June. DANGEROUS TIDE-RACE—SAN VICENTE. 453 
angles and bearings, and at noon were close to Cape San 
Diego, where the flood-tide opposed the north wind very 
strongly, and in addition to a heavy swell from the northward, 
made such an irregular high sea, as nearly caused the loss of 
our new boat, and would have damaged many a vessel. The 
weather became worse; and as the swell continued high from 
the northward, I was obliged to stand to sea, and carry a press 
of sail to keep off the land, which by that time was too much 
obscured by haze and clouds to admit of our running back. 
“June Ist. Bad weather, with rain nearly all day. At 
about twelve miles to the northward of Cape San Vicente, by 
estimation, we stood off and on until in the latter part of the 
day we got a breeze from south, to which sail was made to 
close the land about Cape San Vicente. 
** At noon, on the 2d, we were well in-shore, and stood 
along the land, looking for a harbour. Seeing a promising 
place, we anchored off it, in twenty-two fathoms water ; and, 
as the night proved to be fine, remained quiet in smooth 
water, with the wind off the land, and a regular tide setting 
past the ship. 
*“« At daylight next morning, I went to look at the opening, 
which, from the masthead, seemed like a spacious harbour ; 
but I found it to be so shallow an inlet, that at its entrance, 
just within the heads, there was no more than one fathom of 
water. Nevertheless this cove must be the place which the Spa- 
niards dignified with the name of Port San Policarpo. 
“‘ We weighed and sailed along-shore, but the wind being 
scant, and the tide against us, it was late before we could get 
into San Vicente Bay, where we anchored in a line between 
that cape and Cape San Diego, but nearest to the former. In 
a cove at the head of this bay, Mr. Banks landed when Cook 
was here. During the night we were tossed about by a very 
heavy swell, opposing a strong tide; the wind being moderate, 
not enough to steady the vessel. 
*‘ Finding this morning (June 4th), that the swell was too 
high to allow a boat to be lowered in safety, I gave up my 
intention of examining the cove, and hastened back to the Bay 
