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Thread: New Boat 4 Sled

  1. #61
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    Sep 2007
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    Capitola,CA
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    4/27/12

    WILDFLOWER is all packed up for a road trip. We depart May 1, up the I-5, to Anacortes, WA. There we will launch and spend the summer retracing the exploration routes of Valdes, Galiano and Vancouver. These two expeditions were in search of the NW passage in 1792, and Vancouver didn't know the Spanish were in the vicinity until they accidentally ran into each other in Desolation Sound.

    Vancouver was highly depressed, which was why Desolation Sound got its name Not only was it rainy and misty, not only couldn't Vancouver find the NW passage for his King George III, but Valdes and Galiano had already explored and bestowed many of the prominent landmarks and islands with Spanish names. Bummer.

    It was fun to have Ruben and Synbad visit Capitola yesterday. Ruben and Robbie now are proud owners of two Moore-24's. His and Hers, so to speak. Their trip to N.Carolina to retrieve Robbie's Moore is a worthy SSS tale of adventure and serendipity.. But I will let them tell it. Good Luck, Ruben, in the SHTP!

    Have a good summer all, and write when you find work.
    Last edited by sleddog; 04-27-2012 at 07:36 AM.

  2. #62
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    Oct 2007
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    A good read is the journals of Archibald Menzies, the Vancouver expedition naturalist (and surgeon) He was a little happier and more into the voyage than Vancouver. Good Hawaii stuff in it also as I recall...

  3. #63
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    Sep 2007
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    5/5/12
    Greetings from Friday Harbor, WA

    Tuesday we trailered WILDFLOWER north up the I-5, from Capitola to Anacortes, WA. 18 hours at 13 mpg, with no scratches to report. The tow was well behaved.

    Wednesday, we rigged and launched, before rain set in that lasted into Thursday.

    Today, Saturday, long time friend Gary Adams, Annie, and I sailed 20 miles from Anacortes to Friday Harbor to help celebrate M/V CATALYST's 80 B-day. It was a good sail and fun to visit with Capt. Bill and Shannon Bailey, the crew, and their magnificent ship before they leave for Alaska early next week. http://www.pacificcatalyst.com/

    Tomorrow we leave for Port Townsend, 25 miles across Straits Juan de Fuca. Hi to all.
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    Last edited by sleddog; 05-06-2012 at 07:26 AM.

  4. #64
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    Sep 2007
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    Great photo's, keep up the photography.

    Brian

  5. #65
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    Sep 2007
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    5/8/12
    We had a good crossing of the Straits of Juan de Fuca in motor sail conditions. About 30 minutes after leaving Friday Hbr, we passed through dozens, if not hundreds, of harbor seals, looking like pool toys bobbing on the surface.

    Shortly thereafter, down towards Cattle Pass, it was "whale ho!" Steaming directly at us, northbound, was a pod of orcas, maybe 6-8 individuals. They passed close aboard, not a length away, determined looking, like a naval destroyer task force. We could see their eyes and teeth; the big male's dorsal fin higher than our cabin top, and bending off like a Wylie Cat rig in a good Bay breeze.

    It was clear where these orcas were heading. Harbor seal for breakfast.

    Good news on our 6 hp outboard. After 8 hours of motoring at cruising revs (6 knots), we've used less than three gallons of fuel. A quart/hour seems possible.
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  6. #66
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    Sep 2007
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    5/9/12
    With gale warnings in the vicinity, we are snugly moored at Pt. Hudson Marina, in old town Port Townsend. Admiralty Inlet, visible out our back door, is more white than blue, recalling to mind the definition of "spume." While our local breeze huffs, whines, and sometimes shrieks, Pt Wilson light, two miles to windward, is reporting gusts to 39 knots. We are comfortable, with hot showers, wifi, and NW Maritime Center close at hand. Directly across is the classic schooner MARTHA, undergoing a total refit: new keel, spars, and rigging. MARTHA was built at Stone Boat Works in the SF Bay area 105 years ago, and was once a centerboarder Her length on deck is 68 feet, but the sparred length is 84 feet. http://www.schoonermartha.org/

    We had a nice visit the other morning with local residents Dan and Linda Newland. Dan, some will recall, is the only three time winner of the SHTP, and Linda has raced solo to Japan. Linda is currently active raising support for restoration of the 23' FELICITY ANN, the first boat to be soloed by a woman, Ann Davison, across any ocean. (1953 across the Atlantic.)

    Port Townsend, a sailing town if there ever was one, is a fun place to explore, with history oozing out of the sidewalks and local buildings. A good place to be until the winds let up.
    Last edited by sleddog; 05-09-2012 at 09:06 PM.

  7. #67
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    May 2009
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    Seattle
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    Shoot, I missed you by two days. Idefix was in Point Hudson Marina this weekend as part of the Sloop Tavern's Race to the Straits. 99 boats this year, all double- or singlehanded, racing from Seattle to Port Townsend on Saturday, and back Sunday. Needless to say, it was a blast.

