The Trip!!!! FINAL EDIT

[Popeye]

I would like to thank all of you that lent moral support on our trip last week, Skein & DipSeaDiver for staying in phone contact and driving my truck back from the coast
As most of you know, we lost an engine off of Cape Mendicino last Tues, and had to hobble back north to Humboldt Bay, some 30nm.
We had already encountered some rough seas for the previous two days, but had no idea what was to come.
We ported in Coos Bay the first night, and departed the next morning at about 8:30 (after finally getting fuel). The bar was pretty sloppy, but after getting across we were met by 20-22' ground swell rising high over the horizon, lipping as if it would break at any minute. We climbed over these mountains for about 2.5 miles, so hair raising that Julie actually closed her eyes going up a coupla of 'em! :shocked: (Visions of Perfect Storm)
We were finally able to start a southerly course and steam towards Crescent City. BTW, my autopilot decided it didn't want to work on this trip, but in all reality, with the huge following seas, it wouldn't have been safe anyway.
An hour before we reached CC the ocean calmed a bit, and we cruised into port, fueled, and put her to bed for the night.
I will continue this a little later (gotta get caught up on my work load)

EDIT: #1
I forgot to mention that Sun. morning, at Newport, we had waited for the tide change and departed at 7:30. The Yaquina Bay CC hailed us on the radio, and asked our documented size and intentions. I replied that we were 47 ft and was heading south to SF. They replied that we were over the length of closure (which was 40’ & under) and to have a safe journey.
Tuesday morning we awoke at 0430 to a gentle east wind, and decided to break harbor at first light, and were underway at 0600.
The entrance to the sea at Crescent City isn’t really a bar, rather an opening into the sea via a northside land mass “jetty”. The ocean was a little confused, but not too bad.
As we headed SW, to try to get some distance from shore before the Cape, we experienced larger and larger following seas quartering the starboard aft. This condition calls for a whole lot of back and forth on the wheel to keep from being spun sideways, and possibly rolling. I was thinking to myself, about 0930, that my whole body is going to be sore by the time I reach Ft Bragg (eta was 01600).
The seas continued to build, ‘bout 12-14 now with about a 5’ wind chop and beginning to get very confused! I remember Julie asking me about 01130 if I thought it was going to get much worse. I replied that we were about to ‘round the horn, and that in 30-45 mins. I should be able to change course to a more SE direction, and that it should be a little better ride.
More later…..

EDIT: #2
At 01200 the starboard alarm sounded! I had just done a visual on all of the gauges about a minute before, and all was well. The temp gauge was now showing 240 degrees, so I shut her down. I immediately pulled the port side into neutral and headed down into the engine compartment. It was so rough that I was being slammed around between the engines, so I decided to come back up and pull a floorboard. I could not ascertain the cause, so I decided, “It’s down!” Now I had to make the next decision….continue south on one (which would of put us into darkness at Ft Bragg) or turn back north to Humboldt Bay (where I knew the bar had been closed all day), but it would still be light. I quickly decided on the latter, and made my turn. I radioed Station Humboldt Bay and advised them of our situation. They said that they would be checking in with us about every 30 mins. For current position and conditions. A few mins. later, the CC Cutter Barracuda pulled alongside to see if we needed any immediate help. I said no thanks, and they continued on south.
That’s when all Hell broke loose on the flybridge! It was getting much rougher (7-8ft wind waves on the 12-14ft swell with occasional 16-18) when the dinghy broke loose! Luckily I had left the davit hook attached to the harness as a safety! Not being able to leave the helm, I asked Julie to try to secure it. It was just too much for her (with 25 hp attached = 700#). Before long, it had torn off rails, punctured itself, was in danger of ripping the EPIRB loose from it’s rail mount, and generally creating havoc!
I decided that I must have Julie take the helm long enough to allow me to go back and wrestle it down.
More later…..

Final EDIT:
I was able to grab a dock line and spiderweb it enough to hold it in place, and return to the helm. The ride was extremely rough back to Humboldt Bay, but I guess the most disappointing news on the radio from the CC was that we probably wouldn't be able to cross the bar until sometime way after dark, if at all. We reached Humboldt about 01650, and sure enough, the CC said that they strongly recommended hanging out at the "H Can" (whistler) until they felt it safe enough to send an escort out. I followed orders, and began running 180's to and fro to minimize the crashing of the boat in the waves. After it got dark, this proved to be very challenging on the turns, using only the "feel" of the boat to make the fast, powered turns. It felt like an eternity! Four and a half hours later, I see the running lights of the 47 approaching us. The skipper of the 271 hails me on the radio, and says; "I've just crossed the bar.....and.....well....it's going to be interesting!" I held off his stern about 100 yards and approached the bar on his lead. I start to see the 271 rising in front of me, turning 90's to the right and to the left, higher than my level line of sight on the flybridge. This allowed me some compensation time to steer into what was about to hit me to the beam, and correct what had just hit them. Without these couragious young men leading us through the jaws, we might have been doomed, and I will never be able to thank them enough!
The rest is pretty mundane, so I'll cut it short.
The Julie Rose is in harbor at Eureka, and the repairs will be made soon.

