Channel Islands are Impressive.

We have spent about 7 nights anchored at different coves.   The highlight is painted cave.  700 feet deep and 100 feet high.  We paddle in and the darkness is intense.  Rumbling from wave movement is low and scary.  We hit one spot and one other boat is anchored and we challenged them to a bocce tourney.  We won best of three.  It was so fun.

Now we are on the east side of Santa Cruz.  The anchorages are beautiful and peaceful.  We have few more guests coming out to enjoy the islands.  Mid month we head to San Diego.   All is well.

Chilling in Santa Barbara

Greeting from sunny Santa Barbara.  We arrived Monday morning after an exciting sail around Pt Conception.  The breeze was in the low 20's most of the afternoon out of Morro Bay.  We hit the cape about 0100 and the wind and the waves were up.  A few waves hit the boat and I sprang out of bed to the cockpit to check on Mike who was at the helm.  He said he was fine and I went back to bed.  My watch was less eventful and we ended up motoring for a few hours to get into the harbor.  We have been celebrating my 60th birthday this week in fine style.  Dinner with the crew at the Boathouse.  Hanging out poolside at the Ritz where my wife and I are staying to bring in my 60th.  Great day of friends, naps and a fabulous dinner with Bridget at the Angel Oak.  Friday we head out for a sojourn to the Channel Islands.  I have been dreaming of exploring the islands for a longtime and now we head.  I will start adding some pics now that we are in more of a vacation mode.  The boat is doing very well and now we will test our water maker.  I continue my winning ways on the bocce court with 6 victories.  Crew doing well and solving a few plumbing issues.  Onward we go!

Great Ride Thru Big Sur

We headed out of Monterey in hopes of seeing a whale or two.  We hit Big Sur and the wind picked up to 20 and more.  We had a wild ride thru the swells and a round up or two.  We arrived in Morro Bay at 0700 and found a spot at the Yacht Club.  Conditions look very favorable for rounding the Cape of Conception on Sunday.  Will be in Santa Barbara on Monday!  Spending 3 weeks here to explore the Channel Islands and meet some friends.  Gonna be fun!

Off to Monterey

We are currently in Santa Cruz after a 50 mile sail from HMB.  Today we have a quick 18 mile sail to Monterey.  Everything is working fine and we are getting along so well.  We had some 33 kt gusts coming down as well as some pretty big waves.  It was exciting!   More soon.

A Note to Got Wind and Water Members

Hola to GWAW members,

We depart on Monday for our adventure to Mexico.  We will spend two months heading down the coast with major stops in the Channel Islands and San Diego.  In November, we continue towards Cabo and then up the Sea of Cortez.  January will find us heading toward PV and eventually Ztown.  Our goal is to hangout during the Guitarfest in Ztown in March.  After that, we will head back to the SF Bay for more sailing with you all.  That's 8 months on the water.  Salty dogs we are!  Send us a Bon Voyage and fair winds to Team Aquarius.  We have lots to celebrate with my retirement from the Too Much Fun Club after 26 years of event planning with Silicon Valley companies and I am turning 60 in a few weeks.  It's been an amazing ride and I am so glad I got to take a bunch of you out on the bay over the last 11 months.  See you in May!!

Craig Russell
40' Jeanneau s/v Aquarius
Emeryville

Monday Departure!

All the items on my todo list have been checked!  We provision on Saturday and load the boat on Sunday.  As the tide turns to ebb about 12 noon, we will slide out the Gate on Monday.  Bon Voyage to us!