An unexpected stop, with unexpected misadventures VENTURA TO CAT HARBOR THIS WAS NOT THE PLAN – but at that point, what was? Accepting the unexpected had certainly made me a more patient person, and I wasn’t necessarily opposed to stopping at Catalina. On the contrary, I was excited to spend our last days in the […] More
Our Short and Sweet Visit Back in Ventura I cried when we saw the breakwater; not just because I was so excited to be out of Morro Bay, but because we were returning to our homeport with a story to tell. It had been nearly six months since we cast off, leaving our dock family […] More
A gentle sea breeze caresses my face as the sound of waves fills the space around me. The sunshine is bright and warm, and the smell of the jungle reaches our cockpit where I find myself writing most of these days. Here in the tropics I am happier than I have been in a while, […] More
I have never been more excited to see a rock in my entire life. It had been a hellacious night passage and tensions were high as the uncertain state of our engine loomed over us. As we approached the Morro Bay Harbor entrance Chris hesitantly turned the ignition key and let our Perkins purr, anxiously […] More
A Final Farewell to My Home Waters Santa Cruz to Monterey It was November 18th and the autumn air had a bite to it, but it was bearable without the sharp lashings of wind – perhaps the only silver lining of having to motor. We had just left my home town of Santa Cruz and […] More
Seals. Why is it always Seals? Well, California Sea Lions to be more specific. Unlike Seals, Sea Lions have cute little ears and are able to “walk” on all four flippers. Despite their differences both species still share the same blood boiling bark that gives your neighbors obnoxious dog a run for its money. As […] More
San Francisco Bay to Santa Cruz My mind was flooded with excitement and uncertainty, a molotov cocktail for explosive jitters yet I couldn’t tell if I was shaking from my emotions or the cold. The wind was at our backs, filling our sails and pushing us down the jagged California coastline. We had pulled our […] More
Horseshoe Bay makes for the perfect “welcome” or “departure” anchorage considering its proximity to the Golden Gate Bridge. We were a southbound boat at last! The post Horseshoe Cove, San Francisco Bay first appeared on Sailing Avocet. Click here for full post: https://www.svavocet.com/2022/12/28/horseshoe-cove-san-francisco-bay/ Instagram: @svavocet More
Planes, Pals and Memories “It was fun while it lasted,” Chris said through a half smile. I was at the helm guiding us through the Berkeley Breakwater while he walked around the boat preparing our dock lines and fenders. After three weeks of anchoring we decided to flex our yacht club reciprocal privileges and visit […] More
Aquatic Park Cove is a vibrantly sheltered human-made urban harbor that mimics a natural anchorage, full of history and great opportunities for fun in San Fran- oh, and it’s for sailboats ONLY! The post Aquatic Park Cove first appeared on Sailing Avocet. Click here for full post: https://www.svavocet.com/2022/12/02/aquatic-park-cove/ Instagram: @svavocet More
Boats, Planes and Controversy The late afternoon sun melted on our skin as the salty sea kissed our grinning faces with every splash. Chris was at the helm, desperately trying to bury Avocet’s rail as she made way through San Francisco Bay’s Raccoon straits with a bone in her teeth. It had officially been three […] More
And the Real Treasure of Treasure Island Chris and I left Ventura, California, on September 17th 2022, with a southern wind on our tail and unknown adventure on the horizon. After two days and seven hours of nonstop sailing up the California coast, we found solace in San Francisco Bay’s Clipper Cove, located between Treasure […] More