Oct 11 2007
After the Santa Ana
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As I watched the breakers smashing into the Channel Islands Harbor breakwater – smashing into and then exploding OVER the light – I thought I’d re-read some of the cautionary tales in Brian Fagan’s cruising guide.
I settled in to review his take on Santa Ana winds, which was what the forecast held right after this huge westerly.
He warns about dangers AFTER a Santa Ana passes.
And here we thought it was the Santa Ana that was the danger.
Of course, it is. Fifty kt. winds are pretty darned terrifying even if you’re in the best protected anchorages at the island.
I missed being on the boat as the last SAwent through. I was out walking my dogs. The SA had abated to about 20 kts. and suddenly went dead.
In less than 10 minutes, the temp dropped 10 degrees and the wind came up from the west at about 20 kts.
I hadn’t thought much about Fagan’s advice to get out of a Santa Ana refuge as soon as the storm passes, but watching that wind shift made me a believer.
A 180 degree windshift will instantly put you on a lee shore, your anchor will likely become unstuck as the vector switches 180 degrees from the direction you set it, and you’ll be wishing you’d put more stock in Brian and gotten underway 15 minutes earlier.
