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NUDE SAILING TO THE CHANNEL ISLANDS
By Gary & Peter
October, 2009 - For several years, members have requested we add a nude sailing trip off the coast to our list of preferred events. But until this year, when Peter made his boat available, that request lay unfulfilled. Thanks to Peter’s kind generosity, SCNA members and guests were able to enjoy the ultimate nude adventure - sailing to the Channel Islands with only the ocean breeze on our skin.
When Peter proposed hosting a series of weekend voyages during the spring and summer he was hit with a long list of
enthusiastic would-be sailor and sailorettes eager for the experience. His sailboat, named the Talisman is a 41-footer and can hold about a half dozen people at one time comfortably. Signup sheets were posted for each proposed voyage so if one trip was filled an interested person might have another choice to go. Nevertheless most of the slots filled up within weeks.
The first event was a party on the dock April 19 to introduce everyone to the boat and to all the safety things we need to know about sailing. Peter also had available charts and books to discuss the Channel Islands National Park.
On May 3, Peter took the boat out for a 5-mile cruise touring the Channel Island Harbor. Staying within the breakwater this is mostly for those who have never sailed on open water and want to confirm that their sea legs are worthy of the wave action we surly will encounter in the future. A selection of hors d’ oeuvres and drinks were provided by Sonya and Peter.
June 20-22 was a trip to the city of Santa Barbara to see the annual Solstice Parade down State Street. Dropping anchor Friday afternoon near Stearns Warf gave us easy access to restaurants, shopping, and to pick up those coming up by train to meet us.
Saturday we met up with other club members who were there watching the parade from the sidewalk. After some lunch,
shopping, wine tasting, and dinner, it was back to the boat to relax with the lights of the city as a backdrop. Those who made the trip still rave about sleeping on deck watching the full sky of stars. Sunday after breakfast and a refreshing swim it was time to pick up the anchor, set the autopilot, and sail home.
Being the intrepid sailor he is, Peter returned to shore on June 22, dropped everyone off, and then set sail again for Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands with Debbie. It was fun to join all the cruise ship tourists for shopping and dining in Avalon. After spending 2 nights in Avalon harbor it was time to set sail for Santa Barbara Island to watch hundreds of sea lions in their rookery.
Twice In the evening flying fish landed on the deck of the boat while try to escape the feeding sea lions.
July 5 was a day trip to Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands, lying between 11 and 16 miles offshore. Sailing out of the Oxnard
marina at around 8am meant some people traveling longer distances had to bunk in on the boat overnight. Why the early cast off time? So we could be sure to arrive back around sunset. A full day of sailing means a full day of sailing! This trip we were greeted by some dolphins that playfully followed the boat for several miles.
July 25-27 was a three-day trip to explore Santa Cruz Island. Again, some of the crew arrived the night before departure for
dinner and to bunk on the boat overnight. Friday morning with all the crew present we reviewed the sailing charts, and questions were answered about the weekend’s itinerary. There were foggy conditions and light winds for the crossing of the channel. The light winds provided us with flat seas and the opportunity to view hundreds of dolphins who surrounded the boat and acted like an escort. The sky cleared to blue skies as we approached Santa Cruz Island. We found an anchorage a small beach, and privacy.
After the anchors were set, the dingy was launched, kayaks set up for use, and a pitcher of margaritas were blended. For the next two days the crew spent swimming, kayaking, exploring, and just relaxing. Sunday morning after breakfast it was time to host the dingy on deck, and haul the anchors, it was sad to have to leave our private home for the weekend. As with the crossing to Santa Cruz we encountered hundreds of dolphins again. They came very close to the boat - 2 to 3 feet way – and they wanted to play.
But the highlight was seeing a pair of blue whales, wow! These are true mammoths, the largest creature to have lived, even larger than the largest dinosaur. We gave chase but Talisman’s speed was no match for these giants, whose speed can easily be triple of our maximum!
August 2 was a repeat of the July 5 trip. Again, on this voyage, we were greeting by a couple of blue whales who followed the
boat for over an hour. We arrived at Santa Cruz Island and set anchor just in time for lunch. Peter found us a small cove with a narrow beach. While some go ashore to explore, others spend the time jumping off the sailboat into the ocean water.
After lunch we sail around the west (lee) side of Anacapa and circle for home. Some of us have been nude now for almost the
entire day since leaving the breakwater. What few boats we saw in the channel never came close enough to confirm we weren't
wearing clothes. Well, except for one guy in a speed boat who took a long hard look before he motored on.
Interestingly enough, once we started publicizing these sailing trips we were contacted by members of other clubs who wanted to come along also. As long as there was room, they got to enjoy the experience also. We also were contacted by others with
sailboats docked in Marina Del Rey and Long Beach who want to get together next year for some coordinated events offshore. A
nude flotilla off Southern California.
Who would have thought?
