Day 525 & 526 Onward

Day 525--Wednesday dawned with some clouds, the first we have seen in a while. We upped the anchor and took off for Coches Prietos farther along the South coast of Santa Cruz Island. It is reputed to be one of the most protected anchorages anywhere on the island. It was about 10 miles farther along the coast. As we left Smuggler's Cove, we put up the sails and took off heading around the point. The winds were piping up to about 15 knots so we were doing a good 5.5 to 6 knots.

As the morning passed, we came upon a military zone known as the "Acoustic Range Facility" along the South side of the island. I don't have a clue what it actually is but we called the Coast Guard to make sure it was all right to be there. Their comment was "Can you go around it?". It's a huge area of the ocean folks. Now why they put a military test range any where near a National Park is beyond us. I radioed them back that we would be through it soon if that was all right. They advised me to call them back once we were through the "range". Half an hour later, the winds died so on came the engine and off we went. I don't think the military would have wanted us sticking around there till the winds carried us west of the range. About an hour later, we were through and I advised them that we were on our way. They wished us a happy voyage and that was the end of that.

On we went until we got to Coches Prietos. A nice little cove with a beautiful sandy beach. Since we still haven't received our Conservation Pass, we couldn't go shore. No big deal as we thought the cove was just a bit too small for Zephyr and a bit exposed to the westerly winds. Just to the East was Albert's Anchorage. It was protected by a high huge outcropping from the shore that protected it better than Coches Prietos. We found it a much safer place to drop our anchors. In we went, the only boat in the anchorage(33 58.193N 119 41.915W). Finally, a place to ourselves. That lasted almost two hours before a second smaller boat with some snorkelers came in and dropped their anchor and made themselves at home. RATS!! A few hours later, a "crabber" in a very small boat(one man) came in and dropped his anchor so now there were three of us. We'd seen at least two other boats go into Coches Prietos so we knew that they were full as it is a small anchorage like ours.

As the evening passed, the winds died and changed direction so that instead of blowing from the South to keep us snugged into the cove, it was blowing off the shore keeping us a bit farther out in the water. Once the winds finally died, the swells took over and we began to rock from side to side for several hours. It finally stopped about the time the Sun came up. With it rocking so bad, Tracy got up and spend some of the night in the cockpit to avoid getting sea sick. Her meds had long since worn off.

When morning came, I started the generator to replace some of the amps we had used during the previous night. About an hour later, we stopped the generator and raised the anchor and took off heading west along the shoreline for a place to spend the night. We had no idea where but we took off. Now of course, Mother Nature would have none of this so she kicked up winds in the mid 20 knot range, but of course from the direction we need to go. The engine stayed on and off we went. The swells increased and poor Zephyr was getting thrown all over the place. Waves were crashing on deck as we went and running up clear to and onto the dodger at the front of the cockpit. If we hadn't had dodger, we would have been soaked.

A few hours later, we rounded the West point of Santa Cruz Island and were back on the North side again. Back were we got out butts kicked a few days before by big winds and waves. We were back and so were they at least for an hour or so. Then, thank heaven, they calmed down a bit and it became an easier ride. We were still surfing the swells, up one side and down the next, but they were smaller swells.

We'd hoped to be able to stop at "Painted Cave" but the chop was just to big and the place where we might have anchored is only safe if there is no big winds or swells in the forecast. Not today! On we went till be returned to Pelican Bay just west of Prisoner's Harbor where we had anchored several times before. We'd taken Puff the dingy over and looked at Pelican but didn't anchor there as there were already three boats there that time. This time, there was only one sailboat at anchor so in we went. As we approached Pelican, we could see into Prisoner's Harbor around the corner and could see at least 4 boats already there. We motored in and dropped the anchor to the east of the sailboat that was already there giving them plenty of room. Our anchor went down and we set her deep and safe(34 02.017N 119 42.118W).

About an hour later, the "crabber" that had been in Albert's Anchorage motored in and dropped his anchor behind us. It was already 1700 and he was done for the night. About 1800, a big dive boat pulled in and dropped his anchor along with about 15 divers so they could explore the bay. At 1830, a small sailboats came in and completed the bay for the night. It's now 1955 and the dive boat is still here allowing the divers to have a night dive in the water. I expect they will be leaving later this evening.

That's about it for today. Tomorrow, I think we will spend the day here as it's Friday and finding another anchorage gets tougher on the weekends and this place is quite pretty. I'll post our pictures once we get back to civilization and we have internet again. We lost it shortly after leaving Santa Barbara last Friday afternoon. With luck, we will be over in Oxnard in a few days.