How much balls do you need on the West Coast?

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by 1Sunseeker

Well since you did not say where on the West Coast nor what you were sailing I would suggest you stay right where you are. I have sailed from Long Beach CA, thru San Francisco Bay up to and around Vancouver Island, BC and still love it. I do not have any reason to ever leave. The water is cold so swimming will probably cause you discomfort and tuck those balls right up. How ever in Desolation Sound there are spots in the salt water that gets warm enough to enjoy the water. There are lakes and rivers and Shaman pools warm enough to wash your body and hair. But be careful you might find a warm/hot spring to bath in. The sailing in the summer is probably what you guys down there are used to. I have heard anything more than a ripple and you all head for shelter. So you probably won't make it here. You would have to learn to appreciate wilderness, learn to take a sun/shower on the deck or maybe under a waterfall with few if any other boats in the anchorage, you would have to like clams, mussels, salmon, bottom fish. You would see quaint Native American villages still in use. Discover and photograph their ancient petroglyphs on the rock walls. you would find cedar trees in old growth forest partially stripped of bark used to build their canoes. You would have to sit on your boat while taps was played at Roach Harbor every evening in one of the most beautiful settings ever and then hike up a small dock and hill to a five star restaurant for dinner. You would see Quaint churches and historic pubs You would hear tales and see evidence of old sourdough gold prospectors, remnants of hand logged cedar trees 10-15 feet in dia. You would quake at the odd wolf howl, fear the black bear, deer, elk and maybe a cougar. On your boat you would creep into a pristine fjord to see and hear the history of Princess Louisa falls. While above the falls see Mountain Goats clinging to sheer rock walls, Did I mention the berries? Wild strawberries, black and blue berries, salmon berries you would learn to bake pies and cobblers from the apples/peaches in forgotten orchards. You would have to learn what mushrooms and native plants are edible and which cure aches and pains, the sting of nettles. But better be carful because Sasquatch still walks these forests. Ask any of the hermit's that still live in hidden bay's with his/her orchards, gardens and goats. Yeah you better stay down there where you are protected and can run to your friends when the wind blows. JMHO of course.

Much fact, and more BS, but all true.You are better moving there than to SoCal where we have too many people anyway.

[tuffr2]

Get use to cold water. When I retired I researched places to live and wanted mostly warmer water. Florida won out over Calif. easy. Not sure if you can get into the water with a wetsuit, even in the summer.

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

Get use to cold water. When I retired I researched places to live and wanted mostly warmer water. Florida won out over Calif. easy. Not sure if you can get into the water with a wetsuit, even in the summer.

Correct! Florida waters are definitely warmer! I can say this about California: In my youth, mid teens to early 20's and before and after, I would and could dive in scuba gear (no wet suit) to about 70 feet without turning blue from cold, although it was not necessarily comfortable. I also surfed without a wet suit, although I typically wore a white T shirt for both activities. The surfing was in the summer since wind made it seem much colder. I am now 73, and shiver at the thought of even going into the surf or snorkeling without a wetsuit. I think water temperatures are probably essentially unchanged, so it is my body that is the big factor.

[Don C L]

HYUGE! Well, actually as much as I'd like to wax hyperbolously of my testicular prowess, I am afraid I am pretty normal. Now if you want to discuss youth and foolishness, that certainly helps around here. Maybe you should tell us where you are moving to and then we can properly scare you off!
It's a different kind of adventure, certainly lower temperature, than your neck of the woods, but all doable... and like all good ski areas, there are bunny runs, intermediate and black diamonds available.... just pick your weather, your heading and what kind of anchorage you want... or just go out for the afternoon and see a whale or pod of dolphins or two...

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by Don C L

HYUGE! Well, actually as much as I'd like to wax hyperbolously of my testicular prowess...

You wax them too! Wow that is definitely not normal. Or is it? Worse than cold water in any event.

[Mithril Bham]

The mouth of the Columbia will kill you and so will Cape Flattery. Bring your balls. You will need them

[JSSailem]

Originally Posted by magellanyachts

The mouth of the Columbia will kill you and so will Cape Flattery. Bring your balls. You will need them

Maybe, maybe not... If it does then you will be resting in the place (with others who tried to test their ball size) known as "The Graveyard of the Pacific"

[thomm225]

If you know sailing and have experience, it's not a question of balls.

Just saying that it takes balls seems to indicate you are scared of something (the unknown?) since many others have sailed that area and never refer to it that way.

