Rowboat and Roadbike

My vehicles for commuting...

View from the Office

From Santa Barbara '09

Hard-to-beat view at the Coastal EcoVentures office, for the Spring quarter. I can see the latest campus point conditions, and if I peer around the corner, I can just see the Black Pearl bobbing happily in the anchorage, and right below, the joggers running along the bluff.

Too many people have beautiful views but keep the shades drawn because of the glare on the computer screen. The trick with windows and computers - keep them at 90 degrees from one another. Or perhaps it's just lucky orientation...

Ash on Water

Ash fell like snow Thursday night, after the Jesusita brought another evening of mayhem, and created dark swirls on the sea surface.

Last year, several months after the Zaca fire in the backcountry, a big wind kicked up the ash and deposited it on the coast - everyone thought there was another wildfire. But nay, it was just wind-blown ash from the last one.

The many lasting effects of fire: on hydrology (flooding), sedimentation (erosion), soil (nutrients) - which is one bright spot in this whole equation.

Jesusita fire grows and grows...

Everything that could go wrong seems to have gone wrong - the sundowner blowing down the mountains in gale force, the air was so warm I would've have slept with the windows open, had it not been ash making its way westward. I feel safe but useless at the same time.

Evacuation areas now increased all the way to Goleta - here is the County map.

Anchoring for 10 weeks

Since I would be leaving the US for 2.5 months - two weeks in Mexico and 8 weeks in Ecuador - I wanted to make sure the boat would be safe. Many preparations were taken, such as making sure the bilge pump was working, the solar panel was charging the batteries properly, the skiff was ontop of the sailboat securely, the bow gear and cleats would withstand the stress of time and potential gales.

View of the Black Pearl as I paddled to the wharf Furthest out at East Beach, but still close enough so friends would be able to check on the boat, I dropped the 33lb Bruce anchor and 250 feet of chain - which is a fair amount for 40 feet of water during the summer. In case the harbor patrol had to tow my boat (knock on wood) and drop the anchor rode overboard, I left a few buoys handy. With surfboard and waterproof satchel in hand I jumped in the water and paddled back to the wharf, much to the confusion of the fishermen at the pier.


Early in my trip there was a scare. During the first week I was in Mexico, I had a bad dream about the boat (it disappeared!) and the next day I got a voicemail from the harbor patrol: "We got a report that your boat may be dragging, and you should come down here to move it." After a few phone calls, my friend checked out the situation and discovered that a powerboat had anchored right next to me; and had a bunch of anchor line hence was swinging around into other boats during calm times. They were there to watch the July 4th fireworks, and then left afterwards. Last I heard, my boat hasn't moved much, and continues soundly to this day, while I travel in South America.

Disappearing Dinghy part 2

I kept forgetting about getting a lock for the dinghy, particularly now that I was in finals week. Just how things turn out, the dinghy disappeared again. This time there was no sign of foulplay or clues to its whereabouts. The stress was compounded by the fact that I was planning a trip out to the Channel Islands with 3 friends, planned departure the very next day. The dinghy was an essential item for us.

I ran down to Goleta Beach, about 500 yards away, and was overjoyed to see the dinghy on the beach - upside down on the rocks near the parking lot, as if someone had dragged it up there. The oars were gone, and the stern line was now attached to the bow. Weird. I ran along the beach another 1/2 mile but did not find any gear. At least the most important piece of equipment was not lost!

The happy crew with the dinghy intact, enroute to the islands, the sailboat in the background. A key item when you're based in an anchorage - but also great for visiting fellow boaters, using as a raft for diving, going to shore during trips, etc.

Remains a mystery what happened - whether someone took the dinghy, or whether it came loose from the knot on the post. Either way, a bummer, and I had to race to the marine store to purchase oars at $100 for the pair. Better than having to purchase a new dinghy, which cost me $250 used.

One would hope I had learned my lesson by now and plan on leaving things more secure!

Disappearing Dinghy part 1

I keep telling myself to get a long cable to lock the dinghy to the post, currently it gets tied on with the rope.  However I do lock the oars together, so nobody would be able to use them, but that wasn't enough to prevent some stealthy kids from taking it out for a spin.

In Goleta Bay, view from the boat of an airplane landing in the Santa Barbara airport. Right below that is where the kids took the dinghy for a fishing expedition

After class I had gone for a run and a swim at campus point, when I decided to walk out to the cliffs and check up on my dinghy - I hadn't been down to the boat in 2 days.  I skipped a beat as I realized it was gone, as far as I could tell from a distance.  I ran down there and saw a group of 4 kids floating on the dinghy down by Goleta beach.  They had left the locked oars behind so I grabbed the oars and chased after them.

I made a strong showing once they were within sight to pay attention to me, and signaled for them to return to shore.  Once it was clear they were cooperating, I said "hey sorry to spoil your fun but this is my dinghy."  They were in their 20s, and apologetically claimed not to realize it was being used; although they had clearly planned out this little escapade since they had their own paddles with them.  

