ESCORTING THE VOYAGER FLEET OUT OF DANA POINT

Ninja and the Admiral saying goodbye

The canoes rafted at Baby Beach for the evening

We anchored and waited for their "island time" departure

Sailing east in the main harbor channel

Serenity Now to the right of the fleet

We flew our gennaker down the coast and they popped a spinnaker

We wished them calm seas and fair weather as they sailed to San Diego

We couldn't have planned a more exciting two days meeting our new friends from Fiji. Who knows, maybe someday we'll bump into them in their home port. Let's go sailing!

MEETING THE PACIFIC VOYAGERS,"BULA BULA"

Captain and crew of the Fijian canoe UTO NI YALO

First approaching the canoe off Dana Point

The Admiral making the introductions

Iva and the Admiral

They steer with this huge paddle

The canoes are 72 feet long and 21 feet wide

Average speed is 7 knots

We'll meet them again in January in San Diego

We dinghyed out of the harbor to greet a group of Pacific Islanders who were spending the night in Dana Point. They are on a voyage to strengthen their ties with the ocean and honor their ancestors who sailed before them. Before you knew it, we were on board meeting the crew, marveling at the ocean-going canoe and sailing into the harbor with them. It was quite an unexpected and unbelievable experience.   

KALIYAH TOOTING HER CONCH

ANOTHER DAY

Wow, what a difference from yesterday. Today the sea was almost mellow as we enjoyed bright sunshine and saw several whales offshore. After dinner on the hook at Danalina, the sunset was a perfect dessert.

DAY ONE OF THE ADMIRAL'S FUN

Sunny skies, 24-28 knot winds and some very choppy seas made for a challenging yet exciting afternoon sail. We dropped a hook in Danalina for dinner and were treated with this sunset off Dana Point on our way back to the slip. 

TAKE YOUR VITAMINS

Seldom, while at Catalina, do I take my "daily" vitamins. On a recent solo trip to Willow Cove there was plenty of time to think about such mundane things. Call it my Andy Rooney moment.

Derived from the Latin word for life, vita, vitamins are consumed to make us healthier and our lives better. But when I'm on Serenity Now I never take them. And it's not a conscious effort. Can it be that the ocean is my vitamin? Is the sea a powerful medicine, better than any pill or capsule? Is my life healthier and better when I'm in or on the water? My answer to these questions is a simple yes. 

Now go find your vitamins!

BROTHERLY LOVE

Brother Sailor Jerry came into town for lunch on the hook in Danalina and an afternoon sail in a 8-10 knot breeze. We sailed to the San Clemente Pier and then back. It was a great way to spend the day. FYI, we first sailed together on Sailor Jerry's Sea Snark back in the early 60's.

AND THE BEAT GOES ON

Another fantastic day of sights and sounds in the marina.

A sunset dinner with Sandy's homemade enchiladas. 

Racers gliding to the finish line.

Day is done.

EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT

Wednesday was a breezy 20+ knot day so the main was reefed as we hit 7.7 knots of speed. The next day we dropped the hook in Danalina and kayaked, paddled and enjoyed the sound of children playing at Baby Beach.

Headed back with a reefed main.

The Admiral enjoying Danalina.

TWO DAYS OF FUN

We have been on the go for the past two days, walking and sailing. Monday we anchored at Danalina and today we traveled to Newport Harbor and dropped the hook off Lido Isle. From there we dinghyed to the Balboa Fun Zone and walked the Balboa Pier. After an ice cream cone and a couple of rides it was back to Dana Point. Oh, we saw a whale off of Laguna Beach on the way home. 

Walking the beach trail in San Clemente

Serenity Now surrounded by sabots in Newport Harbor

Yes, we rode the Balboa ferris wheel

View from the top of the ferris wheel

And the carousel