Sampaguita sits at the Shelter Island Guest Dock, in San Diego Bay. We’ll be here for a few days getting our ducks in a row. Looking back, the last time Sampaguita was at a dock was Morro Bay. That doesn’t count being on a buoy at Cat Harbor, Santa Catalina Island for two nights. Being on a buoy is like being at anchor.

As we have moved from anchorage to anchorage here in Southern California, I was reflecting on getting some good days of sailing. Sampaguita’s sail from Bonita Cove was another great day. In a very light offshore breeze we sailed off the anchor. The water was calm, Sampaguita maintained steerage, and we were able to sail out the channel into the Pacific.

When arriving at Mission Bay, we entered just after the ebb had started. The boats leaving were pitching some on the way out, so I was a bit concerned, from being able to hear the surf all night, that the channel could be choppy. It worked out the back hour of the flood was a good time for us to leave, so I took advantage of that. No chop, just long low surges and easy to sail through.

Once in the ocean, I changed out the 100% jib for the drifter. Having the drifter on inside would have been great, but the jib is easier to tack in light winds, so for maneuverability sake, I used that. The wind backed around to the prevailing NW and steadily increased as Sampaguita rode it south.

By the time we neared Point Loma, Sampaguita was doing over four knots broad reaching on a port tack. As we began to make the giant u-turn around the Point, I dropped the drifter and returned the 100%, weaving through the lobster pots, on a reach. Turning into the wind getting compressed by the Point, first one reef was taken in the main, and then a second.

Reefed down and close hauled, we tore up the channel in a relatively flat sea, with only the wakes of gun-metal grey boats steaming by. I could hear Corvo’s (a Thunderbird back in PT), skippers in my mind, “Use the puffs to climb when you can.” This kept me on the windward side of the channel, so we laid Shelter Island on one long exciting tack. And I wasn’t the only one. You don’t get that kind of sailing on the open ocean.

The day was filled with helicopters, hovercrafts, and assault carriers making continuous turns to starboard. I’m either in the safest place, or the most dangerous place. There is quite a buzz here. Lots of sailboats too. I missed the exit of the Baja HaHa fleet though. It must have been a spectacle as there were something like 113 boats.

The dock here will suit my needs just fine, and fits in my budget. It’s exciting to have finished another leg of the voyage and prepare for a new. It looks like Roseville will provide most-to-all of the goods and services I’ll need, with a good bit of walking exercise to boot.

P.S. – I fell asleep last night to the sound of helicopters in the distance, and Daryl Hall and Daryl’s House Band with Special Guest Todd Rundgren emanating across the water from Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay. I CAN cope with that.