Rock'n and Rolling in Capitola

South swell, NW winds or just a rolly-polly  boat...not sure the root cause but we are seriously rock'n and rolling in Capitola.  As noted in my last post we tootled our way south to pick up a mooring late Saturday afternoon when the wind had died down quite a bit.  We put up the main and enjoyed a sail as the sun set for the day.  I had never personally moored at Capitola so wasn't sure what to expect whether it would be like the moorings at Angel Island or more like the ones we've used at Catalina Island.  The truth was, it was like neither one...much worse.  Essentially we are being asked to thread a needle while 8 feet off the ground and riding a wave.  A ridiculous endeavor!  I asked Keith if he had any suggestions and it came down to hanging out on the dolphin striker to run the line through the eye bolt on the moving mooring ball while he drove the boat...um...yah!    I figured I'd give it a shot....so we proceeded to try and fail miserably.  On our boat, you really cannot see the mooring at all once you get close enough and in order to reach it you have to be one foot off the water which makes it impossible to give directions to the person at the helm.

After our beautifully crafted failure I suggested to Keith that we try the approach used somewhat successfully at Angel Island which was to launch the dinghy and get next to the mooring while someone tosses the line from the boat down to the person in the dinghy.  He agreed with the plan so we came around close to the mooring ball so I could get into the dinghy and be ready.  We came by it a little faster then I was prepared for and I got into the dinghy a wee bit late so was forced to paddle against wind and current to get to the mooring.  Major arm workout!  Keith nosed up and dropped me the line and I was able to get it through the eye and back to Keith to secure.  Quite frankly I'm sure we provided great entertainment to the others already sitting snugly on their moorings.  I guess as we do this more we'll get the technique down but meanwhile I don't mind providing a little evening entertainment!

So there we are on the mooring and the swell coming in is crazy! The boat is rock'n and rolling as much or more then when we were heading down the coast in open ocean.  We decided that the best plan was to get everyone snuggled in their beds for the night.  The two little guys settled down pretty easily as it was, by this time, pretty far past their bedtime.  Mason and Keith played some cards while I went about straightening a bit.  After 30 minutes Mason says he's feeling a bit queasy so I find him some meds and get him settled into our bed in the aft cabin which is the best place to be.  We managed to ride out a very bumpy restless night and hoped that some calm would come soon. Which it seems might have arrived today....thank goodness.

Watching life in action. A bait ball created by the cormorant under the surface and the pelican taking advantage of the easy pickin's. Not to mention the otter getting his evening dinner.