Chapter 4 - Dana Point - Absolutely nothing happened here, or did it?

 

Dana Point is a place to experience beautiful sunsets from the west basin anchorage.

Other than that, at the moment Dana Point Harbor is undergoing a significant revitalization and redevelopment.  As such, and because nothing has really started yet, all the buildings where there once were great shops and restaurants, coffee shops and ice cream parlors, are all empty.  There is nothing there except for the few businesses adjacent to the sports fishing locale including a couple good restaurants.  Otherwise the place is dead. So, there was not much going on.

More about the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization here:  Harbor Revitalization FAQ's - Dana Point Harbor

HOWEVER.....

Upon arriving at Dana Point Harbor, we lost out autopilot calibration and noticed, as we slid west down the fairway to the west basin anchorage, that the vessel icon on our chartplotters was pointing about 90 degrees off.  While we were moving in the correct direction, the image of our boat on the screen was pointing away.  This was a problem.  So we spent the next couple of days on the phone with Garmin tech support hoping to get the situation straightened out - figuratively and literally.  

On Monday morning, we thought we had it fixed.  Well, no.  When we left Dana Point on Wednesday morning, although the icon was now pointing in the correct direction, the fix prescribed by Garmin totally screwed up our rudder angle indicator.  Now this has to be calibrated.  We spent quite some time outside Dana Point Harbor trying to recalibrate, but to no avail.  So, with the icon now pointing in the right direction, we had no ability to use the autopilot and thus had to hand steer the next 48 miles to Mission Bay where we are now anchored.  That was a long day.

While in Mission Bay, we will work on the rudder calibration and hope we can get this straightened out asap as we are leaving for Mexico on November 3 and it would be very tough for this double-handed crew to sail 24-7 for days at a time (and nights, too) hand steering.

So, nothing but sunsets and aggravation in Dana Point.  Glad to have moved on and hoping to keep moving forward.  For now, we are here in Mariner's Basin in Mission Bay.  The anchorage is like glass, although it is right under the flight path for San Diego Airport and it is a bit loud.  But, hey.....

Chat soon.