Let the Journey Begin!

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 was as if a giant artist had streaked the blue canvas with various shades of orange, yellow’s, pinks, and golds as the sun started it glorious journey across the crisp clear morning sky once again. At the same time, Maureen and I were to set upon our first true journey about Destiny. Our destination would be Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes. We were getting an early start as our destination was 70 miles north and our plan was to cruise at 7 knots. Simple math here tells you this was to be a ten-hour day.

We cast our lines ashore just a few minutes after five and made our way to the lock. Luck would be with us today as just as we rounded the corner, the signal for the lock turned green inviting us in.

The lock through went off without a hitch and we were soon making our way out into Puget Sound. The wind was no more than a light breeze out of the north creating a wind chop of less than a foot. As usual, traffic at this time of day was very light other than the container ship bound for Seattle and a tug with its tow that would shadow us all the way to Anacortes and then onto it final destination of Alaska.

As we made our way north toward Bush Point we spotted a blue R-27 racing across Admiralty Inlet bound for the east side to join the large fleet of fishing vessels. Since Dennis and Darlene live right around the corner from here with there R-27 “Tug of My Heart”, we assumed it to be them. We made a slight detour to check it out and sure enough it was Dennis along with a couple of buddies out doing a little Halibut fishing. We wished them the best of luck, got some nice photos of their boat for their album and continued our trip north.

We were not sure what we would encounter as far as the weather goes upon entering the Straits of Juan de Fuca. While the radio was calling for little or no breeze and no chop, we could not believe it would be so. We were delighted to find it was just as predicted! We have never seen the Straits so calm. They were like a giant mirror!

As we approached Deception Pass from the west, we kept an eye out for the participants of the “Round Whidbey” sailboat race. They were to come through Deception on slack water at 10:00 and it was now 10:30. Sure enough there they were. We had a friend who was participating in the race and had asked that we get some pictures of her sailboat as we passed by. Another little detour, a few more pictures, a friendly wave and toot of the horn and, once again, we were on our way to Anacortes!

Once the weather warmed, we moved from the pilothouse to the fly bridge for the remainder of our journey. Once we made the turn into Guemes Channel we were met with a 2.5 knot ebb current….. We observed that all of the other pleasure boats were running on the north side of the channel so we assumed that there was less of a current there. We moved across and sure enough, we gained a knot of speed.

Our approach and docking went off without a hitch in Cap Sante. Destiny was given a bath while Maureen straightened up inside and then it was up to the fly bridge to watch the sunset over a bottle of wine.

Destiny and I will be in Anacortes through Sunday the 20th. She will be the showboat for Waterline Boats in Trawler Fest. Maureen flies back to Denver this afternoon and then returns on Friday the 18th.
 
Great to have had those rare conditions across the Strait. Willies Tug hopes to be at Cap Sante tomorrow evening. Save us a glass of wine.
 
David:

Had I known you were leaving that early I would have started my short journey earlier to see you on the water. Did your journey actually take 10 hrs as you indicated you slowed down a few times take photos etc ?

Gill and I decided to make good use of the fine weather yesterday and checkout Shilshole Marina and the entrance way to the locks in preparation for the Fishermen's Terminal meet up later this month. We've never ventured south of Edmonds other than the Bremerton GTG event, and that's more westerly than south any rate. 😉

We left Edmonds around 2:45pm and headed south at around 7 kts with following seas and wind from the north. We surfed quite a bit and made Shilshole in less than an hour. From the map it looks as if one can enter Shilshole from the north or south and that the fuel dock is about mid way between the two entrances.

We found may sailboats scooting about as we approached Shilshole and had to keep dodging them to get out of their way. 🙂

We turn about at the channel entrance to the locks and head back north into the wind and 2 to 4 foot waves. I reduced our speed to around 6 kts to make the ride a little more comfortable, but even so, Laxey got a good salt water wash down.

Approaching Edmonds I made the mistake of hugging the shore line to closely and 1st mate noticed this and asked why was I so close to shore. I guess I was amused by all the people sun bathing, flying kites and generally larking about on the beach just south of the Edmonds Marina. At the same time we both noticed the depth reading at around 6 feet.... whoops... I made a quick turn away from the shoreline into deeper waters before heading back to port... (note to myself, must not get distracted by the pretty beach people :lol: )

So it seems for us the trip down to Fisherman's Terminal would be around 90 minutes assuming no big hold up going through the locks.

We shall be at the Trawler Fest maybe on Tue or Wed this coming week and will try and find you on Destiny. The weather looks very promising this week with sunny days and daytime temps highs close to around 70ºF for Tue/Wed.
 
Barry,
We departed Waypoint at 5:00 am cruising at an average speed of seven knots. The total mileage was 68 nautical miles according to the odometer on our Garmin. We arrived at 3:00 pm thus making the total time 10 hours.

It was a very easy journey with Maureen and I taking turns sitting at the helm observing the waters ahead while the auto helm did the work of steering.

The "boat show" portion of Trawler Fest does not open until Thursday morning at 10:00 am. Tuesday and Wednesday are Trawler Fest University program days. I will be attending the diesel seminar from 9 to 5 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Yesterdays weather here was incredible! 81 degrees! After walking Maureen up to the shuttle for Seatac, I returned to Destiny and received a great invitation from our slip mate to take a day sail on his 41 foot Jeanneau Sailboat! We departed Cap Sante at noon heading west in the Guemes Channel. The winds were out of the north at 22 knots so we had a very rousing sail. Upon reaching the west end of Guemes Island we turned north and tacked up the Bellingham Channel. We beat into the wind for about an hour and thirty minutes before coming to the north end of Guemes Island. At this point, I pointed the bow east into Padilla Bay. Once we cleared the northern tip of Guemes Island, I pointed the bow south for a great down wind run back to Cap Sante. As we came out of Padilla Bay into the Guemes Channel from the north, we completed the circumnavigation of Guemes Island. We arrived back into Cap Sante at six thirty.

With the winds blowing a good portion of the time at 22+ knots, considering we had a full set of sails set, the leeward rail was buried a good portion of the time! It has been at least ten years since I have had such an incredible sail. The wind in your face, the sunshine reflecting off of the water. No sound other than the rush of water along side the hull. Uh oh..... sounds as if the sailing bug has bitten......

Herb and Willie, your glass awaits you along with Tim and Kim Thompsons on Hermitage. They too are expected to arrive this afternoon coming down from Gibsons.

David
 
Cap Sante is quickly filling with boats in anticipation of Trawler Fest this week. The weather has been incredible hitting 82 degrees again yesterday! Yes, 82 in the PNW in May! Today promises to be much the same.

Yesterday was spent doing boat chores (not a bad way to spend a day) and a bit of socializing. Among the boats that arrived yesterday, we were joined in Cap Sante by; Tim and Kim on Hermitage, Jim and Joan on Wild Blue, and Herb and Willie of Willies Tug. Anne Cox has been here since Sunday on her new R-25SC Cascadia.

With so many Tug Nuts in town, Bob and Nita suggested we all meet at the Brown Lantern for dinner. A great time was had by all.

Today is the start of the seminars for Trawler Fest. Tim and Kim along with myself have each signed up for a different seminar. It should prove to be very enlightening.

Thursday, the actual Boat Show portion opens for the public.
 
I plan to head up to Cap Sante on Thursday and be there around 2:30pm. Will there be an evening get-together on Thursday? If not Gill and I will find a local `nosh house' before heading back home.
 
Barry,
I am sure I could possibly scrounge up a bottle of wine if the occasion called for it......
 
Back
Top