Coho Ho Ho Rally 2014 August 24 Sunday - a few more locations

7:12 pm Chris and Cindy posted:  

Check in for Impulse on Aug 24, 2014 at 1400.

We spent the night making passage from Ilwaco, across the bar, and down the coast to Newport, OR.

Passage across the bar went as smoothly as we could have hoped.  A ebb tide pushing us out, only 2-4 foot swell, no wind waves.

We made our way South through the day with full sails up in 15 knot winds pushing a cool 8 knots speed over ground at times. Winds picked up as the evening set in, as did the waves and swell.  I estimate we had 7' foot swells, and gusts above 30 knots.  As we reduced sail power, we reduced speed as well, which worked out well as we wanted to slide into Newport during daylight hours.

We arrived in Newport around 0830 on motor since the wind died down when the sun began to rise.  Met up with Sonamara and Namaste at J-dock in the South Beach Marina.  Crew is again happy and healthy.

Impulse update 1730 on Aug 22, 2014. (Written for my Facebook friends more than Coho, but whatever)

We have done our daily weather huddle and decided to delay our departure from Newport for 1 day.  Instead of leaving Monday morning we will leave Tuesday morning.  

There are a couple pressure systems around Southern and central Mexico that have caused inland California to have a low-pressure system that conflicts with the offshore high-pressure system that has been hanging around.  This causes a squash zone (pressure gradients changing quickly in a small geography), confused seas (swells from different directions with different periods), and swells that a few feet larger than we are comfortable with (10-12 feet).

We want to time our crossing around capes Blanco and Mendocino carefully, and although there is never a prefect time to round these, we want to avoid these types of systems.  This is exactly why we gave ourselves 11 days to do a 7 day trip.  We can hole-up and time it with the weather.  So tomorrow will be R&R as well as completing a couple boat projects.

Photo is of what being 'holed-up' looks like.

And the story as told by Cindy (crew-mate).

Dave, Doug and I arrived in Portland on the 19th and accomplished many last minute projects and provisioning.  It is amazing what you can fit into small spaces.  The day ended with a walk to the Island Cafe on Hayden Island where our boat was docked.  Chris' friends had a nice send off for us all.  After overnight stops in the small towns of Cathlamet and Ilwaco down the Columbia River we crossed the infamous Columbia River Bar at slack high tide without incident.  Now I'm thinking this is going to be a cake walk.  We raised ours sails, layered up, turned off the engine and began a 20 hour down wind sail (no motoring) to Newport, OR.  Both sails were working hard in 20 knots of wind. As it increased after dark, we sailed with half of the jib only. And dark it was!!!!  Of course there was no moon and we were literally sailing blind except for big. dark mounds of stuff attacking us from all sides.  The seas were 6' to 8' high with gusts of 30 to 40 knots. Captain Doug, Dave and Chris did a remarkable job basically staying up all night taking turns at the helm and watches.  I personally never felt afraid nor did any of us get seasick. In the meanitme, our head (potty) backed up and if that happens on a twisting, turning boat, it is not pretty.  We had to rig a pump out the head window and took turns goinig below pumping it out - we certainly left our mark all the way down the Oregon coastline.  We are now in Newport, analysing the weather, which is never quite what is it suppose to be.   It was probably the wildest Saturday night we've had in a long time and all without alcohol.  

Thanks,

Chris

Photo is of what being 'holed-up' looks like. 

6:42 pm Brad posted:  Kevin didn't do a net tonight. Sonamara is in Newport along with Namaste.  Abby Normal, Andante, Mabrouka, and Friday are here in Brandon. Abby and Andante plan to leave at the 7am slack if the bar is open. Others are unsure and may wait. If the bar doesn't open, we might wait until Tuesday.   (you could read that last sentence to mean there are thirsty people sitting in front of a tavern, waiting :-) ed)

6:09 pm Scott posted:  Velvet Sky listened in and tried to call out on SSB 4A with no luck. We are staying in Coos Bay until at least Sept 2nd. We are making a trip to see family before we resume our trip south. 

3:03 pm Kay posted:  Sonamara in Newport, OR, until Wed or Thurs.