Monterey Bay - In Search of Whales

Michael Wheatley and I led a group last Saturday in search of whales in the Monterey Bay. Our group consisted of 9 very strong and enthusiastic paddlers. It included 6 from WSK, 3 from BASK (5 of us have dual membership). We had ACA insurance.

We launched at 10:00AM from the beach at MBK under sunny skies with little wind. The ocean was as calm as I have ever seen it. It was like a lake. We were able to laugh and chat down to Lover's Beach. I did not even feel a need for my rudder! Numerous sea birds, seals, sea lions and otters were sited. The water visibility was great. We were able to look down the giant kelp to the ocean floor. It was a gorgeous day for a calm flatwater paddle. It was a good hair day.

We stopped briefly at Lover's Beach and then headed out to our lunch destination, the Pt. Pinos buoy. All was fine and dandy until we hit the Wind Wall. It was like a line in the ocean. What moments before was flat water suddenly became winds at 25 knots gusting to 31 knots and 10 foot seas every 9 seconds. The swells were large and I only intermittently was able to see parts of my group. We all made it out to the buoy and within seconds Michael decided to turn the group around. The queasy thought of trying to look for whales and eat lunch, while bobbing up and down on 10 foot seas, made me wish I had doubled my dose of Bonine.

We turned around and headed back to Lover's beach. Big following seas pushed us along. We surfed all the way back. All I did was brace and rudder. My Shadow weather cocked with each swell. Rudder and brace. My boat's rudder felt almost useless. It was out of the water most of the time. Maybe I could add a skeg to help...maybe I should have brought my Coaster!

After a lunch break at Lover's Beach we headed back to MBK. There were white caps as far and as near as you could see. The ocean never calmed down. We all surf landed safely back at the MBK beach. Only one of us crash landed upside-down...my hair!!!

We did not see any whales but what a paddle!

A kayak-spearfishing club did not fare as well and had several rescues and lost gear. They all ended up safe and sound. Here is a newspaper article accounting for their event.

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/2513930.htm

Gayle Chin