Beyond My Known 2017

[David Patterson]

Better get yourself one, Tim. There's a used one online for only 350k. A Chuck Paine design. In 2000 it was considered to be the "ultimate blue water cruiser." Personally, I'll stick with Cape Dorys and Albergs. Pretty good hardware on those, right? I love to study good designs, and I love to come home to my boat. Good luck with your spring plans and upgrades. The "Pineapple Express" is currently pumping warm moist mid-Pacific air from the Hawaii region into this area. Temps mid to low 40s for the days ahead, both day and night. It's like a different season, instantly. With a little gale, of course.

[David Patterson]

Seasons change. I'll leave the boat again, after my instructive winter sojourn aboard, on 1/28, not having done anything away from the slip. No matter. When I return in early March, the season will have changed. More usual for me is to arrive in late January or early February to return to cruising, family visits accomplished and enjoyed. In the first photo is a shrub responding to the local now mild weather, the temperature not forecast to drop below freezing, though it easily could briefly during February. The other two are of once functional (if not very interesting) boats become derelict and abandoned, seized for non-payment of fees, which is something that will be happening in many marinas. At a marine store in Port Townsend last year, an owner held forth the observation that unless it is being used, a boat is a liability not an asset. Point taken.

[David Patterson]

Just for pretty. The moon caught in an upper shroud. Sunrise over slipped boats. Late afternoon sun on Mount Baker.

[David Patterson]

With only 9 hours of daylight at this latitude now, catching sunrise and sunset requires little effort. First, a sloop with a full cockpit enclosure motors in ahead of a ferry, under a pastel evening sky. Next, sunset colors the west, as seen from the breakwater courtesy dock. A lone gull seems to be enjoying the view. Last is a collage of three port scenes just before, and then right at, dawn.

[David Patterson]

Though preparing to leave the boat for a month-long "cruise ashore," I'm continuing to enjoy my winter surroundings. Never having spent six weeks aboard in a marina before, I found it not bad during the off-season. Little activity, wake, noise, exhaust pollution, or crowding...contrary to my usual experience of marinas. My cruising plans may include a similarly extended marina stay, elsewhere, next winter. I'm glad to have found it reasonably comfortable, at least. The coldest period now seems apparently over, cold snaps still possible. A very few larger cruising boats have begun to motor through, probably intending to work north as weather allows. International cruisers visit the area often. The first photo is of a seemingly European design in the distance, on the floating breakwater, flying unusual flags. Not a very informative photo, unfortunately. The big ketch in the foreground is AMBITION. Next is the schooner DIRIGO II. Just to study her aft area, under the shelter, offers plenty of enjoyment. Her verdigris bronze ship's bell (is one still required by COLREGs, or just ignored as is a forward riding light?) seems the key to her color scheme. That long flemished line, coiled "sun-wise", is a pleasure to see on the cabin top. The leathering for the notch in the boom gallows looks to be encouraging some rot. That breast line, along with fenders, keeps her from grinding on the finger dock to her port during winter storms. Apparently it is enough. The last photo is of a narrow rowing craft being brought in by a woman at sunset, after her exercise. That boat is out in surprisingly fresh conditions all year around. She is set up for forward-facing rowing, most of the power supplied by leg action in the mechanical contrivance that is hard to see in my photo. The long narrow design must slide through the water, and be a bit dicey in beam seas. The sunset beginning was a perfect apricot color, but my phone camera failed to fully capture it, or my skill level wasn't adequate. The rower and I agreed it was a fine evening, as she passed. The floating break waters of this port were designed and installed by the Corps of Engineers, costs split with the port. Very effective, in waters mostly too deep for other economical construction methods.

