Hope Island SSSS 'cruise' weekend

Oh, the weather outside was frightful........ so we decided not to go to Hope Island on Saturday.  There were gale force winds predicted on the VHF weather channel and the gathering spot on the NW side of the island didn't sound like a good place to be.  We were rocking quite a bit just at the marina.  So we hung out there and pretended we were cruising.... waiting for a better weather window before leaving and making the best of it by inviting good friends over for dinner and drink.  We also had lots of laughs, Mary, Mike, Joel, and I; so glad I got to visit with Mary before she heads back to Mexico and warm weather sailing (I am envious).

The weather was much better on Sunday and so we headed north, not too far behind Terri and Val.  We sailed for a couple hours and it was very enjoyable, although cool.  We rafted up with them and Dave and Micky pn a mooring buoy and made plans for a 6pm dinner.  We were also joined by some new SSSS members, John and Kathleen.  Again, good food, great company, and lots of laughs.  We had a quiet night on the mooring buoy.

Today, Monday, we borrowed Dave and Micky's dinghy and rowed to shore to take a hike around the island.  It was drizzly most of the day and we left Hope Island around 2 pm.  There was next to no wind so we motored back to Percival Landing to put the boat away for now.

Toliva Shoals Race - February 11, 2012

Better than expected.....  We had a great day on south Puget Sound even if we didn't race the entire course.  The race committee shortened it to around 30 nm (at Johnson Point) instead of the full 37.4 race course. The winds were getting light and they probably wanted everyone to have a chance to finish the race.  I was crewing on Maranatha (Ranger 33) with Skipper Joel, and Sandy, Matt, Webb, and John as fellow crew mates.  There was pretty consistent winds the entire time (8-10?+- kn), and I have the usual bruises to prove it............  It was cloudy and overcast all day, but relatively warm, around 50.  It only started to rain on us right after we finished.  We managed to get the sails put away before they got wet.

We placed 3rd out of 15 for our class so that was an additional reward for a great day on the water.  It wasn't sunshine and fast like 2011, but we certainly didn't spend any time just drifting around either.  I think there were 77 boats in all that were out there racing, and I hope they all had a great time.

Maranatha is the small boat in the middle - not as close as it looked...... thank goodness.

The boat show, the boat show, the big Seattle boat show

I found a new boat or two at the boat show, but they are a little out of my price range.........  It was definitely a gorgeous day to wander at south Lake Union and look at sailboats.  I was a bit surprised to see a familiar boat there though.  Chauk Chauk, a Valiant 42 owned by Bob.  I met Bob & Jeri in 2007 on Catalina Island and later saw Bob off and on during my cruising of the Mexican gold coast through spring 2008.  I guess it was just time for him to sell Chauk Chauk after having cruised her for several years and then he had her shipped back to the northwest last year.  She is a beauty and I wish I could afford her.

Well, the shopping continues.........

Island Home Cruise - January 27-29, 2012

Almost forgot to post information about the cruise last weekend........  Went to the joint 'cruise' of Olympia Yacht Club and South Sound Sailing Society at Island Home, OYC's private getaway with Joel, Sandy, and Jonathan, and Locky.  We had a great trip up with sunshine, but no wind so we motored.  Saturday was another great weather day and we walked the nature trail, and visited with other cruisers off and all day.  The potluck was as usual a big feast and if anyone went away hungry it was their own darn fault.  The trip back on Sunday was chilly and a bit rainy.  And of course the wind right on our nose, so we motored back to the marina.  All in all a great weekend and great company!!