Dana Point (anchored)

I decided to cast off from the mooring balls at Newport Beach around 2pm after going ashore to get some food shopping done and load some data on the iPad at Starbucks on Balboa Island.

I picked up the iPad when I flew home last week and I got to admit that Im really liking it. I got it mainly because my old Dell ships computer had a memory problem and I needed a new laptop to replace it. Navionics has all the latest Pacific charts on the iPad in hi-res and the 3G Ipad model has a GPS chip in it, so that sealed the deal. I soon found out that it's also a ton of fun and can do so much more (that is as soon as I wrestled it from the kids and then my wife). Anyway I managed to get it away from home and have it with me on the boat and I'm now typing this blog on the iPad and saving having to go ashore to use the Internet. You still can't upload pictures to the blog using an iPhone/iPad, but other than that the iPad is really easy to type on, actually easier than my notebook pc. I ended up buying the ATT data plan for $25 a month and that makes it more usable than justr WiFi only, at least while Im still in the US.

What I did do with my old laptop is remove the bad memory chip, it now has 1GB instead of 2GB and I loaded windows 7 on it. I wanted to keep the laptop as I have a cool long range WiFi USB card and antenna that I use to pick up networks at long range. I have the Engenius EUB9603H (from amazon $40 shipped) and combine that with a Hawking directional antenna. The omni directional antenna that comes with the Engenius is good, but the Hawking antenna does even better, but requires the boat to be still (not swinging on the anchor) as it's directional.

I chose Windows 7 because it includes a cool feature that allows me to share the network I have found with other devices on the boat, like iPhones/ipads that have WiFi. It's called the 'miniport virtual adaptor' software and it's easily setup using the tools that come with the Engenius device. I first scan the harbor for a remote open network and connect to it. I then start the virtual access point on windows 7 to create a new wireless network on the boat, I name the SSID 'Sea42' and then everyone on the boat can connect to it and the internet using the WiFi from their own devices. It's often slow, but it's enough to catch up on email etc.

I could only find 'pay to use' WiFi connections at Dana Point so I'm using the 3G on the Ipad and Starbucks WiFi to write this.


Ipad at the Nav Station




















It took me about 4 hrs to get here, but I sailed the whole way and the wind was light and astern. I anchored in the north section near the tall ships and the museum which is very nice to look out on.

Anchored at Dana Point

I've been here nearly a week now as I ran into a little trouble, well actually, someone else ran into me when I was riding the bike to the coffee-shop one morning. The poor little folding bike now has two permanently folded wheels. I was scooting along the sidewalk and someone drove out of a parking lot and onto the road without looking and I got stuck under the front of his car. I ended up having to go to the hospital to make sure nothing was broken in my right ankle that got squashed. It all fine (nothing broken) but I'm wearing a splint and hobbling around for a few days until I can walk properly again. It was quite a scene as I did no more damage than if I had fallen off a ladder or something but since it was a road accident I had two firetrucks turn up with sirens, a group of locals helping me off the road, two different cop cars and a ride in an ambulance. Even though I only had a cut leg, they wanted to put a neck brace on me and I had to officially decline its use. I finally got back to the boat later that afternoon after a taxi ride from the hospital and the longest hop of my life to the pier and down the boat ramp. Moving around the boat is ok though as I can use all the handholds.

I was hoping to be in San Diego by now but I dont mind staying here a few more days as its been such a great anchorage and its been sunny and in the 80/90 range every day. Its so calm, its like anchoring in a swimming pool. Ive managed to get  few chores done around the boat and dove in the water to scrub the hull and check the zincs. One of the big projects Im doing is to put in a salt water wash down system so I can clean the decks and hose of the anchor and chain when its covered in mud (nearly always). Ive got the pump and pipe work installed already and should have it finished today.


I'm anchored next to the replica of Henry Dana's ship





















Dana Pt is one of off my favorite ports so far, the anchorage is really protected and I'm right next to 2 wooden masted tall ships. There is a nautical museum, a beach and park behind me and a bunch of shops/restaurants in the marina complex. You can stay up to 5 days for free, but the harbor patrol are letting me stay a little longer because of my accident. The main town and shops are up quite a steep long hill, but its a good workout on the bike.

Lots of history here with the tall ships and museum depicting life when California was just starting out. The town is named after Henry Dana who was crew on a 1800's tall ship that collected cow hides from the coastal Rancho's like this and took them back to the East Coast via Cape Horn. I read his book '2 Years before the mast' which has fascinating descriptions of life in early California and as crew on wooden ship before the era of the Gold Rush. Read the Wikipedia entry here.

looking down across the harbor from the cliff top.

I'm meeting more people sailing south for the winter as I get nearer to San Diego. When I turned up here the yacht next to me was skippered by a Welshman called Mike. He had recently retired and flown to California to buy a boat and start his trip to Mexico and beyond.We got to spend some time swapping sailing stories over a few drinks. Im sure we will meet up down south at some point.

This morning I tuned in the shortwave SSB radio to one of the many cruisers 'nets' around the world that covers the Pacific area from California to Mexico. I had been meaning to test my shortwave radio transmit power ever since I installed the Icom 802 radio last year, and I finally got my chance. The net starts at 7am each morning and I happened to be up early so I tuned in and listened to the initial weather report which is followed by a roll call where each boat can check in and give its location and report on local conditions. Its all run by volunteers and its a nice safety net that allows each boat to keep an eye on one other and make sure no one gets lost in the ocean. I didn't expect anyone to hear me but my radio worked and the operator in Mexico got my call sign and boat name and checked me in. I then heard another San Francisco sailor (on a Catalina 470) I knew check in and I got to talk to him on another frequency. I didnt really think my radio would work that well, but its nice to know I didn't mess up the installation that much. I even managed to pick up an Australian news program. I feel pretty confident that I can now contact civilization where ever I end up.

Another interesting thing here is the number of SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard?) users here. This looks like the next big craze to replace surfing/windsurfing/kayaks/canoes etc. I have seen dozens of people of all ages doing it here. People doing it with dogs, kids on board and even one guy with a bottle of champagne and glass on his board while he paddled across the harbor. This morning a group of people were doing aerobic classes on their paddle boards in the middle of the harbor.

A stand up paddleboarder (SUP) with his dog onboard.

I'll be moving on to San Diego in the next few days. I'm hoping for some co-operating wind but I'm not very optimistic. It 's been blowing at most 10knots at in the afternoon for a few hours, but thats its.