- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,787
It has been nearly 30 months of refitting. Now that the engine/transmission is running and the electrical system is functioning, I went for a sea trial.
7 days from Everett to San Juan Island and back. It was a distance of 156nm. Three great days of sailing and 23 hours of engine time, mainly across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. As long as I feed the engine fuel from the tank that has fuel in it she purred along.
It was a zen like experience. I had to shake of some of the mental cobwebs as I calculated time and distance to maximize the good flowing tidal currents and tried to avoid the flows against me. With a brisk wind in my face I tacked up the Puget Sound crossing the Vessel Traffic Service area staying clear of the big ships and tugs towing barges.
With several safe harbors available I avoided the early sea fog events that happen when the water/air temps and the humidity conspire against the cruiser.
I had a grand time in Roche Harbor with the Pacific NW Catalina boat owners gathered for their rendezvous.
Roche Harbor Resort was once the local Lime and Cement industrial site.
The resort now caters to tourists and boat owners of all varieties.
The Catalina boats set peacefully before sunrise.
The San Juan Islands are a paradise for boaters. Just be sure you respect the resident Orca whales. Failure to respect the "No Go" zones can get you a scathing letter from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Or an automatic $1000 fine from the Canadian government for entering the two interim sanctuary zones off Pender and Saturna Islands, effective June 1 to November 30, 2025, and a stern warning that whale protection is a serious matter.
www.canada.ca
I did not see any of the whales this trip. There is always a next trip.
7 days from Everett to San Juan Island and back. It was a distance of 156nm. Three great days of sailing and 23 hours of engine time, mainly across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. As long as I feed the engine fuel from the tank that has fuel in it she purred along.
It was a zen like experience. I had to shake of some of the mental cobwebs as I calculated time and distance to maximize the good flowing tidal currents and tried to avoid the flows against me. With a brisk wind in my face I tacked up the Puget Sound crossing the Vessel Traffic Service area staying clear of the big ships and tugs towing barges.
With several safe harbors available I avoided the early sea fog events that happen when the water/air temps and the humidity conspire against the cruiser.
I had a grand time in Roche Harbor with the Pacific NW Catalina boat owners gathered for their rendezvous.
Roche Harbor Resort was once the local Lime and Cement industrial site.
The resort now caters to tourists and boat owners of all varieties.
The Catalina boats set peacefully before sunrise.
The San Juan Islands are a paradise for boaters. Just be sure you respect the resident Orca whales. Failure to respect the "No Go" zones can get you a scathing letter from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Or an automatic $1000 fine from the Canadian government for entering the two interim sanctuary zones off Pender and Saturna Islands, effective June 1 to November 30, 2025, and a stern warning that whale protection is a serious matter.
Government of Canada announces new measures and funding to protect Southern Resident killer whales
Southern Resident killer whales are icons of Canada’s Pacific coast, and culturally significant to Indigenous Peoples and coastal communities in British Columbia. For the sixth consecutive year, the Government of Canada is implementing measures to protect these whales and restore their population.
I did not see any of the whales this trip. There is always a next trip.
