San Diego: kelped; masted; lioned
San Diego: kelped; masted; lioned
When I stood in the companionway Monday evening, I found a Great Blue Heron.
This one is smaller than than the bird I forced into refugee status in Mission Bay and quite indifferent to my presence.
I saw him both evenings I was at the Shelter Island guest dock.
Around 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday night I stood up to view the moon and found on the empty walkway to the shore ramp three birds evenly spaced, a pelican, a great blue heron, and a black-crowed night heron, all peering into the water.
I also found myself thinking, as I have so many times, what joy there is just being on the water.
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I sailed home yesterday. Slowly. Sometimes glacially. Sometimes uncontrollably in the wrong direction.
A light breeze from the southwest enticed me to push GANNET from the guest slip at 8:30 a.m.
Ten minutes later the Torqeedo was tilted from the water and we were under sail making three knots. Ten minutes later we were under sail making no knots. Two hours later Point Loma 2.6 nautical miles to the south was abeam. Six hours later we were in our slip, having covered 13 miles at a slightly better than two knot average.
While drifting in San Diego Bay, I conducted an experiment. With paddle in hand I was able to move GANNET at .5 to .8 of a knot according to the Velocitek. At such slow speeds readings are not precise, but repeatedly I did move them from 0.0.
I was overflown by military helicopters at least ten times. When a helicopter flies low over GANNET, the vibrations can be be felt through the deck.
Such wind as there was intermittently whispered from the southwest, so I cut the corner around Point Loma closer than I knew I should. There was no danger of going aground, but of being caught in the miles long kelp bed on the west side of the peninsula.
When I lived here before, the kelp was harvested. I have not seen it being so now, and it seems to me that the kelp has extended farther north.
I could have tacked south went I first entered the kelp, but our progress had been so slow I thought I could ease my way through the edge of the field. And so I could have with some wind. Without consistent wind, GANNET repeatedly was brought to a dead stop. Her bow would then fall off toward the steep cliffs on the west side of Point Loma, no matter what I did.
We were generally in 40’ of water--obviously kelp are big plants--and a quarter mile offshore and in no immediate danger.
Two seagulls standing on a piece of wood watched with interest. For a while I used them as markers. Making it past them to windward. Falling off and back. Making it past them to leeward. Falling off and back.
In time I became somewhat concerned. The Torqeedo was of no use. It’s prop would have fouled instantly. Oars might have come in handy. The paddle was not. If I drifted too close, I could have put the anchor over which surely would have caught on something and possibly not been retrievable. Kelp is strong.
In time enough wind came to enable GANNET to sail free. Never more than five knots, but she doesn’t need much.
Sailing through kelp is a very good way to clean a boat’s bottom. GANNET’s is again white and pristine.
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A new mast, boom and rigging have been ordered from Ballenger Spar Systems, the mast maker of choice for Moore 24s. I am very appreciative of having the benefit of Buzz Ballenger’s experience and expertise.
Knowing my intentions, he will make GANNET a custom mast with a larger section than normal for a Moore 24. The boom will be slotted, which is stronger than the standard boom. And the rigging one size larger than usual, as is my custom. The slightly added weight is, in his and my opinion, more than offset by the added safety factor and fatigue resistance.
The new mast should be ready for installation upon my next return to GANNET, probably in July.
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When I passed the bait barge yesterday afternoon, I found that sea lions have returned. For the past couple of weeks, there have never been more than four out there. Yesterday more than a dozen were sprawled on the barge, submerging its end, and two more on the big yellow float just off.
They remain in almost constant conversation. Even at night. I awoke twice to hear them barking, moaning, groaning and wheezing.
A great neighborhood.
Thursday, March 28, 2013