Oct 29, 2012, Monday, San Diego, CA

Everyone is up.  Last trash dump.  Turn in keys and say good-bye.  One by one, engines are started and boats head down the channel.  The radio comes to life and now we know that the radio works just fine. Wave to the cameras, single file past the committee boat, blow horns, ring bells.  It is a beautiful day.  Our first official radio roll call to see who is actually going.  A couple of boats have left early there are some who are having problems and will catch up later.  The official start time is 11:00 am.  10 minutes, 5 minutes, there is the gun!  It is the America’s Cup rifle starting us off.  130 boats head out to sea past Point Loma.  WOW!

Since there is not much wind a rolling start is called which means you can keep your engine on with no penalty.   Even so, spinnakers start to fly.  It is so beautiful.  Rhapsody holds her own.  We have no spinnaker but still manage to move along nicely. They keep saying this is not a race just a fun cruise but you know how sailors are and there will be prizes.  Everyone is to keep track of how many minutes they sail and how many minutes they use the engine.  One of the categories is for any boat that makes it all the way under sail alone, no engine except for coming into port and anchoring.  We are hopping to be in that group. 

People start to catch fish, yellow fin tuna and dorado.  There are excited announcements over the radio.  We are told to take pictures and measure it before cutting it up to eat.  Dolphins come and play around the boats.  All of a sudden we are in a fog bank.  It is fascinating to see it ooze across the water.  One by one the other boats disappear.  We can only see a half dozen of the closest ones.  Then even those are gone.  We are all alone, sailing along with white on every side.  Then, just as gradually, the fog lifts, or we sail out of it and there is the rest of the fleet.  The wind is still very light and getting lighter but we are determined not to turn on the engine.  On and on we go in a very light wind.  Gradually the fleet spreads out.  Some keep their engines on.  Some head way out to sea to try to catch some wind.  Late in the afternoon, a small bird  lands on the boat.  it hangs out for a while, resting its wings and going for a ride, then takes off again. 

At 6pm the sun sets with a beautiful sunset and at the same time an enormous full moon rises.  It is absolutely beautiful, only thing missing is warm weather.  As the sun sets it gets cooler and cooler  Time to dig out our woolies.  We have figured out a watch schedule.   Alan will steer from 9pm till 1 am while I sleep and then I will take the watch from 1-5 am while he sleeps.  So after dinner I am off to bed where I fall asleep almost at once.