    Adrian

  8. #68
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    Sep 2007
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    Today, Friday, is clear, warming, and snow capped peaks, including Mt. Baker to the east, Rainer to the south, and the Olympic Range are visible 360 degrees. We are moored at Pt. Hudson, in old town, a small marina with hot showers, strong wifi, and plenty to see and do at short distance. Despite the proximity of urban environment, we
    have a family of otters on the dock next to WILDFLOWER. They come out whenever food is mentioned aboard. A bald eagle is on the breakwater close at hand to port. The seagulls are not happy with this interloper.

    Last night was a halibut feed. The neighbors caught a 50 pound, 47" fish using an electric fishing reel. Say what? Annie cooked our halibut portion with brown rice, golden raisins, cranberries, p-nuts, and her selection of plentiful spices. Yum.

    This evening we will race in the Friday night races with friends Alex and Elena aboard. Yesterday we hosted the editor of Small Craft Advisor, and he took some pics of us out sailing which may appear on their blog at some point. http://smallcraftadvisor.com/

    We'll be in PT until Monday, at which point we depart towards Deer Harbor, on Orcas Island in the San Juans, about 40 miles north of here.. Deer Harbor is hosting a wood boat regatta, and has assigned us a rating of 180 sec/mile. But the winds will likely be light, and we are not so fast if TWS ,8 knots. No worries, as the regatta is more a fun race, than anything serious. What a concept: all wood boats!

    Except for the fishermen coming and going, PT is quiet....Schooner MARTHA is being remasted near by by local rigger Brian Toss. I have several mysteries to solve. One mystery is how many local 16-18 foot fishing skiffs have two 200 hp outboards mounted on their sterns, and seem to float level. Our neighbor with the big halibut bragged last night he uses 17 gallons/hour. I smiled and said we were burning a quart/hour when the wind went light.

    Another mystery is where our otter family lives. They seem to appear from nowhere, and I half expect one to surface in our bridgedeck aquarium, asking for a snack.

    The last mystery is what the heck was that USN submarine doing out front yesterday, headed down inlet towards Roger's house at Port Hadlock? Port Townsend Bay is only 4 miles long and 1 mile wide. Can you anchor a submarine?

    No dull moments.

  9. #69
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    Sunday, 5/13/12
    After a delightful week at Port Townsend, we will leave 0730 tomorrow with the tide for Watmough Bay, Lopez Island, 20 miles across the Straits of Juan de Fuca. High pressure weather should continue clear and mild, as the local temp here today was 74 in the cabin. Watmough Bay was one of Rob Moore's favorite places in the San Juans. After that, is it on towards Deer Harbor on Orcas Island, for next weekend's wood boat regatta.

    Can't say we will be very competitive in usual San Juan zephyrs. We tried the local Friday night races here. And got flushed out the back of the fleet by 10 Thunderbirds, a J-27, a Yankee, several Catalinas, and Farr 30. The wind was only 4-6 knots, with the occasional 8 knot "gust." Not ideal conditions for racing one's house. In 8 knots of wind, according to Skene's, our 240 sq ft. of sail area generates 60 lbs of wind pressure. In 5 knots of wind, only 30 lb. is generated. So we would need to double our sail area to achieve the same performance level.
    Dreamin'
    Last edited by sleddog; 05-13-2012 at 08:45 PM.

  10. #70
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    5/16/12

    WILDFLOWER's second crossing of the Straits of Juan de Fuca, this time northbound, was a re-play of our soundbound passage: clear, light winds, smooth seas. We ended up the only boat at the dock at delightful James Island, near Lopez Is. Nearby was a family of eagles. At one point we watched an eagle scoop up a good sized fish and fly to its nest with its unwilling participant. Later, we found a drifting dinghy with no ID. I towed it ashore at Spencer Spit, pulled it above the high-tide line, and notified the local ranger. She seemed more interested that the sunny weather had given her a sunburn. But promised to investigate.

    Sad news aboard is Ann will shortly be returning to her family and grandkids, home, and job in New Orleans. Annie had never sailed before. Her support during the building, the launch, the shakedowns, and current cruise is outstanding. I cannot be more proud of her and will miss her laugh, her adventurous spirit, and all the good luck she has brought onboard. Good News is SSS has a home in New Orleans!

    For any adventurous gals out there, WILDFLOWER now has a crew position open. A good chance to learn and experience the Pacific NW from the small boat perspective. June 1 WILDFLOWER departs Anacortes, WA for the San Juans and Canadian Gulf Islands. Princess Louisa Inlet is on the agenda. The warm waters of Desolation Sound in late July and August. Returning to Port Townsend first week of Sept. for the Wooden Boat Festival, aka Wood Boat Woodstock.

    Specifics/questions can be had by contacting me skipallan@sbcglobal.net

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