We took Puff over slowly pulling in the stern rode until we were over the stern anchor and slowly pulled it up until it broke loose from the sand. Weighting in at over 60 pounds(plus 22 feet of chain), there was no easy way to get it up and into the dingy. I held on to the end of the chain where the nylon line joins the chain and Tracy slowly pulled us back toward Zephyrs bow where I dropped it again. Since we have a windlass, there was no reason to bust a gut getting it up. Let the windlass do the job.
We climbed back on board and pulled Puff back on board and then used the windlass to retrieve the stern anchor. Started up the motor and pulled up the bow anchor and we were set to take off. There were only about 6 boats left in Pelican Bay by time we were ready to go. The other 16 boats had already left.
As expected, the winds were fickle and anything but steady. We hoisted the main and rolled out the Genoa. The winds then either died or changed direction to be coming out of the east--the direction we were heading. In came the Genoa and we left the main sail up to try and catch any wind that might help us. Of course, the engine was started and we slowly made our way around the north east end of the island and back to Smuggler's Cove again.
Down went the anchor and we snugged it into the sand bottom and we were set for the night. There were only about 4 to 5 other boats any where near the anchorage and the wind was coming from the Southwest at about 6 knots.
Monday dawned cloudy again. There was a big storm in the forecast for Monday night through Wednesday with lots of rain and wind. We'd heard about a marina(Channel Islands Marina)in Oxnard that was offering a deal--three days and two nights free--so we headed over to check it out. Of course, the winds shifted to be out of the Northeast--again in the direction we needed to head for(gee what a surprise). So we motored over and into the marina. We called as we made our way over and verified the deal just to make sure there were no surprises. Yup, free marina for two days!!
As we pulled in, a gentleman from another sailboat came over and took in the bowline to help us get into the slip. That's the way it is in the boating world. There is normally someone out there that is ready to help get your boat into the slip. It's rare we haven't gotten some form of help getting tied up to the dock. Jay is off a Harden 50 a few slips down from us. He's been in the marina for quite a while and clued us into what was where and where to go for a good meal. We met his wife(Terri) a few minutes later. They have a home in Malibu but spend every other week or ten days on their boat and had just gotten back from Santa Cruz as we had.
This area had just gone through a massive renewal and regeneration with the marina under going a nice face lift. It's one of the nicest marinas we have been in so far. The monthly fee for a slip for our boat would be more than the mortgage on our house so the prices reflect the face lift. And that fee doesn't include electricity!! We're talking close to $12,000 a year to keep your boat here!!! YOW!!! There are lots of empty slips all over the place since the place costs so much and many of the people that kept their boats here left during the remodel.
The marina folks wanted copies of our insurance and documentation for their records so they would have our information when we returned. I didn't have it with me so I promised to return with it later. Once back on Zephyr, we checked our emails and found one from BoatUS notifying us that our boat insurance was to expire on October 12th--and it was October 12!! Oh oh, our insurance had lapsed. BoatUS had sent us a reminder email while we were out at Santa Cruz Island. That is one of the problems when you are out of touch with "civilization". Things get missed and forgotten. I called BoatUS and got it renewed first thing Tuesday morning and printed copies of it for the marina folks. I asked them for a quote for coverage down in Mexico. They would look into it and get back with us--hopefully today.
We got settled in Monday afternoon with a great lunch at the Lookout Restaurant a ways down the marina. We'd been told by another boater that they have "Happy Hour"(2pm to 7pm)specials where all their appetizers are half price. We took a long tour of the marina and stores along the dock and got checked in at the marina office just waiting for 2pm to take advantage of the meal deal. It was great and we had a nice long lunch as we overlooked the marinas along the waterway. Once in the marina, you can launch your dingy and use it to get to lots of the local stores. They have docks right beside their stores for all the boaters that come in that have no cars.
Tuesday, Jay(off the Hardin 50)came over and offered to take us to the local grocery store for any supplies we might need. We were going to do the laundry and made plans to head out with him once we were done. It sprinkled off and on through out the day. Sometimes heavy and sometimes just a mist. Jay picked us up about 1130 and we headed off for Vons(California version of Safeway)for more food and supplies. Jay and Terri wanted to pick our brains for information as their long range plans were to do the same thing we are doing once they retire. We made plans to have lunch again at the Lookout Restaurant. They picked us up and off we went. Again, a great lunch swapping stories about what we have done and where we have been. They've had their boat for 18 years and have replaced or rebuilt just about everything on her.
While we were there, Celeste off Nereid called. We've been "buddy boating" with them(sort of) for the past month or so. They were back at the marina having just returned from Santa Cruz Island themselves. They had been going back and forth from Oxnard to Santa Cruz for the past few weeks getting things fixed as things broke. First, it was their prop shaft. A diver had checked it out while diving beside their boat and found that it loose. Next, their main house batteries were beginning to fail so George had them replaced. They had gone back to Santa Cruz on Sunday and spent two nights there before returning to Oxnard to wait out the storm with the big winds it was supposed to have along with it. We made plans to get together later in the afternoon. About 1700, they came over and we talked into the evening. I showed them the video of boat sinking at Smugglers from the week before that we had watched. I still have a lot of editing to do before I stand a chance of posting it here. They are renting a car Wednesday and we will be heading out with them to do some more shopping. I've now lost 55 pounds and need new pants.
Tomorrow, off for Redondo Beach and them Catalina Island. The journey continues.
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