At that stage I rowed back to my 'parking spot' and tied up again, noting they had left me a few hooks and sinkers unwittingly as gifts

Rowboat from campus at night

It's a daily adventure - walking at night with my backpack, the waves crashing on the cliffs, getting to the dinghy. Sometimes I have to hold the backpack above my head to keep it from getting wet, water swirling up to my waist. 

There's an incredible amount of kelp washed up on shore and the flies are thriving, which is a bit unpleasant, but I'm sure they serve a good ecological purpose. The tar has also been really thick on the beach.

Untie the dinghy, push towards the water's edge, and time the little sets with the moonlight. On good days I just get my ankles wet, no more. Sometimes the southeast wind is quite strong at night and I paddle against the chop, but it's always rejuvenating - I feel fresh and alive by the time I hop on the sailboat, and the lights of the campus are far away on shore.

Sunken Dinghy

I left town for three days and when I returned the dinghy was submerged by sand.  I showed up at 11pm after a long day at school and I couldn't believe it - the dinghy was nearly buried, sand filled to the rims which was wet and hard like concrete.  

The oars and things were still inside, which I discovered as I started digging with my bare fingers.   It took over an hour, and incidentally the tide was creeping in, higher and higher, so it was a rush against time.  I strategically dug the sand out in piles that would block the incoming tide. After I had most of the sand out I still couldn't budge the dinghy - it was stuck in the hole.  I dug around it, my hands and finger now feeling raw and sore.  It could rock the thing back and forth, but only after a big wave sent water to the edge of the dinghy, did I bring out the "mom whose baby is stuck under the car and lifts it" superpower, and got it upside down, draining water.

Soon I had the dinghy afloat and was rowing back to my boat, still sweaty from the exertion, way after midnight on a calm night.

Smashed Toes

In early May, sailed back to campus point.  The first thing I noticed was there is a lot less sand on the beach.  The winter storms had washed most of it away, which should be replaced over the course of the summer.  I tie up the dinghy about halfway between the steps at campus point and the Goleta Beach rocks; the rest is all cliffs.  Hence I need to walk along about 700 yards of beach to get to the skiff.

The morning after the stubbed toe

After finishing school around 10pm, I was surprised that the waves were crashing right onto the cliffs - the tide was high.  The new moon made nearly 7ft high tides in synch with the time I need to commute.  I waited 2 hrs one night, and the other I skipped out and went to my girlfriend's house.  

Then my friend Miles came into town and really wanted to come visit.  We walked down the steps, got down to our boardshorts in the pitch black, and walked into the swirling shorebreak with our packs above our heads.  When the surf receded and the beach became visible momentarily I ran for it, to gain a bit of distance, but ended up stubbing my toe really badly.  Miles also hit his, but mine ended up broken, as I found out the next day.  Still, the cold water kept things numb for the rest of the evening, and we made it out to the Black Pearl.

Sailing Team: GP

My master's thesis in grad school is actually a group project (GP) done with four other students - in order to simulate a "real" work environment. "El Capitan" Beadle had everyone come out for a day sail, the rest of the team being Lucas, Gia, Ashley, and Paul; their gung-ho-ness was put to the test that Sunday --


First the team had to meet at the Stern's Wharf since Black Pearl was still anchored at East Beach. The team skillfully descended the wooden ladder leading to the dinghy below, with bags and the odd six-pack of beer, and piled 5 people onto the small rowboat (official max capacity, 3 people). We paddled canoe style through the calm-ish water to the vessel, and proceeded to weigh anchor.


Ashley had the initiative to work the windlass, with vigor might I add, which was excellent until we came up to the stern of another boat and realized they had anchored on top of our anchor. A Bummer - first time this has happened to me. I clambered on top of the bloke's sailboat (nobody's home) and tried to maneuver the Pearl around them, but to no avail. Happily, the intruding owner returned, as it were, fairly drunk but agreeable, and apologetically pulled on his own anchor until we are able to get right alongside him. If it weren't for my crew to fend off, I'm sure our spreaders would have collided and tangled by then. Hurrah team!

We were actually able to pull up our anchor aboard his boat and then get the 33lb thing over to the Pearl. Funny enough, through a casual conversation we figured out they had the very extra gas cap that I needed for my small Nissan outboard - fluke of all flukes - so I gave them $5 for it and jumped aboard the Pearl before we drifted off and set sail.



We practiced tacking and jibing up to Leadbetter Beach and after 2 hours went back to the harbor. We pulled into a guest slip without a hitch and we concluded that next year we should celebrate our success as a group project by competing in a few Wet Wednesdays with the SB Yacht Club. If the race includes weighing anchor and rowing dinghies, we'll definitely be ready...

Electrical System re-do

My daily electrical needs are pretty modest. I just have one light in the cabin (plus a few stand-alone solar powered lights), one 12 volt plug for charging my cel phone & laptop, and an automatic bilge pump. Sailing the boat requires juice for the VHF radio, GPS, and navigation lights at night. In the future, I hope to install a radar and auto-helm.

At the stern is the 60 watt panel that charges the Pearl's electrical system.

Two 6 volt batteries (golf cart deep cycle variety) have been the Pearl's source of power. They have been working ok but I've been a little apprehensive because they don't seem to hold voltage so well any more. The power adapter to my laptop was failing at night (when the solar panels have no output) and I falsely diagnosed the 6 volt array as faulty. At the same time I was given a big 8D battery, so I hired an electrician for an hour to come give me some advice.

