Salish Sea Cruising 2014

[David Patterson]

I'm posting again while I have some internet connection. First: the very narrow entry to popular Shallow Bay of Sucia Island, a small target. The reefs are daunting when awash. Second: the eddy line seems to demarcate a boundary of the Strait of Georgia, as viewed from Lawson Bluff. Third: a scene to give anyone pause who is picking up a state park buoy. This buoy beached in Echo Bay is probably the result of stretched-out maintenance schedules, as funding has gotten decreased. A shackle likely gave way. The problem with a mooring is that you can't really know what is down there unless it has been recently dived on, or brought up for maintenance. Ground tackle can be inspected with every use. Anchor choice and bottom type come into play, naturally.

[David Patterson]

Island residents can be creative with boat crafting and use. Here is a "skin" boat that recalls an umiak, with contemporary alternative power, and Shaw and Tenney oars. Also a schooner-like open sailing/rowing craft, TERN. I saw these in Shallow Bay of Sucia Island of the San Juans, after they crossed from an island five or more miles away, through waters lively with wind waves and currents. I had difficulty choosing just a couple of photos to share of these very interesting craft. Notice the rigging of the shrouds at the bases on TERN. (Among many other fascinating features.)

[David Patterson]

Inexperienced with open water, I get a beginner's thrill out of crossing the straits of the Salish Sea: Rosario, Haro, Juan de Fuca, and most recently, the Strait of Georgia. Each has waters made much more active by ship traffic, conflicting currents, and the long fetches over which the wind can build waves. Busy enough to require traffic separation schemes, these waters can be complex to cross. A low visibility crossing can be...concerning. On this day, the Coast Guard was reporting very low visibility in various parts of the Salish Sea, particularly Juan de Fuca's east end, and in Hood Canal. Here are: (1) a photo of a gong buoy marking a bank (welcome on a passage, as a sea-mark--RG "A" Fl (2+1) R 6s GONG, for those who enjoy the details), (2) a photo of the sort of object (that large raft) I would not care to meet out there, and (3) the track of an 18 mile passage across the east end of the Strait of Georgia, from Sucia Island to Drayton Harbor, at Blaine by the border. Fresh delights. How grandly fortunate I find it is to have a new world to learn, later in life.

[David Patterson]

Low-visibility sailing. In my last post (just yesterday) I mentioned it. Fog is a feature of the Salish Sea also. The Grand Banks doesn't have a monopoly on it. July and August are, the meteorologists reminded us lately, locally the months of most likely low visibility events. In August of 2012, first about to enter the San Juans across Rosario Strait, eager as a puppy with a fresh bone, I rounded Cypress Island's north end into waters completely new to me, with two busy narrow lanes of ship traffic, and myself profoundly uninformed about local tidal currents. A massive dense fog settled over boat and strait like a cloud suddenly come to earth for a nap. Through the magic of electronics I made the crossing while monitoring the positions, using AIS, of the few ships in transit. Other cruisers were of more concern as they motored into my circle of restricted visibility. Needless to say, I managed my crossing, the fog eventually lifted, and I've gone on to learn a lot more about (and practice) low visibility sailing. Below is a photo of two resources I found in Port Townsend's superb used bookstore. Richard Henderson's (a justifiably respected Atlantic coast sailor in his day) is particularly good. A great review of safety as well. The other photo is a page from Roger Duncan's book. You think you can box the compass? Match this photo if you can. A point, by the way, is 11 1/4 degrees. Next time you ease off the wind a point, you'll remember that, I'm sure. Not that you or I can discern 1/4 point on our steering compasses.

[David Patterson]

The "Peace Arch" and US Customs, where I-5 reaches the US/Canada border at Blaine WA, as viewed across a drying mud flat, a significant stopover for migrating sea birds. Birds, humans, millions of beings crossing the border. In the large modern Blaine Harbor Marina are the usual sights. Someone's neglected dinghy illustrates that once pumped up, your "inflatable" immediately shifts state, becoming a "deflatable." Lastly, you think your boat maintenance takes too long? That young man aloft is not sleeping, he is buffing. He has rappeled down on a line. By lying down, his body friction is enough to allow working. Kind of. The owners of this mega-craft must in essence be visiting passengers on their own boat. But, whatever it takes to get afloat....

[David Patterson]

There is a small one-boat cove by Eagle Point of delightful Matia Island of the San Juans, near the meeting of the Strait of Georgia and Rosario Strait. Going ashore is discouraged in this particular cove, so it is usually unoccupied. I landed briefly for the second photo below. Here are: 1) an iNavX screen shot of my approach in Force 3 (7-10 kt) winds, with about a half-knot boost from a current. My genoa was at its second reef position, the main spilling some wind. The "tall aspect" rig of the 25D can move her right along, especially with a freshly painted bottom. No need to be dramatically heeled. I'm halfway across the Alaska Marine Highway in good visibility. 2) CLOUD GIRL at anchor in the cove, the mast proportion represented clearly. 3) A sunset behind the very popular Sucia Island, originally purchased by a consortium of yacht clubs, then taken over as a responsibility by the state for public enjoyment as a park. There were several similar arrangements in the Salish Sea, like Pirates Cove in the Canadian Gulf Islands.

