kewlrunninz,
Check out this thread:
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...-a-285464.html He's going between SF and
Vancouver Is, with a planned stop in
Portland, if the
Columbia lets him in. The
Columbia bar can be vicious. Look at the chart, it's rather complex, should be avoided in strong wind-against-tides conditions.
Lost a friend of the
family out there when I was a kid. Approach near the top of the tide, for the best chance of getting oneself out of trouble.
I'd suggest a few trips out to the Farallones and back into the city, for practice first, to determine what you can expect in the way of average days' runs. The timing is still a little early, beware of late
winter storms, but there will be useable winds some of the time. If the boat is comfortable on the
offshore tack, fore-reaching slowly into 35+, it can be amazing how much distance you can make just loafing along over night rather than pounding to windward. By the time it's in the 40's, it is bloody tiring, and noisy, and cold and yucky, imo--others find it glorious sailing, exhilirating. You'll lose a LOT of ground if you heave to to rest in a blow, Southerly at 2 kn, just from the
current.
If it's your first trip, take at least 2 crew, if you can find some you can trust. You want people who can leave their
phone in the ditch bag for their watch. You want people who will keep watch, who will do as you ask..
Knew a guy who did it in June, one year, SF to BC, had southerlies the whole way, on a
Gulfstar 50. You can help your luck along by figuring out when the
wind changes will come through, approximately, at the various
safety spots along the way, so you can figure out when to stay put and wait a bit. You want to avoid strong
wind against the seas conditions at all of the barred crossings along your way. But first, you want to get to know your
new boat: first in the bay, then out in the ocean off the coast of SF.
One other thing, the reputation of Cape Mendocino as a Mother of Gales is entirely justified.
Enjoy.
Ann
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