An old friend is visiting from Chicago, and we had planned to take him to Port Townsend, about a 35 mile sail across the Strait of Juan de Fuca for the Jazz Festival. Unfortunately the forecast on the day of departure was for 25-30 knot winds on the Strait with 5-6 foot wind waves which would be bucking an ebbing tide that would square them off. We went to Plan B, a 20 mile sail to Sidney BC and from there just a short bus ride to Victoria. The NOAA forecast for Camano Island to Point Roberts which includes our area was for 5-15 kt SW winds with 1-2 foot waves. Environment Canada was forecasting 10 knot variable winds for Haro Strait which we had to cross. Fortunately I was skeptical of the forecast from the get go as the wind was ripping from the south through the sounds on our island. We replaced the genoa with the working jib before we left the slip and put two reefs in the main for an initial 2 mile beat to the mouth of West Sound. I still wasn't unduly concerned. The configuration of islands and mountains in our area frequently channels winds through gaps and passes at fairly high speeds while other places are flat and open waters are moderate. And there was that forecast. Once out of West Sound we dropped off to a beam-to-broad reach which we sailed all the way to Sidney. Clear of the islands the wind and waves both continued to build. Surfing down one wave we clocked 9.2 knots on the knotmeter. The weather helm was becoming unruly even with two reefs in the main and an eased mainsheet. The wind became too much for the main to be up. With my gutsy wife harnessed and tethered on the foredeck, we put Shibumi into the wind and 6 foot waves with salt spray flying everywhere to haul the main down with difficulty. The force of the wind managed to break loose a fitting on one of the lazy jacks dropping it to the deck. We also managed to break a sail shackle and put an eighteen inch tear into the main along a seam. The wind had to be blowing at least 30 knots. With the main down we regained control and finished the sail on a partially furled working jib still sailing at 6.5 to 7 knots. We made the 20 mile sail to Sidney in just a hair over 3 hours. The weather folks usually do a really good job up here. They sure blew this forecast. Moral to the story: Be Prepared! Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335