No Sailing in the Snow

The snow is mostly melted off the boats.  Here's a before and after photo of Maranatha, Joel's boat.  The SSSS race for Saturday this weekend was cancelled..........

Debra's boat, Liberte, at Swantown Marina

Snow and fresh water on top of the salt water does freeze!

Mary's boat, Sonrisa, at Martin Marina - she's all clear now

First Sail Race for 2012

Yesterday was the first Sail Race of the South Sound Sailing Society's Inlet Series.  It was a relatively short course of 11.1 miles to Flapjack Point in Eld Inlet and back.  Despite the forecast for snow, there were lots of boats out ready to race.  And boy did we sail...... the winds were fluky but pretty constant (10-15? with gusts of more? - I wish I was better at judging the wind speeds) for the entire race (except of course at the turning mark where they got extremely light).  I was crewing for Joel on Maranatha, a Ranger 33.  I was the newbie crew on this boat and was sailing along with Sandy, John, and Webb.  I wanted to take a photo of the skipper and crew, but my phone was not cooperating, so maybe next time.  It rained most of the first half of the race, but just a steady light rain.  Then it started clearing up a bit to the north.  However, as we were putting the boat away it started raining again and harder, then snowing, then the skies cleared and the sun appeared.

Thanks Joel and the Maranatha crew for a great day on the water!

First Sail for 2012

My first sail for 2012 was with Capt. Mary, Wendy, Michelle, and Cyndie on Claire McDougal, Mary's Newport 30 sailboat.  We left the Olympia Yacht Club about 11:30 am on Sunday, January 8th, with sunshine, and light winds.  Mount Rainier was out and so were the Olympics.  We had a wonderful sail and of course the obligatory good snacks and lots of laughs. What a great way to start the new sailing year!
THANKS Mary.

Wendy, Mary F., Barbara, Michelle

Mary 

Wendy, Cyndie, Mary

Michelle, Mary, Wendy

Mary Campbell's adventures

So isn't there a saying about if you can't do something to live vicariously through someone else.  Well since I can't be out cruising now, but Mary is, I am following her stories closely.  She is having some great adventures in Mexico and if you get a chance read her latest blog posting where they save two whales near San Blas, Mexico.
http://sonrisachronicles.blogspot.com/
Update - January 9th, 2012
There is a video posted of their whale rescue here:  http://vimeo.com/34811494

And I saved a photo of Mary from that video.

Last Sail Race for 2011

Yesterday was the Hope Island Race with the SSSS club.  I crewed for Ken on Rushwind, and the other crew was Wendy & Ken Eklund.  As predicted the winds were light and made for some interesting sailing (slow) around Hope Island.  We went clockwise around the island like a few other boats; most of the boats chose the counter-clockwise route.  A couple boats went aground on the reef between Squaxin and Hope, yikes, it sure gets shallow in some parts there.  Then the adverse currents sometimes meant we were going backwards, slowly.. Eventually we made it through the current and back into Dana Passage where the winds picked up and we were sailing along nicely as it was getting dark.  It was chilly most of the day, but since it wasn't wet or very windy it wasn't too bad.  Ken started the heater in the cabin on the way back also, which definitely helped.  We quit about 6pm when the winds died completely and we could only see glassy smooth water between us and the committee boat, maybe 2.5 miles more.  Race certainly could have been better, but we always have fun on Rushwind!
And that ends the 2011 race season.  I think I am ready for some warm weather sailing again too!

Still boatless but looking

Drove to Everett today to look at this boat; lots of possibilities; great liveaboard layout, a few projects but none that seemed daunting.
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1989/Ericson-38-2406016/Everett-Marina/WA/United-States

and next Saturday I think I'll take a look at this one:
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1985/Westerly-Center-Cockpit-2122691/Blaine/WA/United-States

too bad I have to go to work this week; boat shopping is more fun.  Have a great week everyone!

Chilly weekend on Puget Sound - Tacoma to Poulsbo

Since Veteran's day was a holiday, I decided to take Monday off and make a 4 day weekend.  My friend, Kevin invited me to join him on a trip to Poulsbo from Commencement Bay by way of Blake Island.  When we checked the weather report on Friday morning, it was a bit surprising. We knew there was some wind and rain on it's way, but there was a gale warning for the afternoon.  So we quickly got ready and left anyway.  His Fuji 35 could easily handle the possible winds and its always good to practice some sailing in higher winds, right?
We did have a bit of trouble when the wind gusted to over 30 towards the end of the sailing afternoon, and a slow gybe(?) with some choppy waves that picked up due to the winds, meant some tense time when the jib got wrapped wrong and then started flogging wildly.  Fortunately it looks like only the sun cover was damaged, but it does need to be repaired.  It was a very busy day of downwind sailing up Colvos Passage and we were glad to be safely docked at Blake Island.
The wind picked up some during the night, but by morning it had died to almost nothing. There were still 20+ knots predicted for the afternoon but they didn't start until we were over half way to Poulsbo.  We didn't try sailing at that point, we were almost there and the winds were still pretty strong.
After docking safely at the Poulsbo Public Marina we headed to the downtown shops to look for the famous bakery Sluy's Bakery; oh so many goodies to chose some.  Later we had dinner out at the That's Some a Italian restaurant.
On Monday we motored all the way back to Foss Harbor Waterway in Tacoma.  Winds were light and didn't start blowing until we got to Commencement Bay.