July 20, 2008
From the Mate
Got underway from Monterey last night at 1730. In 30 minutes we had cleared the Harbor, fired a one Gun salute, raised the Main/Fore/Staysail, made up the deck, stowed mooring lines and set the watch. Lots of dockside nervous energy has now been spent.
We set a course to hug the coast to try to stay in moderate conditions. We had NW winds at 10 Kts, seas were around three feet and the Temp was 56ºF (I never realized that Southern Californian's had so much thermal underwear). As we worked our way North the winds stayed light but the seas built with some sets 10+ feet. We arrived at Half Moon Bay and were at anchor at 1030.
After the noon meal we set about ships work - bending on the Outer Jib and unlashing the Inner and making some minor repairs.
The conditions for this last section of the voyage were as follows:
DOMINENT SWELL – NW @ 6 – 8 FT
WINDS – 10 to 15
TEMP - 55ºF
DISTANCE TRAVELED – 69 NM
Connie Allen
MMSD Crew
The mate's not kidding about the thermals. I wore 2 pair of woolen socks under my rubber boots; neck to wrist and ankle long underwear; 2 woolen sweaters (one – cashmere!); crew t-shirt and lined Carthard crew jacket; watch cap; and then foul weather gear – pants to my armpits & jacket to my knees with a hood. I was warm enough despite repeated dousing over the bow. Thinking about a version of twelve days of Christmas that involves clothing.
One of the joys of night watch in high seas is the sea life that washes aboard. The waters swirling about our feet contained cute little phosphorescent creatures. They winked like fireflies on a hot summer night. Only difference was the altitude. Oh and the temperature.
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