Santa Cruz to Point Conception

 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers.

Royal Presidio Chapel

It was sad to say goodbye to Simon and Erin at Santa Cruz, but perhaps they will join us in Mexico where the weather is warmer.

Coulton Hall

We motored across Monterey Bay in calm weather on 17^th December and anchored for two nights outside the harbour. Jeremy fitted a new aerial and wire for our Garmin GPS. Previously, we kept losing satellite navigation on an intermittent basis. We’ve had no trouble since the new aerial was fitted.

Jeremy outside the Custom House

Monterey was once the capital of California and an interesting place to visit. The Visitor Information office gave us a map and information for a self-guided historical walking tour. We saw the first church in California (the Royal Presidio Chapel) the first public building (Coulton Hall) and the first government building (Custom House). In addition, we stood outside the French Hotel where Robert Louis Stephenson stayed and went into the room in John Steinbeck’s house where he wrote “The Pearl”. We viewed Cannery Row and the Aquarium from the sea as we motored out of the bay on our way to Morro Bay.

The Californian Constitution was signed here in Coulton Hall

This was an overnight trip in fairly calm conditions, so we motorsailed until there wasn’t enough wind to fill the genoa. At 2.00am, in the cold and dark, something went round the prop and almost stopped the engine. I was off watch and in bed. Jeremy called me up because he thought he would have to go overboard to free the prop. Fortunately, at the 4^th attempt in reverse, the prop freed itself and we continued our journey with no further incidents arriving at Morro Bay at 0800 on 20^th December.

Perhaps Steinbeck wrote The Pearl at this table

Morro Bay has the most dangerous entrance on the Californian coast. There was barely any swell at all when we arrived, but I persuaded Jeremy to call the Coastguard as our cruising guide advised, to check on the entrance conditions. It was fine. 

Approaching the entrance to Morro Bay Harbour

We anchored in the harbour, but there was little swinging room between the moorings, the fairway and the shoals. After a while Harbour Patrol came along to warn us we were in danger of going aground, so we weighed anchor and went to Morro Bay Yacht Club, where we received a friendly welcome and access to hot showers and a laundry. We stayed for two nights and sampled two of the many eateries. We also walked up to the cinema and watched the latest Star Wars film, “The Last Jedhi.”

The chimneys dominate Morro Bay Harbour

On 21 December, it was strange to be listening to Maghull Radio at 5.30 am, but we did not want to miss Dave Hughes’ show and hear “A Spaceman Came Travelling”, which Dave played for us. Thank you, Dave for thinking of us.

SD tied to the dock at Morro Bay Yacht Club

We had another overnight sail ahead of us which would take us around “the Cape Horn of California”, Point Conception and on to Santa Barbara. We flew full sails for a short time and then the wind died away, so it was back to motoring. Jeremy was on watch as it went dark. Suddenly, he was startled by a missile exploding overhead. Fortunately, the Coastguard broadcast soon afterwards reassured mariners that this was routine missile firing and there was no danger to shipping.

UFO or USA Missile?