Sea Day 2

Sea Day 2 09/15/2016 Ayala Cove to Half-moon Bay, CA

Last night on the mooring balls was not worth the $30 we paid for the space! We had a crazy night battling mosquitos! We are not sure how they got in precisely, it was very possible that they came in the head dorade vent in the head. We were sitting here with the lamps lit and all of a sudden they were there. We slapped and killed 10 or so before going to bed. We went to bed and they kept coming into our V-berth space and buzzing Tim’s ear, then we both turned on our flashlights to hunt down the mosquito and kill it! This went on for hours until we were worn out. We both slept in bits quite well, but we got up during the night to check out the sounds we were hearing. The current was crazy in the cove! 

We got up at 5am and got ourselves dressed for the chilly predawn air and then set to work getting the engine started and getting out of the cove. We have learned a ton of lessons. According to our depth sounder we were on the ground, but the boat was moving like it wasn’t. We learned that the Happy Hookers are a great tool and that if we want to get fast away from the mooring balls, double the lines then unhook and pull the line in. It’s just fast and safer. I think I have a gift for seeing situations that are not so awesome, I seem to be able to see the right solutions. Not to get cocky, but it is a boost to my understanding and confidence.

It was scary to be up and working on the boat in the dark and to hear the snorting sea lions in the cove very close by. Then to drive the boat in the dark. I was concerned how I was going to fare in the ocean with sea sickness, no problem! Not an issue today, not even a symptom.

Today I used my navigation skills to track our progress and calculate that we could not make Santa Cruz before dark because the wind we had hoped for that was forecast never materialized. We practiced 'heaving-to' so that we could see how the boat handled it. This is a maneuver to use in storms or when you need to fix something or take a break. Its like stopping the boat on the water, but you really aren’t stopped. We ate lunch this way and called in to Half-moon Bay to get a slip. We are in our slip for the night and I hope we have won the mosquito war as we have killed several so far this evening. We have sealed off the cabins so no more will come in here. We did get to sail and as we were sailing we heard flute or pipe sounds, like Native American flutes. Our boat sings! We managed to arrive safe and sound.

We are right on time and where we are supposed to be. Just after checking into the Harbor Master’s Office and securing our boat, a couple came up and asked how we liked our Cheoy Lee. It turns out that they are the previous owners of the boat before the man we bought it from. The boat was called China Doll (Grateful Dead song) They were here at the docks for just this afternoon and here we are! How does that happen? They were really happy to meet us. It was great to meet them and ask them some other questions. They were chasing the leaks we are, they called them the mystery leaks.

It has been a satisfying day, although I am very tired and will most likely be asleep my 8pm. 

​Lynette

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This is Grant & Joni David. The 2nd owners of the boat, we hope to make them proud of how we take care of her.