Day 511 Into Cojo Anchorage

We are now officially in southern California!!!

We upped the anchor at 0610 and set off in the dark. The fog didn't set in for almost an hour after we left but stayed throughout the rest of the trip till we were just about past Point Conception. It was another grey and cream day out on the water. While we were only 5 miles or so from shore, we saw none of it. Just creamy fog.

By 1000, we had enough wind to raise the sails and did just that. It was time to get some sailing in. We'd motored enough. Up went the main followed by the big Genoa at the bow and off we went. Now the winds weren't from the best angle--to the left of the stern or off the port quarter as sailors say. Blowing at 15 to 18 knots, we moved right along. I set the auto pilot and we were set to go. The wind kept changing and the auto pilot kept complaining each time it changed. I'd have to reset its course. After a while, we jibbed. That's when you change course by changing the way the wind hits you at the stern. Instead of coming up into the wind and changing course, you take the stern through the eye of the wind. We rolled up the Genoa and pulled in the main sail until the winds at the stern were from the opposite side and then let out the main sail and rolled out the Genoa and off we went. The winds continued to build as we got closer to Point Arguello, just west of Cape Conception. Once we hit 30 knots, we took in the Genoa and dropped the main. There was no way to control Zephyr with only the main up and it just kept getting windier.

On went the engine and off we went. We'd been sailing for almost 5 hours. Our friends--George and Celeste from Nereid were right beside us as we started the engine. Less than a half mile to our port and we couldn't see them because of the fog. They had left about 2.5 hours after us but had motored down the coast just to make sure they got past Cape Conception in the day light. Our visibility was down to less than 1/4 mile. I radioed them to let them know where we were. They have an AIS beacon on their boat that tells me where they are, but we don't. We also have radar and they don't so there was no way for them to "see" us.

On we both went, rounding Cape Conception and into Cojo Anchorage(34 26.841N 120 26.513 W) and dropped the anchor at 1715. Cojo Anchorage is located about 1.5 miles east of Cape Conception and while it has the same winds as the cape, it doesn't have the swells the cape has so it's a decent anchorage for the night. Our 57 mile trip turned into a 65.8 mile trip with all the sailing we did. It never ends up in a straight line when you sail. With the swells, we hit a max speed of 10.2 when we were surfing the waves. We also dropped to 4.3 when going up the other side of the waves so it all evens out. We've now covered 1238 miles since we left Port Townsend.

Tomorrow, into Santa Barbara for a few days. Shopping for fresh food and veggies. I made reservations with Enterprise Rent a Car once we dropped anchor here for Friday. George and Celeste will be there with us so it will work out just fine for everyone.

It was actually warm enough for us to lay out on the stern deck and look up at the stars this evening. What a delightful change. A warm evening!!

I've done this blog on Mars Edit so sorry, no photos till once we are in Santa Barbara.