[ 03-15-2004, 07:02 PM: Message edited by: Popeye ]

[Bait O' Eggs]

You put us on the edge of our seat last week with the trip, and now you put us back on the edge of our seat with the story [img]graemlins/lurk.gif[/img]

Your just a tease arent ya? :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:

Glad your home safe

[skein]

You're the only guy I know who can cover the subject of 100 miles of 20-22' seas in just a couple of sentences. Papa Hemmingway would have made a best-seller out of your voyage.

Work has to seem a little mundane after a trip like that....

Skein

[ 03-15-2004, 08:55 AM: Message edited by: skein ]

Sounds like you need a kick start auto pilot and raw water pump.

Glad you made it. :smile:

[Popeye]

TTT

[WildHawg]

Wow Popeye--speakin' of popeye's :shocked: that's some eye poppin' stuff you rode out!
You painted a picture in my mind of something I never wish to experience --now that's vivid for such a short piece of writing [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]
Welcome home Bruce
We're glad to have you back--the crabs have enough to eat [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]
Headed out tommorrow with Ug, hope it's "The Perfect Day"!!
Take care,
Charlie.

[ 03-15-2004, 08:31 PM: Message edited by: WildHawg ]

[Albacore Tuna Captain]

Bruce,

Di wants to know if Julie is going to plant her feet after this trip. :smile:

Late winter and early spring are sure tough southern passages huh??

[Denali]

Wow what a story and experience. I've never been in seas like that or under those circumstances. Just a question. When you had to hole up outside the harbor for 4 hours, you stated that you did 180's. Just wondering why. I've never been behind the wheel of a boat that big. I know airplanes circle the runway sometimes because they cannot land. My first instinct in a boat would be to point the bow into the waves and hope for the best and try to maintain position. Did the one engine down have something to do with that? Just trying to learn from your experience. Glad you are safe dry and warm now. Thanks for sharing the experience.

[DipSeaDiver]

You didn't get the windows streaked up did you???

DSD
:grin:

[DipSeaDiver]

It's good to have you both safely home!!!
Well done, Captain!

[Big TULE]

Made me feel like i was south to san diego again. Well we have hit some big seas but our boat was a 453 foot ship that did some tossing and turning... I know when we would head south and it got rough we would head just off the coast for calmer waters. Those southern trips can be bad. Untill you make it just south of san fran it was rough and then it would change in an hour.

[corkyking]

Criminy!! No fun. Hope the rest of the trip is boring.

[Popeye]

Denali...If you've ever been in seas like this, you know that circling will put you into a rolling condition on two segments of your turn ie: parralell to the waves. By turning perpindicular, and heading into the waves, it's a little uncomfortable, but keeps your "attitude" safer to the seas. Two reasons for doing the 180's.....#1 Who wants to go to Japan :grin: #2 The downhill portion of the ride gives you a little "Breather" from the head-ons.
Hope this helps.

[Metal Manipulator]

Popey you got me shak'in in my chair. I can only look down on the Julie Rose III in my mind because I can't bring my self aboard under these conditions. Glad your safe in Eureka.

[Jennie@ifish]

Um... Ummm... OH MY!

I am so glad you are safe!!!

Jen

[DriftR]

WOW!!!!!!!

[Birdnest]

:shocked: I sure am glad you two are okay. :shocked:

Joe

[blubeast]

GREAT word picture Popeye. Thanks for sharing. Glad all made it safe.

[BUGLEMAN]

Yowzers! What a competant and hardy pair you are. Good luck with the rest of your journey.

[ 03-16-2004, 09:55 AM: Message edited by: BUGLEMAN ]

[whaleraddict]

WOW! Sounds like they had to pry your hands off the throttle and wheel once you were in port. Glad you made it safely.

[stick flicker]

Wow what a journey! Glad you both are safe, the ocean demands alot of respect eh!

[Taylor's viewpoint]

Bruce, the good thing is you and Julie are safe. Boats can be repaired. I hope the rest of your trip is uneventful. Good luck.
TV

[Finnlander]

Wow,and we thought the world was flat.You are so brave!

[ANDYCOHO]

That is some intense reading. I cant even imagine that you had to go through that just to write about it.

I've heard it over and over, now I'm truly understanding: Your a very experienced Captain, that knows his boat!

I wish you better luck and calmer seas for the rest of your trip!

[KChookem]

Fantastic telling of your adventure - thanks for sharing.

Gotta love the USCG! Remember, not too many years ago, when there was serious talk about very significant cutbacks to USCG on the West Coast? That should never, ever, happen.

[gottafish]

What bleach do you use to get the stains out of your underware :shocked:

[Popeye]

It's called...Getmwedgiewhite

[Fishplay]

I'm glad you and Julie are safe and sound. Be sure to thank your Enjoy Mexico...you deserve it!!

[Fshklr]

A picture is worth a thousand words..Your words would make am awesome movie!!

Glad your home safe and many cheers to the CG keeping you advised and the escort!