Real time post – night sailing down the OR coast

It’s midnight local time (0300am EST), and we are on our way from Coos Bay, OR to Crescent City, CA.

This passage is 120N.M. long, and our original plan was to depart in the middle of the night to reach our destination at the end of the day, as we did before. However, a few events motivated us to depart earlier, and do our first full “overnighter”. First, the forecast started showing a steep increase in wind intensity and wave height for Friday afternoon. Second, the weather settled quicker than expected yesterday and instead of a rainy afternoon, we ended up having clear skies with mild wind and seas. Lastly, another family of liveaboards who are traveling approximately the same route and at the same time as we are would also be doing this passage in the afternoon. So did we.
We departed Coos Bay exactly at 4pm. Had an easy sail out of the river bar and soon pointed our bow to the SSW, leaving cape Arago to port. We had a fabulous sunset and soon after that Adriana treated us to a delicious pasta.
Everybody is sleeping now and i am taking the time to write this post.
We are some 5 miles off the coast, between Cape Blanco and Gold Beach, and 55 miles away from Crescent City. The wind has been gradually picking up from astern, blowing 17-20kts right now, and we are keeping a steady 7.8kts speed. At this rate, we shall arrive approximately 7am. If the wind builds up further, i may need to slow Pesto down to ensure we don’t get there while still dark.

Despite the obvious darkness outside, we don’t feel alone at all. Everywhere we look, there’s always one or more lights from fishing boats around us. The radar and AIS also confirm their presence on the chartplotter screen. To the east, i can see some city lights, and the reassuring flash from the Cape Blanco lighthouse. And, the most interesting bit, every now and then it it possible to hear the seabirds that inhabit this area, complaining as Pesto dislodges them from their place on the sea’s surface. In another hour the moon will join us and decorate the sea with its silver glow.
All is good aboard, and it is time to go back and check our surroundings.
Have a great friday!

EDIT: 09:30 Pacific Time – Just arrived to Crescent City. Tied up safely to a dock. Now off to try to get some sleep!