which to you Easterners is really central California , about 50 miles north of SF in the Napa Valley. It hasn't rained, really, since last January. Normal rainfall would be around 30 inches, most of it coming in maybe 5 - 8 big storms in the winter. But since last January, we have had only 3 inches and no big storm at all. It is the driest year I can recall, and I have lived there my whole life. So far the well is holding up, but when the vineyards start irrigating in the summer, that may change. In California, about 2/3 of the water is used by agriculture.

To be clear about the sailing, in Southern California, it is sunny and warm but very frequently light wind. In SF Bay, from May till October at least, 20 knots every day, always from the west, picks up by 10 and dies down a bit at sunset. But not warm - 55-60 on the bay is pretty typical of a summers day and the water temp is in the high 50s.