The 8D battery turned out to be a starting battery, not a deep cycle battery.

Although there was some uncertainty about the condition of the 6 volt batteries, I eventually decided to bite the bullet and get new batteries and a new charge controller, without which the new batteries may get spoiled. I went all out and got high end AGM gel batteries that don't vent fumes in the cabin, don't require maintenance, and are less likely to fail if submerged, compared to lead acid batteries (the standard type). I also sold the 8D and the 6 volts to a guy in the harbor.

The 6 volt batteries didn't pass the test but still seemed to work.

Now my task is to re-wire a lot of the boat since it is poorly done. It's good to note that I never had a clue about electrical systems (or any mechanical work, for that matter) prior to living on the boat, so I'm learning as I go with books, advice, and occasionally by hiring help. Ultimately, if I keep the system as simple as possible I have a chance of doing it myself (ie. no 110 volt plugs, as few appliances as possible) which is important because then I can address issues mid-voyage. Simplicity = safety and lower costs too.

The only exception I guess would be if I were to install a fully electric inboard motor, which would require more charging capacity, more batteries, etc... but that possibility is still far in the horizon.

Springtime renewal

During the winter, I was doing the 2 weeks in, 1 week out of the harbor program. While out of the harbor, since the boat was anchored so far away (winter anchorage rules), so I didn't stay on the boat - I just anchored it and would typically stay at my friends' house. Many thanks to Scott Webb, Kym Kline, and others for lending me a hand!

Taking Sarah, Dave, and friend out for a sunset sail in February

April 1st was the beginning of summer anchorage rules, and all the boats are anchored near Stern's Wharf again - which makes things much more convenient. I spent the last two weeks in the harbor, doing 'spring cleaning', repairing the boat's electrical system and various things. Finally today at 6:30am I motored the boat out of the harbor and anchored by Stern's Wharf, my first time here since October last year.

It was a beautiful day - sunny and calm. The Black Pearl was anchored bow and stern so that she would ride into the swell and not roll too much. The Black Pearl has a funny disposition for rolling around tremendously so regardless of what I do she still likes to jump around. Still, it's nice to be out in the water - the beach with its palm trees on one side, the long horizon on the other.

Ed Bastian's 38foot Islander Uma Karuna cruising through East Beach

In the evening, I ride back from school and park my bike at the Wharf, climb down the ladder, hop on my dinghy, and row out to the boat. The sun is going down over the hill and it feels good to be rowing across the water. I've got a veggie burrito which I eat as the twilight sets, sitting in the cockpit on this still night.

I check my email and browse the net on my laptop, courtesy of my cel phone internet connection. It's pretty sweet, for $20/mo I was able to get unlimited access - a bit slow at times but acceptable. Night falls, and I'm bundled up so that I can work on my computer outside, so that I can keep track of the stars, which I haven't seen in awhile.

December swell, back to the Harbor

On December 4th one of the largest swells of the decade swept through California. I was going to re-anchor the boat further offshore; then a lobster fisherman came by on his boat. He was pulling up his traps because "this swell was going to be huge"; he recommended I return to the harbor. So I took his advice.

surfing at Naples on the big wednesday

campus point inside at poles was peeling all the way to goleta beach

I turned out to be a good idea - my boat had been previously anchored halfway out on the bay, where now waves were threatening to break. I was also able to enjoy the waves without having to worry about my boat washing up on the beach. Most likely, I would have had to paddle out there on my surfboard and taken her to deeper water. But I'm glad I was at the marina and didn't have to fret.

campus point low tide december 3rd

enroute to Naples - nobody else around

I spent the rest of the winter in the Santa Barbara harbor, commuting to school by bus (which takes 25 minutes). It's only affordable to spend about 2 weeks in the harbor, because after that they double the rates on us: for a 30 foot boat, it goes from $18 to $36. So at that stage I anchor the boat for 1 week, then the rate goes back down.

early morning at the SB harbor

However, between Nov 1 and Apr 1 "winter anchorage" rules are in effect, which means we need to anchor about 2 miles east of the harbor - it is extremely uncomfortable out there (very rolly) and a pain to get to. Since I don't have an outboard for my dinghy, I would try to borrow my friend's skiff with a nice yamaha engine. Still, it was a major effort to get out there, pull anchor, and motor the sailboat back to the marina.

moonrise at the East Beach winter anchorage

Living on the boat at Campus Point

I started grad school September 2007 at UCSB's Bren School of Environmental Management. During fall quarter I anchored the Black Pearl at Campus Point. I rowed to school every morning and back late at night. The weather was calm and sunny most of the time.

The view of campus from the boat - the Bren building is on the right.

The dinghy is parked on the beach, I tie it up to a pipe and lock it. This is the view as I walk up the beach to the stairs going to campus.

The view from the bluffs, the boat is barely seen in the distance.

Sunrise in Goleta from the water.

Aerial View of Campus Point.

















Aerial View of Goleta and Isla Vista. Campus Point is in the center.