Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/02/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]LUGnuts: A bit of adventure today in the California storm. Sailed girlfriend's new 20 sailboat (heavy cruiser type) out San Diego bay and into the ocean. Wind only blowing 15-25 so pulled a reef in the main, tucked the trim in tight and beat in the South wind blowing right down the channel. Near the end of Point Loma the swell and waves were 15-20 feet. We would drop down the back side, look back and see the city and mountains behind disappear. I have been in far more wind and once got to enjoy a North Atlantic Full Storm in a ship near Iceland, but never from a small sailboat seen such big rollers, some going cross ways, merging. The boat just settled in and road 'em up and down. The only tricky time was dodging an aircraft carrier (on way to Persian Gulf, Marines lined up on deck). There is not much channel left when an aircraft carrier is in it! Sailboats have right of way, but who's going to argue? On one side a stone breakwater and on the other waves breaking a quarter mile from the coast. Anyway, tried to take some photos. I could see a big one coming and steer with knee and try to frame things--and it all looks like a millpond. I shot a couple rolls one handed, but even with boat in foreground, you just don't get the overwhelming power and size. Girlfriend grew up in Hawaii and knows the North Shore waves and said these were BIG, but not breaking; giant buffalo shoulders pushing their way across the ocean. I have several hundred books on sailing and seamanship and many with pictures of stormy seas and only one or two hurricane shots even come close to showing the full power and size of these beasts in the open ocean. Of course, I don't have enough sense to be scared and enjoyed every minute of it. But the body is bruised and battered. donal - --- Donal Philby San Diego http://www.donalphilby.com