After a 13 hour passage, at times 30 miles from land, here is a first sight of Santa Cruz Island.
	At the time, I thought the whole voyage was worth it just for the sunset!
	Up the next day bound for Forney's cove, moving from the extreme east end to the extreme west end of the island.
	Santa Cruz is so different from Catalina. Barren. Eroded. Over grazed.
	My last photo of Forney's cove, after this me and the camera got dunked!

Here's some words I wrote during the voyage.

Log of Indiscipline

Monday I was up at 0500 well aground here in Cat Harbor but I was able to motor out through the mud, get outside, and be underway at gray light. It was a 65 mile passage directly to windward. I was very lucky (and I waited for good weather) to have a NW course and light SW winds the whole day. I motorsailed with main and jib the entire way, maintaining about 2.5 knots under sail and with the motor got it up to around 4.5. I arrived at smugglers cove just at dark and was able to get anchored in 30 feet, a bit too close to another boat but it was late, no winds and I shortened scope a bit after getting well set. This was a 15 hour passage and I was exhausted. Motorsailing at 4.5 knots the Tohatsu 9.8 consumes 1/3 gallon per hour (like clockwork).

Tuesday I did not set the alarm and got up and underway about 8 AM. I sailed all day, motored some, and completed a 30 mile passage to Forneys' Cove (I went from the extreme east end of the island to the extreme west end). It would have been a perfect day for crossing to Santa Rosa Island, a big Cal 40 that was sailoing in my vicinity did just that when we cleared Gull Island. I contemplated following them but I had my plan and a very good forecast for Wednesday. My plan was to sail from Forney's directly to San Miguel on the weather side of the islands, that way I would know exactly what the weather was and if it was too much I could easily head back.

Forney's was quiet, windy and cold. I took the kayak to the beach with only my camera and was dumped by a wave. Soaked to the bone qand camera ruined. Later that night I watched the stars and saw the International Space Station fly overhead.

I got up the next day at 0500 and got the weather radio on. I had gone to bed with a forecast of winds NW 10 to 15, seas 2 to 3 and got up to a small craft advisory, winds 25 gusting higher, seas 5 to 7. That was too much especially as it bloew all night and was windy at 5 AM. I wanted to explore Willows Anchorage and look for aqny remains of the Eaton's old cabin, so I sailed for that cove on the lee of Santa Cruz Island. I did at least sight San Miguel as I reached across the Santa Rosa Passage that morning.

Willows as way to bumpy, windy, and with a big S swell arriving. I went to Coaches Prieto, a small cove, which was very crowded with 6 boats. I got well anchored but 20 knots of wind came up from the SW, S swell, it was very uncomfortable and with big rocks directly to leeward of me a deadly lee shore. I dared not leave the boat and slept a very brief night keeping an eye on the rocks. Eventually the winds dropped and shifted.

I took a very slow and leisurely sail back to the east end the next day, anchoring at Yellow Banks. It was hot and sunny and I had all day so I cleaned everything - bedding, cushions, pillows, salon, even myself got bathed and showered with my solar shower.

Like a Trade Winds Passage

Yesterday, I ran about 65 miles from Santa Cruz Island back to Catalina. I am currently anchored in Cat Harbor. The passage started at 04:15 well before first light. I was sailing through the Anacapa passage at sunrise on a light SE morning breeze. This island, which means Mirage in Chumash (indian) language has always captivated me. After sunrise the winds faltered and I was soon motor sailing at about 4.5 knots. After several hours and 35 miles or so had passed, the winds and seas came up. Soon I was running downwind in 15 knots gusting to 20 with seas 4 to 6 feet. I was glad to be heading downwind! The boat was a joy. Autopilot was handling the conditions just fine. Speeds were up near 6 knots. Once in a while the boat would take a big roll to leeward as a whitecap burst against the stern quarter. But she always rolled back.

I spent a fair amount of time down below reading. 15 minutes below, 15 minutes on deck. My 6th sense told me to come on deck to see us pass within 100 feet of the NOAA weather buoy 46025.

I would trim, contemplate a reef, and watch the thunderheads building to the east. I can't forget how one of these knocked the stuffing out of me in the "Crew of Two" around Catalina. But I could see them dissapating when they got over the ocean. The boat loved a good fast broad reach in these conditions. I was filled with "reaching towards the south seas on the trades" fantasys, especially after spending the last 4 days at sea and sailing 200 miles in 4 days.

After a 13.5 hour passage we were safely anchored. I quickly went ashore for a burger and ice cream and dropped off to the first deep sleep in a week. About 4 AM I was startled from a deep dream about swimming up the freeway during a flood with a loud bang! I thought we were aground or up against the neighbor trimaran. Nothing could be seen. I returned to bed. The noises continued. Then I saw a 18 inch fish flopping in the kayak. I got dressed (it was cold as hell) and pulled the kayak on deck, and managed to get him back in the water alive.

Today has been mostly a breakfast ashore, shower, sleep, and reading in bed. Not sure if I'll go home tomorrow (Sunday) or wait till Monday. Better wind is forecast tomorrow and it is blowing like stink right now! I really needed this day of rest and to stay out of the sun. Reading the book about the true life of Tristan Jones, Wayward Sailor. A ffascinating, and well written tale.

Indiscipline is Home!