Cruising to Mexico

[TJim]

Not making much time.  Lost my crew to begin with, so took off anyway.  Left two days late and got hit with 180 degree winds of 35 knots with gusts to 45 in short 15' ground swells.  That was right out of the gate.  Beat the poop out of myself for 9 hours and the gate didn't move much.  Finally said to h..l with it and went back in to Berkeley for 3 days.  Found a kid who wanted to crew for me and left  a week ago last Thursday.  The wind had changed to 25 to 35 knots but at least it was now down wind.   The crew lasted to Half Moon Bay, about 15 or 20 miles and he
decided he had had enough cruising.  Actually he   got the stuff scared out of him a couple times, in addition to being wet and cold.  Picked up another guy for crew
in Monterey.  After 4 days he still couldn't figure out the difference between a halyard and a sheet.  He was a computer programmer that couldn't figure out nobeltechl..... or anything else for that matter.  but we were running and making good time but I hate running straight down wind.  Right off of Point Sur the winds
kicked up and we were really over powered so I decided to put a 2nd reef in.
He couldn't hold the head into the wind and I  ended up busting the bottom of the sail track off the mast.  That locked everything so had to cut a small piece   of the track off the mast with a hacksaw blade.  In the mean time that big magnetic
rock is sucking me in.  When I finally got the sail down the shackle was bent and wouldn't open so I had to cut the tack ring off the sail to get it loose from the the gooseneck.....  Are we having fun yet !!!!!  Finally got it down and back on the boat soaking wet and stuffed into the salon.  Now comes the fun part.  I ran up a heavy weight blade of about 60 square ft.  What a ride in all this poop I am not bouncing the gps speed between 6.5 and 7.5 with highs of mid 8's... We flat made
some time there for about 4 hours.   Pulled in to SanSimeon (Hurst Castle) and anchored for the nite.  Next morning I did a repair on the mast track and we got
underway about 10 in the morning with the backup main.  The wind dropped to
near nuthin and has stayed that way...  We rounded Conception flying a drifter at about 4 knots.   We are now in Santa Barbara and my crew has been invited to
leave.  In fact he left last night, so I am now looking for crew again.  Preferably no one under 50,  these young guys just don't get.  I think I'll park in SDiego for a week or so and fly home for Thanksgiving.  I need a little grandkid hugging... That's
about it except still got about 1500 miles to go.  Most of the way down with the wind right smack on my back the windvane hasn't been much use.  It seems to need flatter water and less gusty or heavy winds.  Things should get a little better now, the temp is up to 70's and that's sure helping my attitude.  TJim

[Tim]

Sounds like you had a good shakedown, but held up just fine! Weather looks pretty decent for this next week, I hope you have an easy trip down to San Diego

[AdriftAtSea]

TJim-

Sounds like you need better crew... :) I hope you have fair winds and an easier time getting to San Diego. 

[ronc98]

I would crew in a heartbeat if I was not so swamped here.    Sounds like a fun trip, bumpy but fun.