Dam, That Was Some Big Water Today!!!
 

Have you ever been out and thought, "We should just not be here right now!?" Well, that was today. We left Ventura Harbor after lunch and the wind was said to be gusting at 40 MPH, small craft advisory, the swell had to be 10-12 footers AND BREAKING!! We get outside the harbor trying to get back to Channel Islands Harbor which is like 10 miles down the coast, we get out there and I'm thinking, "It's time to turn back now" Let me rephrase that, I turn to Kevin and said it to him. The holes were so big we were barely on plane and dropping completely out off the back side of the swells. Dropping deep in the middle of the swell where you can't see anything but high seas all around you. We were completely wet from the wind spray coming over the bow and my girlfriend Kelly told me later, I took the P-coat off and put the life jacket on because I didn't want to sink with the p-coat on when we went into the ocean!!!:eek:

Finally, we get a small area to turn back and now we are worrying about stuffing the thing. Not to mention all the crap in the water plugged the starboard motor! We barely got back in alive! The Cigarette held up like a champ though!! Not the best boating day, but I wont forget it anytime soon!

Tank

WOW, glad you got back ok.

Sounds kinda hairy Tank...........glad to hear you guy's are ok!

Been there before, looking for a chance to turn back. Glad it worked out ok.

Hey! Happy to hear all turned out without any injuries.
Various news reports here in Florida have made note of the high winds and rains all along the West coast.

Whats with the big winds this time of year?? If I remember correctly, when I lived in Woodland Hills Oct thru Dec were the Santa Anas..

Glad all is well with the humans..Hows the Cig??

That a boy Tank.....you should have gone home and picked up the Outlaw......HeHeHe.....!!:D :D

Tank sounds like you guys are lucky. I have been out on a few of those days back in my blow boat days. Now when it is like that I just turn around and go home.

Jon

TANK, I have been out where
you were a few times, Infact
been at a few Pacific Offshore
races in my old home town of
Ventura when we were blown
out.
It can get real Bad Real fast
with the islands so close.
You were very Lucky with all
the junk that washes down the
river.
The Daughter "Cyndi" said it
rained so hard in Oxnard she
could not see across the street 4" in 8hrs.
Mike J.

Thanks guys. Yea, it was definately crazy. I've been in some big stuff but that was unreal. You know it's bad when you're thinking about things like, will they find us if we go into the water. And worrying about if the next swell is going to break over the boat. Lucky thing we got back ok.

BIG TIME!!:eek: I turend to Kevin and said, "Time to go back, we're not going to make this one!" and he said, "We're commited! How are we going to turn around??!!" I looked around and said, "Yea, I see your point" Luckily, we were able to do a cut back thing off the lip of one of the swells and managed not to capsize the boat.

It's times like that, when you're smacked in the face with it, that you will remember to respect the ocean.

pretty much.....I was just in shock basically. I just shook my head and kept saying, "that was some big f*ckin water!"

Sometimes you don't realize how rough it is till you are in it!!! Been there! It is amazing what you can do when your life is on the line. Glad you made it back!!

Wow, glad everyone and boat are ok.
Thats some hairy boating!!!

I did that once when coming out of a port on Lake Michigan. I knew the waves were big and I knew that I would go out and turn around for a quick thrill because I didn't want to go boating in rough seas, however I didn't realize how bad it was until I was already in it---and once I was out from between the piers I know what that "commited" feeling feels like for sure----I immediately took two swells over the bow and I had 3 other people on board and this water definately had everyones attention! Planing off was impossible---I just wanted to get the boat turned around and I thought how am I even going to turn this hog around in this kind of water? We were only about 150 yards out---I just had to wait for the right second of opportunity to make a 180 and "throttle up" the engines at the right time. We took on about 25 gallons of water via the cockpit within the 5 minutes we were out there---the bilge pumps got a good workout that day. That was certainly a thrill that I don't care to experience again! Looking back I can only say I'm glad to at least to have learned from it without any loss. :rolleyes: :o

Glad you're okay Tank.

Glad to hear your OK I leave a set of keys at my truck so that I can always have someone come and get me on days like that!!!

Tank, Got thinking, Could that
have been Ah post SCOPE thing.
:) :) Mike J.

I have raced in Ventura and It's very easy to get into trouble out there, Damn near lost my driver the bolster seats the back seat deck cover as well as a couple of inner body parts! My how fast the Ocean can teach you respect. Glad everyones OK..

Went thru this once with the Fountain I had definite wake up ride.

Glad you guys made it back.

Oh suck it up TIT:D

Fresh

Kev-

Time to get the Tiger. :)

Hey Boardgods .... We don't have a crying Smiley!!!

:D

Tank, that's some scary ****, glad you guys are ok - BE CAREFUL!

Nort, Doug, and Gary.....You guys can blow me!!:D Don't talk to me until you boat in some real Pacific offshore water...Not the protected South bay area!!:rolleyes: :D Get your asses up here and we'll do some boating!

Mike, as a matter of fact it was post SCOPE party...and it was one year to the weekend since the last "mistake" we made in that boat!;) :D

Hey Joe, I'm going to call you later this week. Tell Kathy and Lil princess Kelly and I say hello.

Tank

Tank.......been there, done that. We're gonna need a bigger boat! :D :D :D