The thought of heading out on
the Pacific Ocean and cruising along the West Coast can be intimidating at
first glance. But with the right boat, right
time of year, and an eye on the weather the journey is quite doable and brings
untold rewards. The Right Boat:
After our experiences at sea, we have come to really appreciate the
importance of good engineering – a boat must be strong enough to withstand significant
forces of the sea, possess proper weight and balance, and have a
reliable engine or engines that have been well maintained.
 |
| An 8ft Bow on Got d' Fever |
Boats designed for coastal cruising normally
have a high bow, a separate area for the steering station, and carry enough
fuel for long distance cruising. Of
course age and condition are always a factor in choosing the right boat for its
intended use. Likewise, hull shape and
design affect performance under various types of sea conditions as does the
design and shape of the keel. Some coastal
cruisers have stabilizers which dampen the roll effect when waves hit the boat
abeam. The Right Time of Year:
Cruising along the U.S. Pacific West Coast in the winter months should
be avoided due to gale force winds that frequently occur during the winter. In Mexico the worst months are September and
October, the height of hurricane season.
 |
| A Nice Day along the Pacific West Coast |
When sailing between Seattle and San Diego, a Seattle departure date of
mid-May would be the earliest safe bet. The seas
can still be lumpy along the Coast, but once you pass Point Conception just
north of Santa Barbara, the seas are much calmer and change in color to a
beautiful turquoise blue. When returning
to Seattle, you’ll want to be in the protected waters of Puget Sound by
mid-September. An Eye on the Weather: Perhaps the most important aspect of coastal
cruising is the ability to understand and interpret weather reports. It’s imperative to consider the height of both
wind waves and ocean swell, which should be combined in many instances for a
true overall picture of the conditions at sea.
The number of seconds between ocean swells will determine the steepness
of the waves and help determine if the conditions are acceptable for you and
your boat. For example, a wave height of
8 feet at 12 seconds apart brings a gentle rise and fall, verses a wave height
of 8 feet at 5 seconds which produces an uncomfortable steep rise and
fall. Wind speeds, wind direction, and
currents are also important factors when making a go, no-go decision. The best advice is be patient and wait for
the right weather window, but don’t hesitate to go when the opportunity arises. Fortunately boaters have numerous resources
to obtain current weather conditions including:
www.wrh.noaa.gov; www.buoyweather.com; www.commandersweather.com; www.passageweather.com; www.saildocs.com; and www.sailflow.com. These worldwide reports present weather at a
macro level so keep in mind that localized winds can vary.
 |
| Weather Buoy |
While in Mexico, we discovered that Geary, a
resident of Mexico, provides localized weather reports at www.sonrisanet.org. And don’t
forget about the “cape effect” – when wind wraps around a major land mass or
point jutting out into the sea. We experienced
both rough seas and calm seas around the many capes of California - once again
it’s a matter of timing. It can be
helpful to get a second opinion or consultation over the phone from a weather
service who assist boaters in interpreting weather charts and forecasts, such
as Commanders Weather Service at 603-882-6789, available from 5am to 5pm
Eastern Time (USA) 365 days a year. Local Knowledge: The Coast Guard provides frequent bar reports
and it’s important for boaters to make contact prior to crossing a river bar. In fact it’s one of the challenges of boating
along the Oregon coast where ports are located inside the mouth of rivers. During strong winds, the bars are often
closed to boats under 40 feet and during severe storms closed to all
recreational boats. If a storm is
brewing it’s wise to duck-in before bar restrictions are imposed.
 |
| Coast Guard at Umpqua River Bar |
Boaters should avoid crossing a river bar during
an ebb tide, which produces steep dangerous surf. While Oregon challenges the boater with its
many river bars, Washington State presents a challenge due to its lack of
coastal ports. Grays Harbor is the only
protected port along the Washington coast with nowhere else to go until you
round Cape Flattery, the northern most point of the state. Cruising
at Night: Being boaters from the
Pacific Northwest, cruising at night was a new experience. It seemed eerie at first, but once we got
used to the idea, it was wonderful. During
a full moon we could see the horizon, and on other occasions we were in pitch
black with a beautiful canopy of stars overhead. Unlike Washington and Oregon, we didn’t have
to worry about logs lying in wait along the coastline of California or
Mexico. Keeping clear of crab pots,
however, is a constant challenge. When
running at night, we stayed further off shore to avoid crab pots which normally
are placed between a water depth-line of 60 to 300 feet. Coast
Guard Inspections: Boaters
should be prepared to answer questions posed by the coast guard and to be
boarded for inspections. We were boarded
twice in Oregon, once on our southbound trip and again a year later on our
northbound trip. We were also boarded
twice in Mexico and have been boarded when passing from Canada to the United
States. The purpose of a coast guard
inspection is three-fold: to confirm boat
registration papers, to inspect required safety equipment, and to look for any
pollution infractions.
 |
| Required Navigation Rules Publication |
After showing our
boat registration papers and the required copy of U.S. Coast Guard Navigation
Rules, the coast guard boys inspected our fire-extinguishers, life-jackets,
emergency flares, and operation of our horn and navigation lights. A note regarding flares: if you have old flares and new flares, the
old flares should be kept in a separate bag marked “old, for practice
only.” All fire-extinguishers should
have a current inspection date on the tag.
In addition to these required items, we also carry survival suits and a
“ditch-bag” packed with water, food, and a locator-beacon. Pollution prevention inspections include
checking the bilge for any oil leaks and verification of a waste-treatment
system or holding tank. Warning placards
for no-dumping of oil and garbage are also required along with a posted trash
collection plan and person responsible for the task. Once the coast guard has completed their inspection,
a copy of the report is given to the boat owner, good for one year without
further inspections during the year. Of course, any
infractions must be corrected before the next inspection. The Rewards: The satisfaction of having made such a
journey is a real rush. Knowing you met
the challenge, that you were fully prepared, and returned safely without
assistance is a test and true measure of self-sufficiency. On a related political note, determination, success,
and self-sufficiency seem to be seriously lacking in today’s society and these
traits are now considered out of vogue.
 |
| One With Nature - Two Whales Passingby |
Boater’s
on-the-other-hand keep sailing on, setting goals and creating their own successes
knowing that others can’t do that for them.
We have met many of these like-minded people through the boating
community and have made new life-long friends.
It’s always a pleasure to be around those who inspire and encourage
others to take the next step, one of life’s sweetest rewards. The experience of witnessing nature in action
was also an inspiration, finding ourselves among creatures of the sea, land,
and air. It was an ever present reminder
of the beauty all around us, and how we too are part of this wondrous world.
No comments:
Post a Comment