We are into the shotgun departures!

Two nights in Crescent City were much appreciated to break up the trip, catch up on sleep, enjoy celebratory coffee and beer, and see part of California’s ‘Wild Rivers Coast’. More on that later.

We had no plans to leave yesterday, Saturday; we’d rented a car and spent the morning hiking amongst towering redwood trees. Spectacular. After so much ocean, the forest felt refreshing and familiar.

While buying groceries around 3pm, we suddenly realized, hey – weather and timing look good – let’s just get moving again. We were off the dock by 4:30pm, on the heels of a few other cruising boats and new friends.

Cape Mendocino is notoriously rough and windy, so a light air forecast so scoot around it is not something to pass up. And we are around as of early this morning! Yay!

Kaiquest is officially in latitude 38! We’re almost due west of Point Arenas, flying the spinnaker in about 8 knots of wind. We’re only sailing at 4 knots but it’s perfect as we need to slow down so as not to arrive too early to the San Francisco bar and an ebb tide in the morning. Wind should pick up a little overnight.

It’s really lovely out here. Clear skies for now, just us and the soothing sound of Kaiquest gliding through the water. Nothing on the horizon in any direction. We’re reading and having tea and cookies.

ETA San Francisco – tomorrow afternoon. Fingers crossed for a clear view of that bridge!

Xoxox

38*59′ N
124*04’W
Heading 169T
8 knots of wind
Speed 3.5 – 4 knots
Long gentle 1.5m swell