Summer Sailstice participant, Esta Lee Albright, sailed his Ranger 26 'Valkyrie' out of Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club to enjoy some summer sailing after the Sailstice. There was much more to enjoy than just sailing:
'A longtime sailing friend and I sailed my Ranger 26 out of Monterey to the next port along Monterey Bay, Moss Landing, about 13 miles, on Saturday. Easy but steady wind and a whole bunch of humpback whales. A group of 5 and several lone whales were headed toward a feeding area about 5 miles out over the Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon. A mom and her calf were just lolling around, and when I steered away from them she did a magnificent breach and put the calf to her side away from the boat. I wasn't about to get any closer! On Sunday we sailed back to Monterey in a strong wind from the northwest and saw Risso's dolphins, big 10-foot oceanic dolphins just cruising the bay. I think I was in non-stop happiness.'
'Terrier Sparks is a good sailor and has his own little life vest. In the guest slip at Moss Landing he sat aboard and watched the people pass by on their way for kayaking: the harbor is the head Elkhorn Slough, a huge wetlands: harbor seals were sunning, southern sea otters were foraging or grooming, CA sea lions were arguing over space on a haulout float, terns and brown pelicans were plunge diving, and western sea gulls were just making lots of noise.'
The good news is whales have returned in a big way along the CA coast. Especially blue whales: http://theoptimist.com/daily/?s=blue+whales
