Blogging and More on Sea Life
Well, after more than a year of not posting, I've suddenly gotten the urge to write. Maybe it's because I've had some spectacular adventures in the past year! A new job as a grant writer and communications manager at a women's shelter - it's a feminist organization, and working here has been so good for the heart. A new home with an old room-mate after going head to head with a corrupt landlord. Getting my scuba diving certification and becoming a racing crew with the Canadian Forces Sailing Association. Exploring Botanical Beach at low tide! Then this November, the spectacular 1,000-mile sail from San Diego to the Sea of Cortez.
This sailing adventure was a dream come true. In the months before I even knew the trip was happening, I had the urge to put up a poster on the wall that said, "You Shall See Wonders." And we really did! More in subsequent posts....Sailing with the wonderful skipper Matt, who taught me so much about sailing and was kind, good-natured and resourceful in the middle of storms and mishaps, also made the trip pretty great. The adventures were endless, from an engine break down, to near gale force winds for two days, getting caught in kelp and having to dive down and hack it off, rationing our water, and communicating in Spanish over the radio when we finally arrived at the Sea of Cortez.
We anchored at Balandra Bay, which is famous for it's mushroom rock, a ridiculous-looking rock cap balanced on a thin stem. The waters were even more striking for how clear they were. Matt and I rowed to shore in the dingy then swam back to the boat almost in a state of shock at the clarity of the water. It was more like being suspended in space than actually swimming.
We had many a long night where we took turns on watch. During the worst of the storms, neither of us wanted to be alone on deck. We tethered in with our harnesses so we wouldn't get swept overboard. Then each of us took turns sleeping in the open cockpit while the other steered. It was terrifying watching Matt tethered to the mast in the dark and crashing waves, reefing in the sails so that we had a bit more control and weren't going at a screaming speed. During the stormy nights, I got water in the face and down the back of my neck as the waves crashed over the side of the ship. It really helped keep me from feeling sleepy! But we made it through to the peaceful bay and eventually to the Sea of Cortez. From there I caught a bus and flight back home.
Pictured below is the peaceful Balandra Bay.
This sailing adventure was a dream come true. In the months before I even knew the trip was happening, I had the urge to put up a poster on the wall that said, "You Shall See Wonders." And we really did! More in subsequent posts....Sailing with the wonderful skipper Matt, who taught me so much about sailing and was kind, good-natured and resourceful in the middle of storms and mishaps, also made the trip pretty great. The adventures were endless, from an engine break down, to near gale force winds for two days, getting caught in kelp and having to dive down and hack it off, rationing our water, and communicating in Spanish over the radio when we finally arrived at the Sea of Cortez.
We anchored at Balandra Bay, which is famous for it's mushroom rock, a ridiculous-looking rock cap balanced on a thin stem. The waters were even more striking for how clear they were. Matt and I rowed to shore in the dingy then swam back to the boat almost in a state of shock at the clarity of the water. It was more like being suspended in space than actually swimming.
We had many a long night where we took turns on watch. During the worst of the storms, neither of us wanted to be alone on deck. We tethered in with our harnesses so we wouldn't get swept overboard. Then each of us took turns sleeping in the open cockpit while the other steered. It was terrifying watching Matt tethered to the mast in the dark and crashing waves, reefing in the sails so that we had a bit more control and weren't going at a screaming speed. During the stormy nights, I got water in the face and down the back of my neck as the waves crashed over the side of the ship. It really helped keep me from feeling sleepy! But we made it through to the peaceful bay and eventually to the Sea of Cortez. From there I caught a bus and flight back home.
Pictured below is the peaceful Balandra Bay.
Comments