[David Patterson]

I'm getting the message that the "board attachment quota" has been reached, so I'll stop posting. My Salish Sea cruising continues, however. I'm setting out for two weeks in the Gulf Islands. Included will be the North West Alberg Designs Rendezvous in Telegraph Harbor of Thetis Island 6/20-6/22. Thank you to all of you who have viewed my postings, and especially to those of you who have interacted with me about them. May your sailing season be lively and excellent.

[Sea Hunt Video]

No, no, no

Do NOT stop posting.

Contact the webmasters (a/k/a "The Geeks") to determine why this is happening. At least two (2) other posters have recently been denied posting of their photos with the same "board attachment quota" language. These other posters have not posted many photos at all.

This issue has nothing to do with the number of photos you have posted. At least I do not think it does.

As a self-described computer expert (I learned everything I know from OJ) I can tell you it is something in the computer box thingamiggy that is not working right. A differential diagnosis could be that the Internet "Cloud" has shifted its geospatial location and is temporarily incapacitated.

Whatever the cause, it is not you. Contact "The Geeks".

[Doug Hill]

I agree. Don't stop posting. Reading about your experiences most worthwhile.

Fair Winds,
Doug

[Sea Hunt Video]

David:

Try again in 1-2 days. The "web geeks" are working on it.

[David Patterson]

Thanks for the supportive comments, and the help. The webmasters have extended my posting privileges. I'm sure a profligate post-er such as myself was not envisaged when the site was established. First, below, is my pocket cruiser (most suitable for extended cruising) at anchor, Matia Island. My halyards are held back by home store bungee cords, though sail ties would work as well to keep them (mostly) silent. Early 20th Century Brits (like Maurice Griffiths) called it "frapping" the halyards with "gilgallies." Very picturesque. I have various extra halyards, some secured to the bow pulpit, "just in case." Second is a strange home built craft, under a nearly full moon in Friday Harbor, where I am reprovisioning and picking up a cruising guest. Will it receive masts eventually? The rectangular frame is for a boat cover...perhaps. Third, a peaceful blue look toward the Gulf Islands, from President Channel. I have a chance to squire one of my four excellent sisters on a two week cruise into these islands, very soon. The cruise will include the annual NW Alberg Design Rendezvous in 2 weeks. I'll do some reporting for those interested in Alberg's work. Sometimes an Alberg 29 is there, and some Cape Dorys.

[David Patterson]

A few recent scenes as I begin cruising again in the Gulf Islands portion of the Salish Sea. Long Reid Harbor is a fine take-off anchorage, if only for morning skies like this first photo. The geology of these islands is evident where the soil is too thin to support forest, as in the second photo along Stuart Island's west side. To complete this triptych, I've included a photo of an unusual scene. A group of paddle boarders head into Moresby Passage by Portland Island, chase boat sensibly along for safety. Swanson Channel is in the background. Paddle boarders can be spotted alone in these frigid waters, attempting somewhat heroic (misguided?) journeys around large islands. I find myself wanting to try to talk solitary ones aboard. I doubt they would come. Personal water craft (jet skis) are banned (thankfully!) in San Juan County. I fear it will take a loss of life before some sensible regulation of paddle boarding in the open waters. Or so I editorialize.

[David Patterson]

An interesting island to approach and anchor near, Portland Island is Princess Margaret Marine Park. In reality nothing about it is uninteresting, from its position off Satellite Channel, on to the great trails, and the active waters of an anchorage just off busy ferry lanes. Below are a chart view, a look along Satellite Channel toward the entrance of Sansum Narrows, and a photo that reminds me of the opening of Longfellow's poem Evangeline -- "...bearded with moss and in garments of green, indistinct in the twilight...", at least as I recall them.

[David Patterson]

Three modes of representing the same cruising area, and a good illustration of the chart not being the actuality: The first photo is a passage track from Ganges Harbor into Trincomali Channel, then on to Princess Cove of Wallace Island. At 1:200,000 (US 18400, my only iNavX chart of the channel) the boundary lines of islands are distorted, the track appearing to cross land. The second is of a 1:40,000 Canadian chart, in metric notations. Montague Harbor is at the lower right hand corner. The black item is a lead and leather book weight. The last is a look down Trincomali Channel from about the Walker Hook area of Salt Spring Island. Montague Harbor is to the left behind an island. For convenience I motored around Nose Point of Salt Spring into Trincomali, on the ebb, then rode the young flood's currents on a light airs run to reach Wallace Island, an easy quiet sail for my novice-sailor older sister, handling the tiller alone.

[David Patterson]

Cruising in the Gulf Islands portion of the Salish Sea, I'm becoming familiar with some of the common features. One is the narrow coves and bays, some very safe and others not, most very attractive. Below are two from Wallace Island. The first is of popular Princess Bay (sometimes called Princess Cove). The other photo is of an un-named cove on the opposite end of the island, a trap in the common SE winds. Stunning to look at, however. Cruising here is to be immersed in beauty. One had better read the charts closely, however. Rocks and reefs abound.