Stella Maris
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2008
- Messages
- 1,500
- Fluid Motion Model
- C-24 C
- Non-Fluid Motion Model
- Helmsman PH38, 11' Boston Whaler, 9' Boston Whaler
- Vessel Name
- Destiny
It’s 10:30, we slip free of our dock at Shilshole. Maureen guides Destiny down the fairway. We spy a very large Eagle sitting perched on the breakwater. I snap numerous photos of the great bird. It is going to be another one of those beautiful sunny winter days here on Puget Sound. A light breeze just ruffles the water.
We clear the breakwater and spy Hayden Bay making her way out of the Ballard Locks. Ahead of her, two large ocean going tugs. She had shared the large lock with these giants. I capture a few photos of Hayden Bay with the Tugs. She looks tiny compared to these mammoth beasts.
We keep clear of the tugs giving them the entire channel to maneuver. Once they pass, I point Destiny’s bow toward Agate Passage, Hayden Bay is now just astern.
We make our way across the sound. The sky, the deepest of blues. The water, flat calm. Off in the distance, the majestic Olympic Mountains show off their fresh covering of snow. With my love and best friend at my side, I cannot imagine being anywhere else. And then again, why would we want to?
A flooding tide gives us a lift as we pass through Agate. Cars whiz by high above on the bridge. The sun heats the pilothouse. We are forced to open the door. And then we remember, it is still February! Why we ask, are there no other vessels out plying these waters?
Slowly we make our way past Keyport Naval Base and enter Liberty Bay. Maureen takes the helm as I prepare the fenders and lines. We will spend the evening at the Poulsbo City Marina.
We enter the marina taking note that it is virtually empty. We chose a location, which allows Hayden Bay to tie on the same finger pier. Maureen brings Destiny in for a perfect “stern in” landing. I simply have to step off onto the dock and secure the lines. Marcus brings Hayden Bay in with the same ease.
It is now 14:00. This is Marcus and Jorge first visit to Poulsbo. It is decided; the first order of business is to a stroll through this quaint little village. Maureen hits a couple of her favorite shops while, Marcus, Jorge, and I decide to head up to Longshore Marine. A great little consignment store for all of your gently used boat parts. Personally, I have sold many parts here. In fact I have a couple of hundred dollars to pick up from my last go round. If you are wondering what to do with those used parts in the garage or bilge, I would suggest dropping them off at Longshore!
We make our way back through town to Sogno di Vino where we take in a late lunch. Maureen and I have dined here on many occasions having never been disappointed.
Once done, we make our way back down to the marina. We settle in on Hayden Bay playing cards, drinking wine, and enjoying each others company into the late hours of the night.
Sunday morning, I wake to the sound of wavelets rippling along Destiny’s hull. She moves ever so gently in her slip. It is apparent that the forecasted winds have arrived. It promises to be a bumpy ride back to Shilshole.
Marcus and Jorge join us in Destiny’s pilothouse for coffee. We watch as a Grand Banks struggles to get off of the dock. The winds are now sustained at 20 knots. Liberty Bay is no longer the millpond it was yesterday upon our arrival. It is now alive with white caps. The few sailboats anchored out dance about on their anchor rode.
Destiny is prepared for her ride home. Anything that may fall is placed in a secure location. All drawers and cabinets locked. PFD’s made ready. With the wind now gusting to 25, Jorge takes Destiny’s bow line, I take the stern. I give him the signal; he tosses it to the bow. I step onto the swim platform; Maureen powers her out of the slip. She makes her way to the far side of the fairway before making her turn toward open water. The wind is now on our beam. We do not want to be blown back into the finger piers.
As soon as we make the turn into Liberty Bay, we start taking spray over the bow. It is promising to be a very wet ride. We make our way to Agate Passage. Once inside the passage, these protected waters are flat calm. We know though, this is not going to last. We make one quick sweep of the cabin verifying all is secure. We don our PFD’s before entering Puget Sound.
As we enter Port Madison, the wind chop immediately begins to build. I point as far north as I can to allow us to take the chop on the forward starboard quarter while crossing the open sound. It is not long and we are taking the seas beam on. I point Destiny’s bow to the southeast. Once I ease the helm and point for Shilshole, she settles down riding up and over the four to five foot seas. The wind continues to increase in strength, spray flies. We keep our eyes open for any shipping traffic, we do not want to alter course if at all possible.
We cross the southbound lane. As we start to cross the northbound lanes, the seas begin to build dramatically. We are now heading into five to six foot seas. At times they are over seven. I keep an eye open for the series of rogue waves. These seem to come every minute or so. It will be four or five waves considerably larger than the others.
While navigating one such series, Destiny slides down the backside of the first wave, her bow punches into the front side of the second wave. Green water flows across the deck. Up we rise on the next great wave, we reach the top and slide down its backside into the trough. Again the bow pierce’s the face of the next wave. These are the largest waves we have ever experienced; Destiny continues to take them in stride though, just punching her way through.
Finally we make the lee of West Point. The waters begin to calm. The seas settle to a gentle three to four feet… We head south of the breakwater entrance avoiding putting the seas on our beam. Once we know we can make the entrance, we round up and head for the entrance.
