Want to go sailing??

DSCN0468smeEvery trip on the ocean doesn’t always end up with me fishing or diving.  Pam, my wife, had her birthday this month and since she used to be an avid live-aboard sailor, her present was a sailing trip. We spent a very pleasant afternoon aboard the Ocean Spirit, a well-appointed 44-foot Beneteau sailboat owned and operated by Mark Kocina, a man who knows his trade well.  Mark charters sailing day trips out of Port San Luis on the central California coast near Pismo Beach, embarking off the same pier as Patriot Sport Fishing. The price is reasonable, and snacks and drinks, including beer and wine, are provided during the sail at no extra charge. Each trip is limited to six guests so there’s plenty of room to move around the boat and the mood on board is cozier than trips on larger vessels. On our two and a half hour afternoon trip along the scenic shoreline, we enjoyed great views of all the usual around-the-bay marine life plus a number of feeding humpback whales that put on a good show.

A humpback whale shows his tail flukes as he dives off the bow of the boat

A humpback whale shows his tail flukes as he dives off the bow of the boat

Captain Mark is knowledgeable about the area and has a yarn or two to go along with most answers to your questions.  Even more important, he knows how to sail.  And the sailing was terrific…we managed to catch an absolutely spectacular day with plenty of sunshine and light winds, enough to move the boat along at a nice clip.  DSCN0446smeI have to admit that moving silently over the water with the port rail dipped toward the sea was different for me and a lot of fun. Both Pam and I found this to be an enjoyable experience and we’ll do it again if the chance arises, maybe on next year’s birthday, maybe sooner.

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For those of you who might be interested in this sort of trip, Mark’s company is called Central Coast Sailing Charters, and his web page can be found at www.slosailing.com.  Say hello to Mark from us if you do try this adventure, and remember, any day at sea is always a good one.

About Otto

Otto Gasser grew up mostly in southern California and obtained his Doctorate In Educational Psychology from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). He was hired as a professor to teach in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, where he initiated a multilevel Scuba training curriculum on campus. Dr. Gasser spent 37 years at Cal Poly before recently retiring. During that time, he certified over 2,000 students in Scuba. He served as the University’s Diving Safety Officer and represented the campus on the California State College and Universities Diving Safety Committee. Off campus, Dr. Gasser spent ten years on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles County Underwater Instructors Association, three of them as President. Over the years, he has volunteered time on a number of county Scuba training programs and has authored several articles about diver training. Otto is now an active recreational diver. In addition to the California coast, his more frequently visited dive locations include Hawaii’s Big Island, Indonesia, and the Caribbean islands.
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