Salish Sea Again

[David Patterson]

Some random shots: full moon and descending fog last night as seen from the north cove of Friday Harbor; a familiar cruising still-life (brings the 4th to mind) notable for the well-crafted outboard mount of teak, from Mark's TARAH' MARA CD32; a drift card from an oil spill study, which I pulled from the water as I was about to enter the marina area of the Port of Friday Harbor by rowing dinghy. A great deal of crude oil moves by ship in the Salish Sea. An Exxon Valdez type accident would have a tragic effect on the lives and eco-system here. The oil would go everywhere in the Salish Sea. Everywhere. We are quite the risk-takers.

[David Patterson]

A couple of photos of John and Karen's CD40 cutter MINTAKA, and one more on the mermaid theme: MINTAKA, here, is in the north cove anchorage of Friday Harbor on a glorious October afternoon. (Is the CD40 the largest of Alberg's s/v designs? Only a dozen built? I think two are on the West Coast.) She came in through a dense fog on most of her passage, a boat-length of visibility at times, careful lookout for floating logs at the bow and the experienced skipper closely monitoring plotter and radar. Great care was needed threading the reefs above Sinclair Island and in Obstruction Pass, surely. John believes the useful (in these waters) enclosure of the cockpit distracts from MINTAKA's looks, but I found myself wholly undistracted. She is lovely to gaze at, as she is. Spectacular below decks as well. The two mermaids are very unique. Butterfly wings? Inspired!

[David Patterson]

Part of the pleasure of cruising, for me, is to see the world freshly. While suspended between sea and sky aboard, and in an exotic world by contrast ashore, beautiful and sometimes very abstract visual moments occur to a viewer. Here are a few. First is an unusual cloud formation, appearing so abstract in reflection that I left the boats in the frame, for reference. The second is a sunset seeming to be a spray of fireworks in the western sky. Last is a spider's web in a decorative planting, be-jeweled with moisture.

[David Patterson]

In the galley area of my CD25D is a simple holder for a Grundig Yacht Boy radio. With some teak and a few tools it seems it would be relatively easy to make and mount. These common radios were used for time marks from WWV, among other things. Valuable still. The holder can also be useful for notes and reminders. A previous owner built mine. These low light photos give an idea of the structure.

[David Patterson]

Here is a journal page rough sketch of my cruise to Jedediah Island, and back to Friday Harbor. US charts don't cover this area well. Canadian charts of course do. I left Friday Harbor on 9/16, arriving at Jedediah Island on 9/20. I left Jedediah on 9/27 (after a false start the day before) arriving Friday Harbor on 9/30. I had some weather to deal with. A great cruise, for me and for modest CLOUD GIRL.

[David Patterson]

Between wind events, fall in the San Juans can be glorious, warm and inviting for cruising. The San Juan Channel is the primary interior passageway of the islands. Crossing it effectively under sail means choosing a time of slack water, especially in light airs. Even so, on a recent crossing I needed to get a boost from my engine for literally five minutes, to round the north point at the entrance to the harbor. It was either that or get washed back up channel by the strengthening flood, the light airs not strong enough to be able to stem the currents. [I've added the first photo as an edit. Because of the way the site loads it shows up first. It represents pre-dawn light, and my continuing fascination with the meeting of sea and sky.] The second photo is of the sun breaking through the last clouds of the passing front, halfway across the channel, on the way to a day of full sunshine. Taken at about 8:30 or 9 AM. The islands seem insignificant, dwarfed by sea and sky.

[David Patterson]

A short but quite strong wind event was predicted and occurred last night. The east coast has Nor'easters and other strong winds, including hurricanes. (Ever hear about Hog Island?) The NW has southerlies as equinoctial gales, with stunning winds out of the Fraser River Valley at times in the winter, from the northeast, among other winds from the Gulf of Alaska to the north. Then there are westerlies, and easterlies. To get to the point, to be "on the hook" a cruiser must find a suitable anchorage with good holding and little fetch, with land protection if possible. A few miles of fetch can make 10 knot winds darned uncomfortable due to wind waves, and even dangerous to a pocket cruiser, with longer fetches. Here pictured are a local wind warning and an anchorage suitable for it. Still, the boat was heeling and shaking in the gusts, at times very suddenly. Sleep was...interrupted. The 'Dol' on the chart refers to "dolphins," or pilings whose tops are out of the water at all tide levels. They are commonly charted in old log-booming areas in the Salish Sea, and often are no longer actually there. But then again, sometimes they are. I've scouted the SE end of this anchorage by dinghy, thoroughly, and marked the only remaining piling (under the surface at datum) at the far west side, with a red buoy, because I like to anchor near there. Plenty of deadheads grounded along the shores though.

[David Patterson]

A local life-long waterman told me the Salish Sea wind patterns are typical this fall, but the wind strength is greater than usual. Between wind events beautiful days and nights occur. Below is a photo of a sunset, which is happening behind the camera. The photo is of reflected glory to the east. The winds bring vegetation from shore--needles and sticks. I liked the way a moss-covered one looked enough to take a photo. I'm at 48*33.5' N latitude. Day length is currently from 8AM to 6PM, with the sun at a low angle, and getting lower. My 30 watt solar panel installed by a previous owner requires partial un-shipping in order to charge. I've even put out a stern anchor at times to improve the angle relative to the sun. A better mount is called for, clearly.

