Day 1 Sept 30, 2012

The Voyage of the Rhapsody has begun, Sept 30, 2012.  After a weekend of trying to get everything stowed as guests show up to wish us well, we cast off at 6pm and headed down the channel.  A magnificent full moon rose as we headed to the oil island in Long Beach harbor and by the time we anchored it was full dark, calm with a gentle swell.  We had a quick dinner and tucked ourselves into our cozy bunk, planning to get an early start.

Monday, Oct 1 our first full day.  They say a lousy dress rehearsal makes a good opening night.  Let’s hope we got it all out of our system.  We did not get up early.  The closest gas dock at Shoreline Marina was closed so we had to go all the way back to San Pedro for gas.  We both got hit by the boom and i got my toes caught under the tiller.  The cabin was full of stuff from the casting off party that never got put away. Although the weather was clear in the harbor there was a thick layer of sea fog just outside Angels Gate Lighthouse.  And because we had spent the night on the boat and were “only going to the gas dock” we had neglected to go through our casting off check list.

We got gas and headed out into the open ocean at high noon and the neglect of the check list became an immediate problem.  Not only was it foggy but there was a brisk wind. We were still under power with no sails up, no life jackets on, safety lines not out,  portholes open and things crashing around in the cabin.  Stupid, stupid.  In the middle of the chaos, Alan’s non-Tilly hat flew off.  Seemed like a good chance to practice a man-overboard drill so around and around we went.  We never did get the hat and I got boomed again.  Little by little we got it together and learned a couple of strong lessons.  Never neglect the check list and practice man overboard drills all the time!

The sun finally came out and the wind stayed strong.  We flew along at 6-7 kn.  We made it to Avalon in 4 hours, which is a record for us. 

Avalon is beautiful as always.  The winds were calm inside the harbor and it was still warm enough at 5:00 for Alan to go for a swim after we tied up.  Several other boats here are flying the HaHa flag, meaning that they are also headed for San Diego and Cabo San Lucas.  Friends with a condo at Hamilton Cove had invited us for a Bon Voyage dinner and we spent a lovely evening with them.