It's all about knowing/learning the weather and conditions in the area you sail wherever that may be and being prepared

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by JSSailem

Maybe, maybe not... If it does then you will be resting in the place (with others who tried to test their ball size) known as "The Graveyard of the Pacific"

That describes the entire coast from San Francisco to mid-Vancouver Island due to the lack of all weather harbours. However, unlike all the river mouths to the south, the Straight of Juan de Fuca is a wide (10 nm) inlet that opens onto the recently renamed Salish Sea (Puget Sound leading to Seattle in the south to Straights of Georgia leading past Victoria and Vancouver to the mid-point of the island. While there can be very rough and confused seas, the mouth of the Straight of Juan de Fuca is always open.

Once into the mouth of the Straight of Juan de Fuca you're out of the big seas and have to watch out for logs and deadheads rather than big seas. But the SW coast of Vancouver Island at the mouth of the straight is a lee shore during storm conditions and has hundreds of wrecks over a 100km stretch of the coast from the late 1700s right through to today. Yachts tend to wreck when their fuel lines block up due to the confused seas over Flattery Bank, the winds are strong, and the reefs off the Vancouver Island coast stick out a long way. Coastguard is available to save lives but not boats. Seatow can save your boat, but they're a long way away and won't necessarily work in storm conditions.

The west coast of Vancouver Island north of the straight is a wonderful cruising area, with several deep fiords and many islands with some all weather harbours. Also remarkable historical First Nations infrastructure and awesome isolation. But you are on the edge of the North Pacific Ocean, with cold water and weather systems moving in quickly and severely at all times of the year, and very few facilities. Check out the Vanisle 360 yacht race for reports about the west coast.

[Chuck Hawley]

I grew up sailing between San Francisco and San Diego, and later to Cabo San Lucas. Your perspective will change as you travel further north along the California and Oregon coasts. Here are my observations:

1. There are long distances between all-weather harbors. You may get stuck between safe harbors if you don't watch the weather.
2. There are times in the summer when the Pacific High is strong, and it blows out of the NW for weeks. This makes it very hard to go north.
3. Pt. Conception and Pt. Arguello and Pt. Sur can make trips north very difficult.
4. The Channel Islands are gorgeous, and vary from touristy and crowded to virtually uninhabited. Great cruising.
5. Harbor hopping can get expensive. Many harbors don't offer areas to anchor our, or greatly restrict it, so you're stuck with a $50 transient dock fee.
6. You could spend a season on SF Bay, or SD Bay, or just knocking around the harbors around LA. These are large areas with lots to do.

Chuck

[matauwhi]

You need a good set, Mate!!. San Diego all the way up to Cape Scott on the north end of Vancouver Island and back in '98. Lived to tell the tale. Enjoyed the sleigh ride back after the bashing on the way north. A sound boat and decent planning & decision making helps. All the best. Cheers.

[svseawitch]

Lots of good responses. The group could give you a more info it you told us where you are moving to.


Los Angeles has been home since I was a 13. Good place to sail with lots of variety. Nice offshore islands for weekend or multi-week trips. Good day sailing from many of the marinas and reasonable air temps. Keep in mind that the water is colder than you are used to and if you are going in the water you might want some wetsuit protection. During the middle of summer you might get away without a wetsuit.










Marina Del Rey just north of LAX is the largest manmade marine in the world. and San Diego is a great place to sail. And, a nice place to live. There are a few smaller marinas north of Los Angeles but not much of anything north of point


conception. San Diego is not at all like Sothern California. Widely varying conditions. Strong winds and cold water in the bay. Outside the bay, you do need to have your act together. It is sailable but newbies do not belong there

[davido]

I strongly suspect the original post's reference to the "West Coast" was intended to inquire about the far and distant shores of western Florida.

[icedog11]

I'm surprised at the offense being taken to the term balls. It is a very common colloquialism use in common speech to indicate courage or bravery especially in the context used here. Not looking to start a discussion on political correctness or the vagaries of the English language. Just pointing out that in my experience it's not a word worthy of being offended by in the way it has been used here.

[Baba Buoy]

No need for brass ones for sailing Southern California. Regarding the subject of offending the roundly enhanced, I suppose it depends on the what type you identity with. Basketballs invite abuse but rebound quickly and seem to want more. Bowling balls are tough brutes that don't care who they knock over once the get going. Nothing bothers ball bearings, except the lack of oil. Ping pong balls, though, are easily squashed by the slightest misstep. So you gotta roll with current sensitivities, of not offending the least common denominator, or you risk gathering moss.