Port Townsend

September 10, 2013

We took Jenny Wren to Port Townsend for the 2013 Wooden Boat Festival. The trip from Orcas Island takes a good part of a day and there is benefit in planning around the currents. We had an early 0630 departure with low overcast conditions, but within 30 minutes, we were into thick fog.  Radar showed a line of 3 other boats spread out over 1 mile, all approaching Cattle Pass with us, all lined up on the screen like a row of ducks. Everyone maintained their speed and course and we went through like a well choreographed dance ensemble. Then we emerged into the Strait, still thoroughly shrouded in fog, the loud note of horns and the low growl of engines all around. Carolyn, at the helm, had to resist the temptation to steer us in the direction that she felt that we should be heading, relying instead on the compass and GPS. Thick fog with viritually no visibility is stressful and our shoulders loosened around Smith Island when conditions began to clear.

Crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca - in and out of  fog.

The Wooden Boat Festival - a visual treat of wonderful boats!

Sucia Island

Frozen Wave

September 3, 2013

Sucia a a geological playground. Formed independently from the rest of the San Juan Islands, it is unique to the area with its eroded sandstone formations and sculpted shorelines. Exploring the bluffs and coves while rowing or paddling at the water's edge is an ideal way to experience this treasure. A little more careful observation will unveil fossils - lots of them. The more shallow bays with sand beaches heat up nicely in the summer sun and give kids a rare opportunity to swim in the San Juans. The entire island is a Washington State Park.

Carolyn takes in Echo Bay, Sucia 

Summer brings waves of boaters. People love going to Sucia. However, once there, they can spread out and I don't feel like it becomes overly crowded. And unless the winds become too strong from the wrong direction, there is plenty of room for anchoring.

When my daughter, Melissa, her boyfriend Dan and their friend Hugh arrived for a visit it was quickly agreed that Sucia would be a great place to go. Having grown up sailing in the San Juans, Melissa has been on numerous trips there, but Dan and Hugh had never been. Carolyn is always up for a Sucia visit, so off we go.

Melissa loves the boat!

Melissa enjoying Jenny Wren

This was Melissa's first chance to see Jenny Wren.  ('Way to go, Dad!') Melissa grew up with and lived aboard a succession of boats and she quickly appreciated the Valiant's qualities. We set off from Cayou Quay Marina in Deer Harbor and once past Jones Island, the North wind filled in and we had a fantastic sail. Certainly a more agile sailer than the Westsail 32, Jenny Wren made good time on the run to Sucia, stretching her legs in the perfect wind and sunshine.

Hugh at the helm

Hugh, new to sailing, was smitten. With only a small amount of uncertainty, he took to the helm as a natural, steering with a big grin. With an engineer's mind, he had nonstop questions about the boat and how it worked. It was fun to look at the day through his eyes and marvel at the power of the wind, the sails, and the physics of sailing.