Sailing Travel Stories:
Comox, BC - San Francisco, USA!
Before the road, there was the ocean.
This once-in-a-lifetime sailing trip began in Comox, British Columbia, aboard our good friend Chris’s 36½-foot sailboat, which he had outfitted for world travel. Over eight unforgettable days, we made our way down through the islands between Vancouver Island and the mainland, cleared immigration in Port Angeles, then rounded the southern tip near Victoria and headed into the open Pacific.
For long stretches, we were about 150 km offshore — surrounded by nothing but water, sky, wind, whales, dolphins, and endless rolling swells. We took turns standing watch around the clock, each of us spending quiet, intense hours alone at night as the boat surfed down wave after wave in the darkness. We caught a single tuna that fed the three of us for four days. We weathered a storm that damaged part of the mast, forcing Captain Chris to go out and fix it in conditions none of us will ever forget.
After days at sea, we finally arrived under bright blue skies, sailing beneath the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. After everything we had been through, that moment felt less like an arrival and more like survival. We later realized we had sailed right through a restricted America’s Cup race area, passing in front of thousands of spectators before docking across from the Oracle Team clubhouse.
For the next three days, that little harbour became our home as we took in the America’s Cup races and everything San Francisco had to offer.
It was adventure, danger, friendship, beauty, and relief all wrapped into one unforgettable journey.
Before the road, there was the ocean.
This once-in-a-lifetime sailing trip began in Comox, British Columbia, aboard our good friend Chris’s 36½-foot sailboat, which he had outfitted for world travel. Over eight unforgettable days, we made our way down through the islands between Vancouver Island and the mainland, cleared immigration in Port Angeles, then rounded the southern tip near Victoria and headed into the open Pacific.
For long stretches, we were about 150 km offshore — surrounded by nothing but water, sky, wind, whales, dolphins, and endless rolling swells. We took turns standing watch around the clock, each of us spending quiet, intense hours alone at night as the boat surfed down wave after wave in the darkness. We caught a single tuna that fed the three of us for four days. We weathered a storm that damaged part of the mast, forcing Captain Chris to go out and fix it in conditions none of us will ever forget.
After days at sea, we finally arrived under bright blue skies, sailing beneath the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. After everything we had been through, that moment felt less like an arrival and more like survival. We later realized we had sailed right through a restricted America’s Cup race area, passing in front of thousands of spectators before docking across from the Oracle Team clubhouse. For the next three days, that little harbour became our home as we took in the America’s Cup races and everything San Francisco had to offer.
It was adventure, danger, friendship, beauty, and relief all wrapped into one unforgettable journey.
Captain Chris pulling us out of the Marina in Comox, BC, Canada.
Ready to set sail!
We took turns at the helm, running 24/7 out on the open ocean 150km (90 miles) from shore!
Joy in the adventure.
Small quarters, but big enough!
Getting sleep whenever we could
Big weather equals scary times!
But also many peaceful times that lent time for self reflection.
Our navigation station
Friends from the sea kept us company at times.
After 7 days at sea, there was real relief and joy that we made it!
Sanaz overcoming many fears!
Sanaz and her "sea hair"
San Fransisco! Going under the iconic Golden Gate Bridge was Bucket List stuff!
After being on the ocean for so long, it felt like the dock was moving like the sea.
The ocean sunsets were always a highlight
Maybe we had too much salt air, but for no reason at all we decided Sanaz should be a pirate for our first night in the city
And that she should do some urban paddling.
We enjoyed our floating home while we got to know San Francisco for a few days
Took in the America's Cup and watched the American Oracle Team USA make one of the biggest comebacks in sports history. They fell behind the Emirates Team New Zealand by a score of 8-1 in a first-to-9 series.
Then Oracle won 8 consecutive races to complete the comeback and with the Cup 9-8 overall!
We became instant fans of the sport! It didn't hurt that we we docked right outside the Oracle Team Clubhouse.
Thanks San Francisco!