Log 02 - Offshore passage from Vancouver Island to San Francisco

"Please understand, we have been waiting to leave ever since we figured out that there were SAILS willing to take us anywhere we wanted to go." - unknown

This blog covers August 23 to September 02 2002, which was our first serious multi-day passage from the west side of Vancouver Island direct to San Francisco, up to 170 nm offshore and 8 days of sometimes very rough sailing. 

14:04 Friday, August 23rd 2002 

Welcome Wayne..adventure awaits. 

Wayne arrives in Ucluelet from Calgary all smiles. He's packing a larger steering oar for our Cape Horn wind steering system. We still had a number of jobs on our job board to prepare TIOGA for the offshore passage such as packing away the dinghy, storing solar panels, and lashing things down, so we got straight to work.

Sunday, August 25th 2002 

All things that an angry sea might want to tear off are packed below, weather cloths to keep us dry installed, dinghy lashed, food and cabin prepared, and a favourable forecast. We departed Ucluelet at 11:00am after fueling.

Boat is ready as she's gonna' get for offshore - let's go!

Monday, August 26th 2002 
Our second night at sea, and still not much for wind. Here Wayne entertains the crew with some pretty good Monty Python impressions ... like the man with three bums. Alright, now, give us a look!

Here come the Monty Python imitations...

Tuesday, August 27th 2002 

Tuning the wind steering system.  It works!

With wind finally in our sails, Chris and Wayne get the Cape Horn wind steering system working really well. Wind steering systems are like cats, though. They have a personality and sometimes get set in their ways. Chris and Wayne "stroke" the cat.

Saturday, August 31st 2002 

Sheila and the boys on watch.

A few days have passed. We didn't much feel like taking pictures during our first gale. Seas and winds had been building throughout the week and kept us busy and on our toes or in our bunks. On Friday night it culminated in a gale with 50kt winds and really really big seas. We hove the boat to for 6 hours and kept in touch with the US Coast Guard during the worst of it then carried on the next morning. The boys handled the voyage extremely well, though Joel didn't think Mom should use her "good" life jacket if we had to abandon ship. TIOGA was rock solid for the entire trip and kept the crew safe and dry.



Wayne looking a little shell-shocked. "After last night, 30kt winds are a piece of cake ... man, could I use a hot shower and a shave ... what would a steak taste like? ... what day is it? ... are we almost there yet? ... where am I? ... who am I?"

A beautiful day sailing in following seas and steady winds

06:39 Sunday, September 1st 2002 
Joel looking tired after an early morning watch with Mom and a spectacular night of stars. California's in sight!

Joel helps out on the early morning watch as the California coastline gets closer

07:00 Sunday, September 1st 2002 
It's a tequila sunrise! California from about 10 miles offshore. But we still have to sail all day before dropping our anchor in Drakes Bay.

19:57 Sunday, September 1st 2002 
And a tequila sunset! But hey, lots to smile about! We're going to make Drakes Bay with a smidge of light still in the sky, a night's sleep for the entire crew, and a break from the constant motion. Maybe even a game of crib and a beer!

Rounding Point Reyes, an hour to Drakes Bay!

Monday, September 2nd 2002 
The Golden Gate is in sight and out come the Kazoos for Joel & Gerrit. Now why didn't we bring those out sooner?

Out come the Kazoos  the Golden Gate is in sight! 

10:21 Monday, September 2nd 2002 
Golden Success! Safe arrival in San Francisco!

Great family accomplishment - sail under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco!

In Log 3 we get to spend some time in The Bay area.  So much to see and do in this new life we are still figuring out.