Pearson Yachts Forum

General Category - Pearson Owners and Enthusiasts => Cruising => Topic started by: Libations Too on October 25, 2013, 02:15:22 PM

Title: 2013 Cruise to the Channel Islands of California
Post by: Libations Too on October 25, 2013, 02:15:22 PM
For those interested in an armchair cruise on a 323, I have posted the log for the southbound portion of my month-long cruise from San Francisco to the Channel Islands. I will post the northbound log sometime over the next month or two.

http://rollinscs.com/boatpages/cruisinglogpage11.htm (http://rollinscs.com/boatpages/cruisinglogpage11.htm)

Let me know if you have questions or see any glaring mistakes, typos, dead links, etc.
Thanks,
Richard

PS The link above is the same URL as that used by our webmaster on the "Cruising" button on the 323 home page....so no changes by our webmaster are needed to include this cruise in the reading list.
Title: Re: 2013 Cruise to the Channel Islands of California
Post by: selene on October 25, 2013, 07:22:25 PM
Tremendous, Richard.  I hope to do the same trip one day; it really brought it all to life.  Nice job.
Title: Re: 2013 Cruise to the Channel Islands of California
Post by: Sweet Pea on October 25, 2013, 11:24:16 PM
Wow...what a great write up on a great trip! Your boat looks beautiful too. Thanks for the story.
Title: Re: 2013 Cruise to the Channel Islands of California
Post by: Libations Too on October 26, 2013, 10:54:51 AM
Thanks Selene and Sweet Pea...it was a fun trip to be sure. The run north was rather tedious and included several days waiting for good weather and a few hours of rather unpleasant, wet, and frightening conditions. I think it could fairly be described as "days of boredom punctuated by a few hours of near panic". The panic was self-induced and not associated with the 323...I find that I always learn something from these long trips. The important question is whether I was learning something new or simply relearning something that I had forgotten...in the case of the few hours of panic it was mostly relearning. I'll try to describe more fully as I write up my log for the northbound trip.

It would be great to read of other 323 cruises here. I always enjoy reading about other peoples adventures and am glad to hear that my log proved enjoyable for you.

Title: Re: 2013 Cruise to the Channel Islands of California
Post by: Frayed Knot on October 26, 2013, 02:43:05 PM
Great, Great, Great, I am envious what a wonderful trip it must have been.  Thanks for all the pictures and information.
Title: Re: 2013 Cruise to the Channel Islands of California
Post by: The Great Godsea on October 28, 2013, 09:51:42 AM
i went through the whole thing. i sat there at the table with friends in a restaurant looking through the logs and the photos... they got all fired up! and they get sick waiting to board the staten island ferry. when i first bought my boat, i had visions of great trips like this. then i found out how little i know and how much i need to learn before i venture too far.

but your trip has reinvigorated me. i'm more focused than ever.

all i have to do now just figure out how to reef my sails...
and judge the wind
and finish my onboard tool kit
and get a dinghy
and a backup outboard motor
and add radar
and find a reasonably priced solar charger
and
and
and.... ;)
Title: Re: 2013 Cruise to the Channel Islands of California
Post by: OZ on October 28, 2013, 10:37:50 AM
I loved the write up.. Hope to tour your 323 someday to see what mine should look like.
Title: Re: 2013 Cruise to the Channel Islands of California
Post by: Libations Too on December 25, 2013, 09:41:24 PM
Merry Christmas to my fellow 323 enthusiasts!

I have finally finished the log for my return trip...from Santa Barbara to Berkeley. I hope that you all enjoy it!

http://rollinscs.com/boatpages/cruisinglogpage22.htm (http://rollinscs.com/boatpages/cruisinglogpage22.htm)

It is rather interesting to reflect on my feelings during the trip and how they have changed since I have returned. For a time I was certain that this cruise would be my last singlehanded cruise up and down the California coast. Now I am not so sure. I think the problems that I encountered were all of my own making: ocean sailing with relatively little recent practice (ocean sailing is not like riding a bicycle...recent practice is valuable!), sailing to a schedule rather than to actual conditions, and worrying about bad weather (when I knew and know that bad weather will pass, most typically followed by a period of good weather). The old saying that a patient sailor almost always has good weather is probably true. The trick is to be patient!

Best wishes to all during the New Year!
Title: Re: 2013 Cruise to the Channel Islands of California
Post by: The Great Godsea on December 26, 2013, 12:49:53 PM
THIS WILL MAKE FOR GOOD READING. THANKS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
Title: Re: 2013 Cruise to the Channel Islands of California
Post by: rbrtfeld on December 27, 2013, 11:54:12 PM
Awesome job. Thanks for the great story.