Goleta to Hendry's
Patrick and I met this morning at about 0800. There were some white caps further out and a slight breeze. We gave time for anybody to join us and shoved off at about 0840. There wasn't much of a surf but the current was moving swiftly from the west making the surf a little tricky. We headed almost due east toward Hendry's. As we pulled out of the lee of Goleta Point the winds picked up to our back and a following sea with 2'+ wind waves picked up. Fun surfing from time to time but also a little work to keep the boats tracking well.

We arrived at Hendry's and, after looking at the surf, made some indecisions on landing. There were some rather helacious breakers in the 4-6' range with an occasional higher. Again, testing my timing ability, I started to go in. I came in behind the last of the larger swells and started to surf in on a smaller swell when, suddenly in front of me, exposed by the outgoing surf was a huge pointed rock at which my bow was directly pointed. A bow draw to the right brought me around it and a left rudder began to straighten me out when I broached and ran out of water, bracing on foam. In that wonderful position, vertical on my side, broached, I was set up for the next breaker to push the boat out from under me allowing me to develop my sand roll.

I turned and saw Patrick paddling out to sea over what appeared to be an 8' swell. He had looked behind, saw the swell and decided he didn't want to take a chance of joining the boat bender crowd. I waited for the larger breakers to pass, attempting to keep my bow straight into the surf, and paddled out to join Patrick as soon as I could.

We met and started paddling back into heavy seas and high winds. We estimate that we started in 15 kt winds as there were already wind waves. Now there were 2'-4' wind waves directly at us out of the west and a 4'-6' swell at 12-14 seconds from the South. We judge by the increase in wind wave size, the force of spray coming back and the intensity of the winds' force we were now in 20-25 kt winds with higher gusts that brought occasional 6' wind waves out of nowhere. Another chance to practice bracing and ruddering and draw strokes as we went. Stopping for a moment sent us right back the way we came.

We landed at Goleta--I got the kelp award. I made a straight landing and started to get out of my boat and tripped on my own foot. After cleaning up with enjoyed a fine brew and food at the neat restaurant located on the beach.

The topo program shows the distance at a about 5 miles along the shore, adding in the mile or so out and back, we traversed about 12 miles in 3:30. Considering the conditions, not bad for a couple of old guys. Another good day on the water but, then again, any day on the water beats any day at...

    Mike Brown

Submitted on April 28, 2003