Savannah 2 Scorpion

10 Apr 2013, Savannah set out from Santa Barbara Harbor bound for the East End of Santa Cruz Island at 15:30. Billy Bones and I, Bill Proctor, formed the crew. Light airs, a flat ocean and blue skys for the first ten miles. Delicious sailing the rest of the way. "Life is a reach" so they say and Windy Lane saw Savannah reaching, broad reaching and running wing and wing, making 7 knot steady according to the GPS. Anchored at Scorpion choosing best place to drop was easy since no other boats were present. The wind howled from the West until midnight. Rocks all around, and even some to leeward made me dislike this anchorage by contrast to Smugglers Cove just around the corner. At Smugglers, the coastline is sandy and the West Wind blows directly off shore. I laid down 90 feet of BBB chain in 20 feet of water and set the GPS anchor alarm for the night. Rock and roll BBQ in the dark. 

Next AM, hauled anchor and got under way by 8:00 making SB by noon mostly thanks to the Atomic 4 Iron Spinnaker. Exciting rendezvous with Ninjin cargo ship. Even though it seem obvious we could cross her bow with great margin, Bones and I agreed it was wisest to delay our entry into the shipping lane until the ship has crossed our path.

The raft-up before and after the McNish race is a major factor in making the wooden boat race a bonding experience for like minded traditional boat preservationists.

A beard of white whiskers denotes a man who is bonded to a boat, after 29 years, like a pair of conjoined twins.

The 2nd leg of the NcNish wooden boat race is a 9 mile close reach from platform Gina to the Ventura Harbor buoy.

For the 4th time in 22 competitions in the Annual Mc Nish Wooden Boat Race, S/V Savannnah took 1st place in class. Thanks to Savannah's valiant crew, Gilbert Paquet, Robert Ramirez and Dale Talor. 

Savannah's route to San Diego for the Ancient Mariners Race sponsored by the blue nose San Diego Yacht Club.

Sailing from Channel Islands Harbor to the Isthmus of Catalina was sailing at as pleasant as it gets.

The wind was howling through the isthmus but 4th of July Cove was nicely sheltered.

 In early May, there are mooring cans available in great abundance. Not so in June.

Beautiful colors filter through the mist.

The island is full of life in spite of proximity to L. A.

(no offense intended)

A three master was found off Catalina.

Point Loma off San Diego must be approached with great reverence for massive kelp beds North West of the point. 

After rounding Pt Loma, a magnificent profile was reveled.

It seemed like Savannah gave the submarine a wide berth.

But that sentiment was not shared by the U.S. Navy

Stern first tie up at the San Diego Yacht Club.

After the race, Savannah claimed the most prestigious docking space that a humble proletarian could ever dream of

While, Savannah waited for good weather for the return up the coast, the SDYC parked her at a wonderful location with gorgeous view of San Diego harbor.

Zooming in on the San Diego Harbor shoreline.

Savannah was docked next to the historic Newport Harbor Pavilion while her crew feasted like kings and queens at the restaurant within.

The Newport Harbor Pavilion is visible in the distance while Savannah applies for  the blessings of the innately hostile Newport Harbor Patrol.

Savannah was a gracious guest of PMYC (background) in Marina Del Rey on her way back up to coast.

Before departing Marina Del Rey, a wild storm came and went.

.