- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,524
Last week of summer for my Grandson. We headed to the boat for his first overnight cruise. We arrived on Monday afternoon and met some of the old salty sailors who are my dock mates. While I caught up on the local happenings, my Grandson explored the docks and discovered all the marine life that enjoys the marina waters. Came running back to share that there was a seal up on the dock, only two slips away. He showed me his discovery and discussed the harbor seals he was seeing swing about the boats—a great start to our adventure. On board, we prepped his bed on the pilot berth and turned in as the sun went down. We were up early for a bite to eat. Then we headed to the local market to acquire provisions for our trip.
Back on the boat, we stowed all the gear. We sat down for a moment and calculated our fuel supply. Did we have enough to use the engine to go from port to port and back home? Great time for a math word problem.
We knew we could make the trip and return home. We confidently fired up the engine and headed out onto the Sound. With my Grandson at the helm, he blew the air horn to announce we were entering the fairway. He then guided us safely out of the marina and into the river. There, he turned the helm over to me while he went on the foredeck to practice a little boat surfing.
As we left Possession Sound and turned to the west, the wind began to blow 8-10 knots on the nose, contrary to the weather forecast. We grabbed the Genoa stored in the V-berth, and I hoisted it on the foredeck while my Grandson manned the helm, keeping the bow pointed into the wind. With the sails up, we shut down the engine and enjoyed tacking our way across the Puget Sound against the incoming tide. The weather was perfect. The incoming tide brought fish (silver salmon) jumping out of the water, and seals actively seeking a meal or three.
We were having fun but not making progress toward our next waypoint. The incoming tide was having its way with us.
We struck our sails and turned to the iron genny to power us into the wind and tide. We arrived in Port Ludlow about 18:30. We secured the boat in a slip and headed for a Mexican food dinner at El Molcajete Mexican Grill. It is our new favorite restaurant in Port Ludlow. You get your daily steps in (after being on the boat for four hours) as the restaurant is located .9 miles from the marina.
The next morning, we awoke to a calm sky ready for another day on the water. We made our plans and checked the boat. We slipped our lines and together backed the boat out of the slip. With my Grandson at the helm, we escaped the marina without damaging the docks or other boats. The conditions were perfect for doing some small boat handling activities. Learning quarter/half/and full helm turns at 1500 and 2500 RPMs was a great introduction.
We then headed out with my Grandson still at the helm. He followed the prepared track to the first three waypoints. Varying our bearing to steer around patches of seagrass and logs that impeded our path. He returned to our course bearing with small inputs at the helm. I was very pleased with his applied skills.
The waters were busy in the Sound. At about 0.5nm, there was a tug with a barge in tow doing 4.9 kts on a parallel course, a COSCO Container ship slipping through the water at 16.8 kts, and a sailboat proceeding west in the VTS Controlled Shipping Lanes. I'm not sure that the skipper knows or follows the small boat rules.
With the wind again making a surprise appearance, this time out of the south, we shut down the engine and hoisted the sails. All went smoothly until we needed to make a boat avoidance tack, and the jib sheet fouled on the winch. This was a great time to introduce the pursik knot, which took a bite on the sheet and relieved the strain on the winch so I could clear the fouled line.
We were too soon back in our slip, packed up, and heading home.
Can't wait for the next adventure.
Back on the boat, we stowed all the gear. We sat down for a moment and calculated our fuel supply. Did we have enough to use the engine to go from port to port and back home? Great time for a math word problem.
If the fuel tank is 11" deep, the measuring stick shows 5" of fuel, and the tank holds 70 gallons, how many gallons are in the tank?
We need 1 gallon to travel 10 NM (nautical miles). The chart shows us that the distance from Everett to Ludlow is 22 NM. How many gallons of fuel do we need to travel there and back?
Do we have enough fuel on board to make the trip?
When we get home, how many gallons will be left in the tank (assuming we have to motor the entire distance)?
We knew we could make the trip and return home. We confidently fired up the engine and headed out onto the Sound. With my Grandson at the helm, he blew the air horn to announce we were entering the fairway. He then guided us safely out of the marina and into the river. There, he turned the helm over to me while he went on the foredeck to practice a little boat surfing.
As we left Possession Sound and turned to the west, the wind began to blow 8-10 knots on the nose, contrary to the weather forecast. We grabbed the Genoa stored in the V-berth, and I hoisted it on the foredeck while my Grandson manned the helm, keeping the bow pointed into the wind. With the sails up, we shut down the engine and enjoyed tacking our way across the Puget Sound against the incoming tide. The weather was perfect. The incoming tide brought fish (silver salmon) jumping out of the water, and seals actively seeking a meal or three.
We were having fun but not making progress toward our next waypoint. The incoming tide was having its way with us.
We struck our sails and turned to the iron genny to power us into the wind and tide. We arrived in Port Ludlow about 18:30. We secured the boat in a slip and headed for a Mexican food dinner at El Molcajete Mexican Grill. It is our new favorite restaurant in Port Ludlow. You get your daily steps in (after being on the boat for four hours) as the restaurant is located .9 miles from the marina.
The next morning, we awoke to a calm sky ready for another day on the water. We made our plans and checked the boat. We slipped our lines and together backed the boat out of the slip. With my Grandson at the helm, we escaped the marina without damaging the docks or other boats. The conditions were perfect for doing some small boat handling activities. Learning quarter/half/and full helm turns at 1500 and 2500 RPMs was a great introduction.
We then headed out with my Grandson still at the helm. He followed the prepared track to the first three waypoints. Varying our bearing to steer around patches of seagrass and logs that impeded our path. He returned to our course bearing with small inputs at the helm. I was very pleased with his applied skills.
The waters were busy in the Sound. At about 0.5nm, there was a tug with a barge in tow doing 4.9 kts on a parallel course, a COSCO Container ship slipping through the water at 16.8 kts, and a sailboat proceeding west in the VTS Controlled Shipping Lanes. I'm not sure that the skipper knows or follows the small boat rules.
With the wind again making a surprise appearance, this time out of the south, we shut down the engine and hoisted the sails. All went smoothly until we needed to make a boat avoidance tack, and the jib sheet fouled on the winch. This was a great time to introduce the pursik knot, which took a bite on the sheet and relieved the strain on the winch so I could clear the fouled line.
We were too soon back in our slip, packed up, and heading home.
Can't wait for the next adventure.
