I Went to Mexico... 

Caught an invite for SNO and I on a Swan 57 out of the Club. The kid wanted the experience and WTH it had been awhile for me. Nice owner. Great boat. 9 guys as crew.

The 50th running of the Sandy Eggo to Ensenada Race it was called.  Aboot 65 miles in a straight line.  But yannow sailboats abhor straight lines. 50 + boats entered. 11 in our class.  Plan was to do the race and head for home.  Yes, we would eschew the drinking & frivolity of the after race to be home in bed Saturday evening. That was the plan.  Plans are good.  Ask any military tactician. 

Our class started around 11:15 AM on Friday.  We started around 11:19 AM.  Having the fleet right where we wanted them, in our sights, we proceeded to pick em off.  10-12 knots of breeze and the Swan 57 was nicely making way.  The reaching sails were humming and we hugged the coast looking for the Santa Ana offshore that was forecast. Well sort of.  

Usually a sailor checks the weather before a race.  I went on line and was confronted with one of president Zero's Shutdown Theater antics.  The NOAA website is down. (i.e. kaput) 

Fortunately some capitalist over a SailFlow had the data and the information was noted. One Barrycade hurdled.

One of the debates that has raged over the 50 years of this race is do you go offshore and catch the sea breeze or hug the coast and wait for the adiabatic effect to come in and push you to victory.  Given the forecast, we stayed tight.  Made good time all afternoon passing Rosarita Beach in the late thereof.  (Yeah, the place they filed Titanic & Master & Commander) Last time I was down this way there was one hotel. Now there are, well, a lot.

What is a Swan 57?  I don't have an actual picture, but this is reasonable facsimile. (Use GOOGLE) Think top
of the line Mercedes...on the water.  60,000 lbs of passage making fun.  Everything on the boat is big. Move a sail? Two men. Move the big jib...three men.  But ohhhhhh does it move through the water. 

So we flew the reaching spinnaker until just before sunset when the wind lightened.  What a great afternoon of sailing.  Night time had us chasing zephyrs and keeping the boat moving. We were about 2-4 miles off the coast and waiting for the wind. 

My watch came on for the midnight to 4 AM shift.  We took turns driving, chasing puffs, and stars.  Driving at night takes a toll as the senses get overloaded on a moon less night. (But, oh the stars)  At 3:00 AM we were moving at 2 knots and about 5 miles from the finish.  The decision was made to take down the drifter and go with a #1 jib.  At 3:10 we were doing 7 knots and building. I handed off the helm exhausted. At 3:15 AM we spotted the strobe of the Committee boat on the finish line. It was now blowing 15 knots and things were getting busy. Suddenly we were in with 4-5 competitors who had appeared out of the dark.  The wind increased to 20 knots and we were flying.  Several tacks crossing other boats and we were driving on the finish line in 22 knots of breeze. Dove across the line and spun the boat for our turn and burn.

Exciting finish to a long day.  Now a leisurely motor sail home. No doubt the wind would die when we left the bay. I had the off watch at 4:00 AM and was looking forward to some rack time.  Grabbed some space on the settee in the main cabin and settled in. 

I tried to sleep but kept sliding on the cushions. At some point, I was out, only to be awakened after being launched across the cabin and landing next to the lower berth. My shipmate, that was in said birth, was surprised to see me. Hey Rumbear, what's up?  He was even more surprised when a drawer full of sailing stuffs landed next to me and spilled its contents. (i.e exploded) The boat seemed to be healing...a lot.

WTH? The pain in my back was subsiding as the fog in my brain cleared. I had been asleep across yon cabin 6-7 feet away and now, well, I was not. The boat had a bone in her teeth and was charging north in 45 knots of breeze. This was not gonna dissipate, the Santa Ana had arrived. Lot's of shouting up on deck. Time to reef the main and douse that big jib. Amen brother.

Working on deck in the dark of night when it is blowing 45 knots is, well, inspiring.  This was SNO's watch and seeing him on the foredeck was pretty cool.  Scary, but cool. Did I mention this was his first overnight ocean race?

The wind cranked all morning as we headed north.  What a fricking sleigh ride!  We had 25-30 knots sustained coming offshore.  The seas were confused as the Pacific swells heading towards the beach collided with the wind induced offshore waves. This big beautiful Swan just hunkered down and performed. 8-9 knots flying through the waves.

The wind died as we got north of Tijuana.  We cleaned up the boat as we sailed towards the South Bay approach to Sandy Eggo. Bounced the Customs Dock around 12:30.  Some kind of record coming North.  

Great trip.  Great crew. Next up is the Hot Rum Series.

Rumbear out.....