On the move again: Riding a frontal system north up the Pacific coast.
We’re heading north again. A month on land was enough for the two of us, and we’re anxious to get back to the ice, bears, whales, and eagles of Alaska.
The trip up the Pacific Coast can be a grind, or quite pleasant depending on what the Pacific high is doing. The earlier in the year you leave, the better the odds of having a reasonable passage.
Even though it is Sunday morning, we’re going to start off with a test of your powers of observation. This boat was heading south, probably to Newport Beach, California for the start of the Newport to Ensenada race. This photo was taken just after sunrise. What is wrong here?
Eighty miles further north along our track and the "Cape Horn" of the Pacific, also known as Point Conception. Look closely – what do you see?
The wild coast of Big Sur, California at first light, and we are still heading north. Anything unusual?
If you have not figured it out yet, this will make it really easy. Hint: What direction of wind do the white caps indicate? If you said south wind, you would be right. We’ve been riding a frontal system north, getting a nice push from it, rather than bashing our way against head winds and big seas coming out of the Pacific high.
And there, in a nutshell, you have the secret of making easy progress to the Pacific Northwest. Wait for the lulls between systems, after the high has begun to fade, and start out motoring as fast as practical. As the front off the low pressure system which follows the high approaches, unfurl the sails and motorsail in the light southerlies. Then shut down the engine and enjoy a nice run while the rain washes the salt and grime off the boat.
Have a place in mind to duck in, as the wind will shift to northwest following the frontal passage, and then usually build as the high moves east.
Repeat as necessary until you are running down the straights of Juan de Fuca.
The weather guys at NOAA are showing another day in which we could make good progress, then three or four days of strong flow with the high during which we will hang out, enjoy land life, and maybe do a little work. However, we’re just passing by Carmel, and Santa Cruz harbor has a slip we can use – so we’ll stop and see some friends, and wait on the next front.
Posted by Steve Dashew (April 22, 2007)
