4 Oil Rigs Off Oxnard/28 Nautical Miles/8 Hours/1 Whale

On Monday, May 17, 2010, I launched from Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, California at 6:00AM. The weather was cloudy, drizzly and cool, but most importantly, calm, which is exactly what I needed for a 28 nautical mile day offshore, especially with the first 13 miles into the weather.

I was surprised it took me three hours of paddling to reach oil rig Gilda 10 nautical miles out. There must have been current working against me.

Oil rig Grace was another three nautical miles out and my turn around point for heading in the general direction back to the harbor. Best of all, any weather or current was now helping.

I’ve used oil rig Gail many times in the past as a navigational stepping stone between Santa Cruz Island and Oxnard.

Not long after I left oil rig Gail, I saw a splash so huge I knew it had to be from a whale breaching. It was about a quarter of a mile to my left. A minute later I saw the whale come up for a couple breaths and then raise its fluke to dive. Ten minutes later I saw it spout twice. It was too far for me to get any photos or identify the species, but I’m assuming it was a blue or humpback whale.

Only four nautical miles off the coast, oil rig Gina is probably the oil rig crossed to most often by kayakers.

Me 24 nautical miles into the paddle and at oil rig Gina.

I was happy to be back in Channel Islands Harbor and land at 2:00PM after eight hours of paddling. Lucky for me, today was one of those rare days when the afternoon winds didn’t pick up.