[David Patterson]

A goodby to the Friday Harbor port and town in winter. When I return for March, the season will have changed completely. In the parking area an exceptionally short one way sign, symbolic I suppose of the direction of the seasonal change, nestles among greening plants. On a point, mosses and madrone show spring. Their thin covering is the best the ecosystem can do with bare rock, in the more than 10,000 years since the glaciers melted. The lower photo compilation shows the ferry docking pilings, that rowing vessel from the previous posting, and some details of big PACIFIC WIND. Her attractive sailcover sports orcas (maybe porpoises), represented in the style of Salish Sea indigenous art. On the bow her cockpit-obstructing wheel is stowed while in port. Being my first sighting of that wheel stowage arrangement, it gave me pause. She is probably too large for a tiiler, but one would just lift up out of the way in the cockpit, or perhaps be more easily unshipped, especially from a stern-hung rudder. Lots of canvas work aboard her, with even one of the outboard-hung kayaks covered.

[David Patterson]

The sunrise of my cruising year is about to occur, and I'm impatient to return aboard...like so many others. This photo is of a sunrise over San Juan Channel in early March of 2015. The barge-tug HENRY ISLAND heads out to start her workday.

[David Patterson]

Returning aboard on 2/28, I don't really know what the conditions might be. The forecast is currently benign. On 2/25/13 I crossed Rosario Strait by ferry in a gale. This photo is a good look at a Force 7 sea state. Maybe higher. The giant ferry was heeling significantly in the wind. For scale, that buoy is probably at least 8 feet tall, above the water. Maybe taller. The scene was fascinating, but I was very grateful not to be testing self and boat in it. Heaving to under a scrap of main would have been my only sensible option. Perhaps under bare pole. The boat could have handled it. Could have I?

[David Patterson]

That same stretch of Rosario Strait, depicted in the previous posting, looks considerably different in Force 2 winds. Here we are looking west down the strait, into the east end of Juan de Fuca Strait. Beyond, too far to see, is Victoria on Vancouver Island. And eventually the enormous Pacific. West winds have a straight shot into the Salish Sea by the opening afforded. Rosario nearly became the international boundary with Canada, but Haro Strait was settled on via arbitration in the 19th century, after the little-known Pig War, which ended amicably. A good tale (no pun intended). Google it. Vulnerable commerce on the waters manages well. The second photo is of the island barge-tug PINTAIL, a familiar sight locally, delivering a big propane rig to one of the islands. She looks like something out of Costner's Waterworld movie. I don't think propane tankers are allowed on the state ferries. Most islands aren't ferry-served anyway. It's been a cold winter. The last photo is a screen shot of Wunderground's forecast for Friday Harbor. Were I ready the conditions would be good for sailing north, or just cruising the islands. A switch flipped at the end of February, seemingly. I had plenty of winter for my experiment of being aboard in the cold though, in December and January. Ashore in February (TX, NJ, CO), I'm glad to be back aboard again as of yesterday, eager to get out of the marina and back on the hook. Could be a couple of weeks yet.

[David Patterson]

A few scenes from Friday Harbor, having returned aboard, though I'm still slipped. The sun is a rare visitor this March (so far). First are the relatively massive pillars and fender arrangements of the state ferry dock, to hold the ferry stern properly oriented. Other stops have much taller and larger ones, as at Anacortes on Fidalgo Island. Only two ways to get to this island: boat, or small aircraft. No bridges. Next is a group of fast whale-watching boats, already poised for the tourist season. On KESTREL the passengers are dressed in bright flotation suits, then seated in rows on deck for the duration. Altogether too passive for my own preferences. Life expectancy due to hypothermia, even with flotation devices, is only about 1/2 hour in these waters without a thermal suit of some kind. The operators have a communication network and code words that help them gather near whale pods feeding or traveling through a strait. Laws keep them at a distance from the whales of 100 yards, though at times the whales pass closer to an idling boat. Careful observation records that at least two of the Salish Sea "blackfish" died inexplicably over the winter, one a birth of the year, I read. The last photo shows a crewman high on the foremast of the schooner DIRIGO II, testing shrouds and rigging lines for obvious slack that developed over the winter. Local tourist regions harvest their crop of tourist dollars during the warmer months. The harvest machinery needs to be tuned and ready.

