The saddest thing to happen in 2020 for GBA was selling “Journeyman” our beloved Cal 40. This was because no commercial insurance could be found for the 50 year old boat when it came time to renew. The only upside to this was getting to deliver her to San Fransisco with friends. Here are some of my and Har Rai’s photos with Eric Cheong’s personal log. This will serve as a bookmark until the 48 North article comes out in January.
-Rhys Balmer
JourneymanFHtoSF2 from Rhys Balmer on Vimeo.
Eric the Science officer keeping predeparture tasks organized.
“An engine likes its oil like a sailor like his rum”
Madison, Ha Rai, and Bandjo. Bandjo couldnt make the trip but joined us for a sunset sail and BBQ before we cast off
Friday 9.4
We race Journeyman in her last local buoy race and win! We used our kite the others did not. We then had a bbq with friends during an evening sail. They kept the showers opened late! Weary from packing and offloading but excited for the journey ahead
Everyone but the photographer.
Saturday 9.5
We set off! 7am to reach Cattle Pass at slack tide. We motor through then set sail in an unanticipated brisk N NW breeze. We decide to motor to Cape Flattery directly into the now westerly wind. Martin served frozen lasagna.
Nice little tack through the Race Rocks
MAd Dog looking the part
Dream conditions
Sunday 9.6
Kyle recommends book “Two Years Before the Mast”. Some crew feels sick. We had the spinnaker flying, but wind and seas increased to require a reefed main and #2 sail, which shortly became a Chicken on a Stick. We hold wing on wing toward the coast. Rigged up our fishing gear. Eric served chili.
Monday 9.7
Woke up to chicken in a stick. Wind decreasing. We set the asymmetrical, I’m pretty sure Martin owes Rhys something on this one. (referring to a bet the captain won) A pod of Dals Purposes play in our bow wake to the delight of crew. By mid day we have to motor due to low wind. Kyle tried to bath with a bucket that we are now trying to retrieve. Going down the coast spinnaker flying. Drone flight shot and retrieval to the delight of the crew followed by a delicious angel and puttanesca dinner from Crew Madison. At sunset the wind shifted and a hot Smokey wind blew in.
Tuesday 9.8
Adventurous evening with gusty N NE winds and a terribly confused sea state. We were wing on wing. Around 1230 am back winded main popped the vang out of the track. Around 3am the number 2 jib ripped apart. After that it was a double reefed main with storm jib until the morning. Around mid day we shook the reefs out and hoisted the Jenny for a pleasant afternoon on a broad reach headed 130 bound for Eureka to fuel up. Toward the early evening Martin tries to fly the symmetrical, but the wind will not support and we are under iron sail by evening.
Wednesday 9.9
Early morning motor to Eureka, saltiest fuel dock we’ve seen. The sky is orange with a lingering smell of smoke. The fishing center a large industrial warehouse with an excellent chandlery. The other fisherman hardly notice us. The shop keep fills diesel tank and through Martin’s inquiry confirms our fishing approach! We water up, fuel up, dump trash and buy Snickers. Motor south toward SF hoping for a double digit southerly to fill in. But the after we run through a hell of a packet of 25knot plus gusts and storm swells from the SE. We bash through with a double reefed main and engines at 2000rpm. During our four hour circus roller coaster Madison and I spot several grey whales breaching just nearly 10 feet from the Journeyman in the stormy seas, like being on an alien planet and feeling delighted and oh so small at the same time! The storm swells turn to confused seas throughout early evening. Kyle straps together a chicken noodle soup dinner amongst the turbulence and after the stove is replaced into its gimbels. The winds continue from the S SE as we begin along evening of pleasant upwind sailing tacking to and fro the shore til morning...
Thursday 9.10
Martin and Kyle tuck in a reef.
We continue our upwind journey from the early morning to the evening. Smokey orange skies giving way to gray moisture laden air. We take long tacks to and from the shore all day with wind from the southern directions. Pleasant sailing as the wind forecast holds longer than expected. The day gives way to calmer seas, a sign to us the wind would be subsiding. HarRai treats us to an outstanding meal of Garam Masala. By sunset we turn in the iron genny so we can make our way to our final destination.
Madison Rowley keeping an eye out in the fog.
The trademark Martin Gibson smile and the jury rigged vang in the background.
Everyone but the photographer again!
Drying out on Treasure Island
Big thanks to our awesome photographer Har Rai Khalsa