SoCal Shenagz

     As we pulled away from the hordes of Dana point stand up paddle boarders we hoisted the mainsail and spinnaker.  Soon we were sitting in the cockpit, sweating profusely as we flew down wind at almost one and a half knots.  After we calculated that continuing under sail power would put us into our next anchorage well after dinner we put the sails away and motored off.  It seems like a big part of sailing in Southern California is motoring in a straight line through dead glass water, watching endless urban sprawl pan out along the  shore.  

     The constant diesel growl of the Yanmar motor was punctuated  mostly by buzzing fishing reels as we hooked into all different kinds of seaweed.  It was hot enough that we were all pouring buckets of ocean water on our head.  As we approached the Oceanside harbor we finally hooked into a fish.  Tucker lit up, fought for a minute and soon had another beautiful Tuna flopping around on the deck as Tor and I scrambled around looking for the fish dispatching knife.  

     While Tucker cleaned his fish, Amelia and I paddled surfboards across the harbor towards a beach break on the other side of the jetty.  As we paddled out through warm waves a cold fog moved in and it quickly got dark.  After a couple mushy waves and a paddle back through a dark foggy marina we were back at the boat ready for dinner.  

     Pulling into Mission beach the next evening it became apparent that we were again anchoring about a quarter mile from waves.  While Tor headed to the liquor store to resupply on precious beer supplies the rest of the crew got suited up and jumped off the boat with surfboards.  We surfed until the sun went down in small but fun peaky beach break.  As soon as we got back to the boat we wasted no time firing up the grill for our second Tuna dinner in a row.  We sat around the table squirting wasabi out of a tube into our soy sauce and drinking cold beer.  

     I dragged myself out of bed this morning at 7:30 so that we could catch a couple more waves before heading for the main San Diego harbor.  After a quick surf we packed up and Amelia steered us back into the ocean.  This time as we put our sails up they filled with wind immediately.  Tor and I had a lively sail down the San Diego coast, with Tor coaching me on the ins and outs of sail trim the whole way.  

     Rounding down into the entrance to the harbor we were flanked by warships, aircraft carriers, giant tankers and navy combat boats flying around conducting live fire drills.  I’m ready to get to Mexico.

   Gabe