Sept 11: Oceanside to Avalon (Santa Catalina)

The trip to Avalon from Oceanside went very smoothly.  Once you enter the harbor, it is like entering the lobby of a hotel.  A boat approaches you, you sign your credit receipt, and then they take you to your mooring ball.  They are pretty much a "harbor bell boy".   Les had to get wet, and I followed suit.

Video Link:  Approaching Avalon

Entering Avalon Harbor

Condos where we will be moored

The Casino at Avalon

Video Link: At our Avalon mooring

Dennis, Les and Vickie at the mooring ball

Les testing the water.   It was very warm.

Getting back into the boat is not as easy as it seems.

Evening shot from our mooring ball.

Sept 10: San Diego to Oceanside

We completed the first day with no problems and made our way to Oceanside by around 5pm.   The seas were so very calm.   We saw porpoises and dolphins along the way.  In the harbor Dennis found another couple who have the same boat as he does.   They have lived on it for 5 years now and have done quite a bit to their boat.  Tomorrow we leave for the island of Santa Catalina.  Although the couple that we met suggested that unless you get an early start there may not be much room for us there.   We will see where we end up tomorrow.   The video is at the dock in Oceanside.

Les reviewing our Oceanside experience

Sunset at the dock in Oceanside

Before we left San Diego, Les and Kevin had to retrieve the ball and rope connected to the San Diego Mooring where the Windhorse was home for many months.

Sept 10: Windhorse leaving San Diego

Well, the crew is about to say goodbye to San Diego and head up North.

Windhorse at San Diego's Police Dock getting prep'ed for the trip North.

We went to an outdoor street market in Ocean Beach the night before.

Video Link: Les Trying Out the Memorial Bell in San Diego

Sept 6: Heading down to Dan Diego

Leaving to start our trip in San Diego.  Our car is packed full of gear and Vickie had only a small hole for her to sit.

Saying goodbye to Northern Califonia

Testing out the outboard on San diego Bay

Sunset Shelter Island on San Diego Bay

Dennis climbing the mast.

Preparing for our trip north from San Diego

Wind Horse is a 1975 Islander Freeport 41 Ketch. With the bowsprit she is 45' long. Her draft is 5' and beam is 13'2". At the moment she is sitting on a mooring ball off Shelter Island in the San Diego Bay. September 10th she will begin her trip north to the Napa Valley Marina, a trip expected to take 2 weeks.
Come here often and view her fearless crew and their exploits, as they sail up the California coast.