Sorry for any non-replies in the other posting but I was rushing to leave Stockton. Nice place to see from I-5, but for me not a place to live. I am on the road so to speak. I left Stockton with the tide on the 21st of July counting on testimonials that the route to Frisco on the Delta is easy. It turned into an all nighter, with wind waves as high as I have seen and being pushed onto some shoals in a large bay East of Frisco. Totally my fault, as the Yanmar YSE8 is amazing and the boat, although not a speed demon, is the most heartily built hull I have ever had the pleasure to own.
 As this is my maiden sail (the Delta is just too narrow to sail) I have been getting used to the rigging and unique features we all have to deal with in a new boat. My First Mate is my old friend and partner from patrol days, and he took his vacation to make the sail South. He has a Catalina 30, and in his opinion his boat would have fallen apart in what we went through the first night to Pier 39. I could not be happier with the boat, and although I am not happy about having to tie my fiberglass tender to the foredeck, (we were initially towing it, and it was swamped in the channel), the way we worked together in resolving the situation deserves a short description and shows the versatility of the PD.
   When we saw the tender going down, we knew that if we wanted to keep it with us, it would have to be lashed on deck. As the little boat sank, we pulled it up to the stern and improvised by using the main halyard to get it on deck, as it had become an anchor with water that had been absorbed into all the new canvas I had acquired and had loaded into the tender. The main halyard made short work of pulling the boat on deck. It is secure now, but the haul onto the deck took allot of gelcoat with it. I am going to re-gelcoat the deck when I get home, and I am really happy I did not do it before the trip. Again, I am pleased that all I have to do is a gelcoat job, as the PD easily took the additional weight of the tender without a single crack or sag. Just a truly strong boat, and again Dan commented that his boat would never have been able to do what we did and would have certainly broken through the deck.
   One tip, listen to your gut more than you do about what others tell you, or what the weather stations report. Be aware of reports, but everything we have heard so far has been the opposite. First, we heard the Sacramento Delta was an easy journey, which it was not. Then we heard that getting out of the San Fran. Bay was difficult, which it was not. We motor-sailed right out. Also, weather reports, and those who supposedly know, stated that South from Frisco was a downhill run with wind on our stern. Our experience so far has been different. Since we left Frisco, we have had 5-10 knots of wind right on our nose, and we have had to tack continuously to get as far as we have which is Halfmoon Bay. It has been good practice, and although because of my bad neck I had planned to do most of the helm work, but because I know the boat better than Dan, I have done the sail work.
    We head out again tomorrow for Santa Cruz, and as it is about 40 miles, and the next closest harbor, we are planning for more of the same. The plan is to head out at dawn and see what is waiting for us. As others have said that this is a hard leg, we are hoping that the opposite will again hold true. However, we are still planning for beating, but I know that we are prepared. We check the engine constantly, and we are both surprised how well this little engine is running. As I mentioned before, this Yanmar sat submerged for a few years before I got it and the fact that it even runs is amazing. The starter solenoid is the only thing that is not consistently working, but it is easily circumvented to start. One thing I am at a loss about is the fact that the shifting mechanism cannot put the engine completely in gear. This is not a new situation for me, and I work around it. But I will have to get it fixed properly when I get home.
    I feel like I have been in a war, bruises everywhere. But that is to be expected. The boat on the other hand, after being inspected by a diver from the rocky encounter the other night, showed only minor scrapes. Barely took the bottom paint off. I feel safe, and for a 26 foot boat, I also feel I have more room than my old Cat 30. Dan again said the same thing and he is content to have his own stateroom in the aft.
    Wish me luck, and no offense, no prayers lol. I have been inundated by my overly enthusiastic Christian friends with their prayers. If that makes them feel better, great, but I will pay more attention to the boat and it's capacities, other than something I cannot see and have no understanding of. Not to bash the believer's, really. But I do know allot about what they believe, but I don't get the individual protection supposedly guaranteed?
Thank, Steve 

Steve,

I see your creating memories you'll never forget.  Good for you!  I looked at the close up of your boat moored at a pier.  On your rudder scar board I see duct tape.  Is that there for the sloppiness of the rudder?  What did you tape inside?  If anything?
Thanks,
Chris

PS: What is your final destination? 

I finally made it to southern California, where I will  stay for a while. Including the river to San Fancisco, My buddy and I logged about 400 miles, and accourding to my GPS, at one point we made 10.2 knots. We all have heard or know about the physics of hull speed, and 10 knots violates everything. However, this must have been when the current was strongest, we were surfing down the side of a wave and the wind was heaviest, right before we put the sails down near point Conception.
 I have logged my whole trip, and if interested it can be found at travelpod.com. I generally post at the end of the day, when my memory is fresh and I have experienced something noteworthy. Unfortunately, that is usually when my senses are at their worst, and my writing ability suffers. I reread what I wrote, and I apologize for the spelling and grammar. I am even too lazy to use spell check at that point.
 I must say, and my sailing partner mentioned the same thing to me. I really believe that there are very few boats of this size, with the minimalist philosophy I have toward high tech rigging, that could have made this trip without coming apart at the seams. Aside from the electronics, which are almost all tied into my laptop, the rest is all stock and it handled everything the sea threw at it. I intend to write some more about the trip and the boat, and I am even going to insert some photos. But for now, rest is a priority, followed by minor repairs, and a change in some of my rigging.
Thanks for reading, and if you have specific questions, email me and I will try to promptly respond.
Thanks, steve