[David Patterson]

October comes toward a close in the Salish Sea's San Juan Islands, as does my cruising for the year. While I am still out on the hook (since Feb 1, this year) for 4 more weeks, I've no real "cruising" plans. As my cruising year draws to an end, a seal has given way in my clutch case. One of my cruising acquaintances will no longer agree that I am a novice cruiser, yet when it comes to the complexities of my boat I very much still am, especially as I try to bring my previously neglected CD25D back to full functionality. Here is the seal in question, circled on the drawing. I'll get help from a reliable yard nearby. Shaft realignment will be done as well. The weather here continues to amaze me with its narrow range at times. An only 5* temperature range never happens mid-continent. What appears to be a very rainy time really includes only fairly short rain periods scattered in the days. The beauty of this world, as shown in the muted blues of the last photo, continues to leave me speechless.

[David Patterson]

Long-term or extended cruising can be more about time than about distance. After nine months on the hook, and actively cruising an old (1982) boat, visits to boat yards are inevitable and even desirable. In my case, with a leaking transmission seal, I needed a mechanic's advice. I obtained it at an old ship yard that is now offering standard hull and engine services competently and fairly. The photos show the last boat ever constructed in the ship yard, a wry card on the bulletin board in the office, and the route to San Juan Channel through the south entrance to Friday Harbor, on the way back out to anchor again in a peaceful spot elsewhere in the misty distance. My mechanical work I will have done at a mid-February haul out, as I prepare for another long period of cruising in 2015 (hopefully). December and January I'll do no cruising, again this year, for it is a rewarding period for me to spend with family and friends, in spite of the harsh continental weather in NJ, MO, and CO. Winter cruising remains available in the Salish Sea. November and March are actually the windiest months, on average, with December and January the coldest ones. The water doesn't freeze, averaging around 45*. Winter is winter still, though some parts of the Sea are favored. One of my most memorable cruises was a circumnavigation by sail of Sucia Island in mid-November of 2012. A couple of Canadian yachts came into Shallow Bay after I anchored there. Otherwise, no one, except a Coast Guard cutter that moored overnight in Echo Bay. A beautiful island to walk on alone.

[David Patterson]

The coming Arctic incursion is cooling the air in the central Salish Sea, with lows dropping into the upper 30*s at times, a bit early this year. Attractively dry and sunny, this forecast. The developing storm, which will pass north and east of the San Juans, also seems to be blocking the relentless series of southerly gales that characterized October. I've included a screen shot from wunderground.com and a look up San Juan Channel, from a sail to a different anchorage on 11/7/14. That ferry was emerging from Wasp Passage, several miles away, and was moving at 18 knots or so. My course at nearly 4 knots brought us to a potential meeting, had I not hove to briefly to let it pass, and to hold my position on the water. With a reversal of the tiller and a haul on the sheet, the boat slipped right back into being close-hauled on her port tack, aft of the ferry. The sailing characteristics of Alberg's designs are excellent. A local cruising rule is to never attempt to sail across a ferry's path. They are deceptively fast, not to mention huge, especially compared to my little 25D. Right of way rules depend on which is the least maneuverable craft, anyway. In this case, it was the ferry.

[David Patterson]

Many cruisers have an old sun-worn Lifesling on the stern rail. An easy, inexpensive, though inelegant fix for the sun-damaged flap is a layer of white "Duck" tape on both sides. It doesn't have to last, only shed some rain and look better. I've reluctantly come in off the hook to the Friday Harbor Port Marina, where I'll leave CLOUD GIRL until February, again. Wandering the marina I spotted a Cape Dory 27, SANGOMA, now owned by a local San Juan islander, I think, and slipped here year round. She is in much better condition, at least cosmetically, than my 25D, especially after CLOUDIE's recent seasons of steady use. Work on this marina's reconstruction has about a month left to run. The last photo is of a boat that holds an undeniable charm for me. She is a workboat the contractors are using, welded together crudely, yet with honest appearance. She even looks to have positive flotation. It doesn't take much to have a basic floating craft. An Alberg design is quite an evolutionary advance from something like this. In the background are some of the old docks dismantled for removal.

[David Patterson]

A frosty deck, a journal paragraph, a weather app screen shot representing a climb back to a "normal" local temperature range. My 9000 BTU propane heater is adequate down to about freezing, but less so below that. (Of course I could remember to leave it on high overnight.) Sometimes I imagine also having a solid fuel heater aboard for quickly warming the cabin, but my boat is so small. It would take up another bulkhead. In a little over a week I'll be off on my travels ashore, eagerly and reluctantly at the same time.

[David Patterson]

Wandering the waterfront in Friday Harbor, spending my last few days of my cruising year, I find myself yearning instead to be heading back out. The scene beckons, but belies the frequent gales. November and March are the windiest months, on average. December and January are the two months I haven't yet spent on the hook while cruising the Salish Sea. I have more to learn before attempting them, especially about optional anchorages. I'll not attempt them this year, however. One Canadian couple I know has a goal of sailing on each Christmas, as part of their holiday tradition. Water temp in Friday Harbor is 50* right now. These two photos show an enticing scene, and two of the larger craft using the harbor, a large fishing boat and a medium sized ferry. A NE or E gale creates a wildly different sea state than these show. White water everywhere outside the breakwaters. But aren't those islands inviting?

[pete faga]

David
Thanks for posting the last two years on Cloud Girls adventures in the NW.
Look forward to any future postings
Be well
Pete