We set off on May 1 10:48 for the 1st Cruise of the season. Weather has been accommodating. Partial sunshine. Our first leg took us up Saratoga Passage NW to Anacortes. Getting out of Everett their was hope for a SE breeze to carry us. In typical PacNW fashion the wind built out of the West. Putting the winds on our nose.
Oh well maybe a grey whale will give us a show.
Not today. About 12:30 the CG weather announcement blares. Small craft warning for 20-25 knot winds out of the west wind driven waves 2-3 feet in Juan DFuca Strait.
Captain smiles, our Cruise will be sheltered behind Whidbey Island
and thru the Swinomish Channel. Tide will be turning so a following current can be anticipated for the 13 mile run.
It is a week day early in the season. The waters are open and free of other boaters. A great day to be on the water.
Ditch transit-smooth. No chance for a sail with the wind WNW and the channel narrow. Never fails. So much water but two boats will meet in the narrows under a bridge.
Train bridge wide open.
Now out across the mud flats.
45 ft power boat steaming up behind breaks the calm. 3foot curling wake might be fun for a wake surfer but it is a pain in a 60 yard wide channel and requires a 110 degree turn to take it on the bow instead of broadside. Brief thought, it might be interesting to give him a broad side. He’d probably just beach on the mudflats 20 yards to his starboard. Then there would be an inquiry.
6.5 hours. Engine running smooth. Likes the installed new impeller. Plenty of water flow.
That is a big boy waiting to unload at the fuel terminal.
We get into Cap Sante Marina with a 15 knot breeze messing with close quarters handling. Our slip is starboard tie but stern to the wind. Can’t make it on the first turn. So back up and approach again this time from upwind. Lyn nails the spring toss over the first cleat and our Stern Bridle technique works again to the amazement of a Pacific Seacraft 34 owner in the next slip. “How’d you do that? You didn’t even have your wife jump off the boat. Honey come over here.“
What a great way to meet new friends.
The storm winds build all night. We rock a bit and there are the occasional bangs and clanks the makes it difficult to get any rest. I always find the first night on the boat to be an issue. Which sounds can be ignored and which sounds require getting up and inspection. Tomorrow could be great if this breeze holds.
Oh well maybe a grey whale will give us a show.
Not today. About 12:30 the CG weather announcement blares. Small craft warning for 20-25 knot winds out of the west wind driven waves 2-3 feet in Juan DFuca Strait.
Captain smiles, our Cruise will be sheltered behind Whidbey Island
and thru the Swinomish Channel. Tide will be turning so a following current can be anticipated for the 13 mile run.
It is a week day early in the season. The waters are open and free of other boaters. A great day to be on the water.
Ditch transit-smooth. No chance for a sail with the wind WNW and the channel narrow. Never fails. So much water but two boats will meet in the narrows under a bridge.
Train bridge wide open.
Now out across the mud flats.
45 ft power boat steaming up behind breaks the calm. 3foot curling wake might be fun for a wake surfer but it is a pain in a 60 yard wide channel and requires a 110 degree turn to take it on the bow instead of broadside. Brief thought, it might be interesting to give him a broad side. He’d probably just beach on the mudflats 20 yards to his starboard. Then there would be an inquiry.
6.5 hours. Engine running smooth. Likes the installed new impeller. Plenty of water flow.
That is a big boy waiting to unload at the fuel terminal.
We get into Cap Sante Marina with a 15 knot breeze messing with close quarters handling. Our slip is starboard tie but stern to the wind. Can’t make it on the first turn. So back up and approach again this time from upwind. Lyn nails the spring toss over the first cleat and our Stern Bridle technique works again to the amazement of a Pacific Seacraft 34 owner in the next slip. “How’d you do that? You didn’t even have your wife jump off the boat. Honey come over here.“
What a great way to meet new friends.
The storm winds build all night. We rock a bit and there are the occasional bangs and clanks the makes it difficult to get any rest. I always find the first night on the boat to be an issue. Which sounds can be ignored and which sounds require getting up and inspection. Tomorrow could be great if this breeze holds.
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