We make our way through the breakwater, into the flat waters of the fairway. Our next concern is getting Destiny into her slip. Our fairway will put the gusty winds on our beam. Not to worry though, we talk through our plan. Maureen executes it perfectly and once again makes a perfect landing. Now it is time to get Destiny cleaned up and head off to the airport. I will head North to Alaska while, Maureen will head South to Orlando.
What a great life we lead!
We clear the breakwater and spy Hayden Bay making her way out of the Ballard Locks. Ahead of her, two large ocean going tugs. She had shared the large lock with these giants. I capture a few photos of Hayden Bay with the Tugs. She looks tiny compared to these mammoth beasts.
We keep clear of the tugs giving them the entire channel to maneuver. Once they pass, I point Destiny’s bow toward Agate Passage, Hayden Bay is now just astern.
We make our way across the sound. The sky, the deepest of blues. The water, flat calm. Off in the distance, the majestic Olympic Mountains show off their fresh covering of snow. With my love and best friend at my side, I cannot imagine being anywhere else. And then again, why would we want to?
A flooding tide gives us a lift as we pass through Agate. Cars whiz by high above on the bridge. The sun heats the pilothouse. We are forced to open the door. And then we remember, it is still February! Why we ask, are there no other vessels out plying these waters?
Slowly we make our way past Keyport Naval Base and enter Liberty Bay. Maureen takes the helm as I prepare the fenders and lines. We will spend the evening at the Poulsbo City Marina.
We enter the marina taking note that it is virtually empty. We chose a location, which allows Hayden Bay to tie on the same finger pier. Maureen brings Destiny in for a perfect “stern in” landing. I simply have to step off onto the dock and secure the lines. Marcus brings Hayden Bay in with the same ease.
It is now 14:00. This is Marcus and Jorge first visit to Poulsbo. It is decided; the first order of business is to a stroll through this quaint little village. Maureen hits a couple of her favorite shops while, Marcus, Jorge, and I decide to head up to Longshore Marine. A great little consignment store for all of your gently used boat parts. Personally, I have sold many parts here. In fact I have a couple of hundred dollars to pick up from my last go round. If you are wondering what to do with those used parts in the garage or bilge, I would suggest dropping them off at Longshore!
We make our way back through town to Sogno di Vino where we take in a late lunch. Maureen and I have dined here on many occasions having never been disappointed.
Once done, we make our way back down to the marina. We settle in on Hayden Bay playing cards, drinking wine, and enjoying each others company into the late hours of the night.
Sunday morning, I wake to the sound of wavelets rippling along Destiny’s hull. She moves ever so gently in her slip. It is apparent that the forecasted winds have arrived. It promises to be a bumpy ride back to Shilshole.
Marcus and Jorge join us in Destiny’s pilothouse for coffee. We watch as a Grand Banks struggles to get off of the dock. The winds are now sustained at 20 knots. Liberty Bay is no longer the millpond it was yesterday upon our arrival. It is now alive with white caps. The few sailboats anchored out dance about on their anchor rode.
Destiny is prepared for her ride home. Anything that may fall is placed in a secure location. All drawers and cabinets locked. PFD’s made ready. With the wind now gusting to 25, Jorge takes Destiny’s bow line, I take the stern. I give him the signal; he tosses it to the bow. I step onto the swim platform; Maureen powers her out of the slip. She makes her way to the far side of the fairway before making her turn toward open water. The wind is now on our beam. We do not want to be blown back into the finger piers.
As soon as we make the turn into Liberty Bay, we start taking spray over the bow. It is promising to be a very wet ride. We make our way to Agate Passage. Once inside the passage, these protected waters are flat calm. We know though, this is not going to last. We make one quick sweep of the cabin verifying all is secure. We don our PFD’s before entering Puget Sound.
As we enter Port Madison, the wind chop immediately begins to build. I point as far north as I can to allow us to take the chop on the forward starboard quarter while crossing the open sound. It is not long and we are taking the seas beam on. I point Destiny’s bow to the southeast. Once I ease the helm and point for Shilshole, she settles down riding up and over the four to five foot seas. The wind continues to increase in strength, spray flies. We keep our eyes open for any shipping traffic, we do not want to alter course if at all possible.
We cross the southbound lane. As we start to cross the northbound lanes, the seas begin to build dramatically. We are now heading into five to six foot seas. At times they are over seven. I keep an eye open for the series of rogue waves. These seem to come every minute or so. It will be four or five waves considerably larger than the others.
While navigating one such series, Destiny slides down the backside of the first wave, her bow punches into the front side of the second wave. Green water flows across the deck. Up we rise on the next great wave, we reach the top and slide down its backside into the trough. Again the bow pierce’s the face of the next wave. These are the largest waves we have ever experienced; Destiny continues to take them in stride though, just punching her way through.
Finally we make the lee of West Point. The waters begin to calm. The seas settle to a gentle three to four feet… We head south of the breakwater entrance avoiding putting the seas on our beam. Once we know we can make the entrance, we round up and head for the entrance.
We make our way through the breakwater, into the flat waters of the fairway. Our next concern is getting Destiny into her slip. Our fairway will put the gusty winds on our beam. Not to worry though, we talk through our plan. Maureen executes it perfectly and once again makes a perfect landing. Now it is time to get Destiny cleaned up and head off to the airport. I will head North to Alaska while, Maureen will head South to Orlando.
What a great life we lead!
