.

Jara (JJ) Holcman sv. Ocean Echo 1