Sailing in Slow Motion
Voyage 8, Marina del Rey, October 14, 2003
The weather cooperated----for a bit. My divers, however, didn't...
As we pulled out it was sunny, with a few wisps of fog starting to appear. We pushed back and I throttled up to head out. Immediately Ron noticed that the boat didn't seem to have any power. I checked the back and there was plenty of prop wash----hmmmm. 10 minutes later (!) we pulled up at the fuel dock to get some gas and checked the boat. Turns out the divers never got to the boat Monday, and the bottom was coated with a thin layer of green growth. Couple that with the coral growing on the prop and it was no wonder we couldn't get up to speed.
Anyway, we filled up and slowly motored out to the breakwater. One or two other boats were out. Another Catalina 27 and a speed boat full of orthodox jews---complete with yamakas and suits. We exited the north entrance and headed for the Santa Monica buoy. It was smooth with a swell here or there, but the wind was a very light 6-8 knots. After a few minutes we noticed the fog coming into Malibu and Santa Monica, so we tacked to the south once we could easily clear the breakwater. About that time the wind seem to go away completely and the fog got the best of the sun. After drifting for a second we powered up and got behind the breakwater. In the absence of any swell we could sail pretty easily so we cut the motor and sailed up the channel. One thing I should note, as we passed the Playa del Rey side of the breakwater---where boats anchor---I think we saw Gauth's and Eric's old boat the 'Blue Coffin.' Freaky! Ron was going to snap a picture, but I had forgot my compact flash card---d'oh!
Anyway, we got back to the dock and came in with no problems, got the boat cleaned up and headed to happy hour at the Chart House...an OK sail, but kinda slow...