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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Lighted Boat Parade Winner

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tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/23/2004 : 00:33:35

I have been trying to get around to posting a couple of photos here on the site of our entry in Morro Bay's lighted boat parade. I got as far as posting them on my AOL space but then could not remember the address for the space. In the meantime I sent it to Latitude 38 for their use and they posted it today. [url="http://www.latitude38.com/LectronicLat/2004/1204/1222/Dec22.html#anchor1085433"]check it out here[/url]

The lights took my wife and I most of a beatiful calm Saturday to set up. I had watched the parade a few times before but never participated. It was an experience with the ebb tide. In a regular parade the floats are assigned a spot to park and then they follow each other down the street. Boats don't park. The back of the bay was a terrifying mass of well lit boats with a few other hazards like mooring balls thrown in to make it interesting. I had the Admiral stationed on the bow as a look out. Everytime she would say "do you see.." I would throw the helm over for fear of ramming something. Later I got smart and gave her the portable spotlight. Then she only had to highlight the danger and I could nod that I saw it - no more panic. One boat following us hit a daymark head on. My thought as I looked back was "That could have been us!) As we were circling in the back bay I executed a turn with what I thought was plenty of room, but man the boat in front of us was approaching really fast. I thought that I must have under estimated the speed the current was carrying me toward him. After we cleared him with less room to spare than I would have liked I realized he was motoring in reverse! No back up lights on a sail boat!

I had a fun time. The kids had a fun time and we won first place for sailboats and 1/2 a boat unit.

Actually the real fun was the night before. The Admiral and I ducked out of work at 12:00 sharp. By 1:15 the boat was in the water and the truck was parked. Took us a while to motor over to our rented slip and step the mast and rig. When it was all done I turned to my bride and said "Its too nice to just start putting up lights, lets go sailing" Her reply was " I want to see some whales!". So we headed out the bay and turned South. The wind was off shore so the sea was pretty flat despite the wind 10-12 knots. She drove while I enjoyed the trip. Then just when the sun was about to go down she said "Why don't you take a turn and shouldn't we turn around?" So after watching the sun set into the Pacific (No green flash

) we did an about face and headed back towards the Rock. Two things happened when the sun went down. The winds picked up and it got much colder. We sailed closed hauled for a while but I did the math. We got here at better than 4 knots and now going back we are making two miserable and cold knots. At this rate we won't make it back to port before the restaraunts all close. So I fired up the out board and we pressed ahead at 5 knots motor sailing. By the time we got to the harbor entrance it was fully dark. The harbor entrance concerns me in the daylight but the entrance at dark was a higher level of concern. The city lights are all in your face. You can see the channel markers but that is all. We circled about outside while we reentered waypoints in the GPS (Our old one loses all points when you change batteries) Then it was a true leap of faith to motor forward into the darkness. No problems but it sure was stressful! Great trip but no whales yet. We did see otters, seals, gulls, terns, and pelicans.

Todd Hansen
Fiorghra'
San Luis Obispo, CA

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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 12/23/2004 : 09:43:09

Very nice decorating job. Good stories, too. Thanks for posting.

Steve

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 12/23/2004 : 10:01:44

Why did they say you were in a Laguna 26? Catalina 25s just can't get no respect.

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 12/24/2004 : 15:08:56

Very COOL! Our light parade got cancelled this year because of a storm. I know it must be a lot of work putting up those lights. And otters are my favorite. Over here we have river otters. My wife swears she saw some in the creek behind our house when we first moved in. I'm very glad you made it back without an incident. I was very nervous leaving the fireworks display here in J'ville (the light parade was cancelled due to storm) I came upon another larger sailboat head on just as I was entering the channel of a bridge. I didn't see him because he had no running lights. I hollered at him and he said they were broke. I'll be damned if I wouldn't put something up there on the bow. Scared the crap out of me.

Merry Christmas,

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tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 12/26/2004 : 01:55:12

Jim, they reported us as a Laguna 26 because that is what I told them we have. Before we actually bought a boat I spent hours lurking here and dreaming of the day when we could get our own Cat 25. At fate would have it when we got down to looking for a Cat25 in earnest we came across our Laguna 26. It suits us well. There is a new Laguna forum but after spending so much time here with everyone over the years I still prefer to follow the discussions here. I try and limit my participation to non boat specific topics.

By the way I love visiting your web site and reading of your adventures, especially during the year our boat was in rehab after we bought it. It is my ambition to join you on your Catalina cruise in the coming years. I fear not this summer as I have to use my limited vaction to travel elsewhere this year.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 12/26/2004 : 10:49:20

Tim - I don't care what kind of boat you have, everyone is welcome on our forum. This year I'm thinking of sailing to Santa Cruz island so it should be in your range. Don't know much about the Laguna 26, I'd love to see it. I love 'em all!

San Diego - Catalina Harbor - Santa Barbara Island - Santa Cruz Island - ? A really ambitious, offshore, single handed, Catalina 25 adventure. Mid winter, now is the time to get out the charts, cruise books and dream about summer voyages! I'd just love to get out to Santa Rosa and San Miguel, thats going to take some real planning.

Hope to meet you on the water this year or next!

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/26/2004 : 23:08:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimB517
 Tim - Don't know much about the Laguna 26, I'd love to see it. I love 'em all!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I think that is the way we all fell about it! Boats that is. I am familiar with the 24 and it has a lovely shear, it is a well designed and well executed boat. I am sure any of us would love to sail on your 26.

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