[David Patterson]

As a very "wintery" winter slowly gives way to local spring, harbor sights draw my wandering attention. A recently constructed and elaborate waterfront stairway even has access to the water, lower right. The wooden fishing boat JOHN CUITTI of Friday Harbor continues to earn her way after 3/4 of a century, nearly. Built in 1945 (part of a hopeful post-war life change?), she has managed to escape being turned into a power yacht...so far. What a fine one she would make. I imagine her to be a family boat, passed down through the generations. The big cutter-yacht DEVA perfumed the unusually empty harbor with smoke from her wood stove. I followed the good smell across the port to take her portrait. Her substantial hard dodger fails to give much protection to the helmsman at the wheel. Probably there is an interior steering station. No lack of visibility for one. Sensibly, she has a hanked on sail on the inner forestay, in case of roller furler failures perhaps. What a sailboat, one far beyond my willingness to maintain. And ability. The collection of fenders to starboard may be a necessity given her closeness to the ferry dock. A boat that heavy must have an excellent Ted Brewer "comfort ratio" (a measure of rapidity of rising and falling, I understand) but still will roll and move laterally in large wakes. I've arbitrarily selected the first day of spring, this year, as my day to return to anchor. I've gone out as early as the beginning of February in prior years. Less wintery ones.

[David Patterson]

Looks like another two weeks yet in port, before getting out on the hook. Below, a few photos of the scene during this colder than normal winter. The colder lingering winter has been the talk of the town and the port. Impatience for the delayed spring is palpable. First, a look roughly ENE over the main area of the Port of Friday Harbor. Snow is visible on Mount Constitution of Orcas Island. Second, the high side of a medium-sized ferry next to the 'midship pilings, the ferry's green trim matching the color of the cold water. Third, morning sun breaks over the clouds to the SSE, overlooking the lower part of Friday Harbor. A lone cutter is moored in the harbor center. I think it is the wooden Atkin-designed NORSEMAN from the 1930s.

[David Patterson]

On a fully sunny yet clearly spring day (chilly breezes included) wandering the docks on last days in the marina satisfies. The combination photo shows a fine pilot house ketch at the harbor's floating breakwater, a Flicka fittingly named PINQUOIN, and the well-travelled CD27 SANGOMA (who doesn't get around much anymore). Someone's fine 27 or 28 foot Ranger Tug has the charming name WATER RAT, and waits to be woken up for her season. The car-top carrier adaptation drew my attention. On some boats that could be a handy way to stow deck and cockpit gear. My first sighting of that idea. Last is a closer look at the ketch. Trusty CLOUD GIRL heads out to anchor at the end of the week. Finally the marina days draw to a close.

[David Patterson]

About to return to being on the hook when not on passage, I'm naturally noticing anchors more. Granted, at slack tide in no wind a cruiser could hold the boat in place with a length of gardening twine and an old claw hammer head, even over eelgrass. The rest of the time...not so well. Pictured is an anchor I simply don't understand, on an 18' or so sport boat. At first glance, in the first photo, it just looks unusual. A closer look, in the second photo, shows difficulties. Eighth inch chain seems (poorly) shackled to the "crown", not the shaft. A sliding keeper appears designed to hold the shaft at right angles to the "flukes" when deployed. There is no rode; that white line is a dock line. I don't think it is set up for actual use. A strange anchor that I'd be hesitant to be on while eating lunch, even. It seems somewhat akin to a folding box anchor. Anybody recognize this one?

[David Patterson]

Finally, doughty little CLOUD GIRL returns to anchor. Along with that fact comes the need for wind and wave protection. A mile or two of fetch to the east, along with Force 5 winds tomorrow from that direction, will require moving to a more protected anchorage later today. Last year she left the slip by being kedged out, then ghosting to her current anchorage under sail, just for the experiment of doing so. Some of the most challenging sailing can be near near obstacles in light airs. This year she motored out because her cabin isn't ready yet for heeling. The photo is of a few members of the Friday Harbor Sailing Club, out for a Friday evening sail in San Juan Channel, no doubt pleased to find Force 3 breezes.