23ft in the PNW

Frank · November 10, 2015, 04:03:14 PM

It may be cool.....and frost the odd night....

BUT....

You have these anchorages all to yourself!
And....thie fishing is good!

Sorry Tim. :)

PS....love a pilot house ......really love the espar!

Tim · November 10, 2015, 11:21:31 PM

SO SWEET!!! 8)

Jim_ME · November 11, 2015, 08:33:06 PM

More beautiful photos, Frank! :)

I had been wondering whether you still had the little boat with the pilot house that I had admired in photos from the Bahamas awhile back. Nice to see that you still own it, and are making such good use of it. Seems like the ultimate trailer sailer for the sort of trip you have taken. Your boats are sometimes like characters in a novel that disappear from the plot of life for awhile, and then reappear again farther on...

Last Monday, I was over at a local friend's house to move a boat that I had picked up a couple months ago. It was time for him to get out the snowplow and change the hydraulic fluid in preparation for the coming winter.

At one point, he looked around at his yard and the trees whose leaves have turned from the bright colors to now brown and branches getting bare. and said "I can't believe how fast this year went by".

His sailboat, the Snapdragon 26 twin keel (that he bought from me last year) sat nearby. I thought back in August about how I had hoped to put the new-to-me Alberg in for the end of the season, but the time flew past...again...

Anyway, I told my friend about how, despite being loosely based in Ontario, have expanded your sailing season by heading South to cruise in winter, and to where you are now... I've found that the 4-month season here is adequate, if I make good use of it, but if I let much or all of it slip by there is no making it up...except to head South. I think about doing this a lot this time of year, but don't seem to be able to get going. I'm glad to see that some of us make it there...

Frank · November 11, 2015, 10:12:03 PM

I think we all know that feeling all too well.....
"where did summer go"...."where did time go".....

When you think of it, the only true commodity....not money, not assets...
is "TIME"

The next realization....is "choice"
Choice of how we spend it.....

It's kinda like a new girlfriend...you could ALWAYS make time...by choice :-)

CharlieJ · November 11, 2015, 11:41:14 PM

As a sailor staring at 75, I certainly identify.

Priorities get in the way of life.

Frank · November 12, 2015, 01:28:50 PM

Early start in fog/haze yesterday

But ...the fog lifted to a beautiful day!

Hunkered down with a full on gale today!
Underway again tomorrow

Tim · November 12, 2015, 02:21:15 PM

Looks like the Gale warning will be up until mid-day tomorrow. :-\

Frank · November 12, 2015, 02:51:16 PM

In Lund right now.....sipping coffee at "Nancy's Bakery"

Heading for Powell tomorrow as company flys out early Saturday.

Then....prep for the Broughton's

Should lay down enough by noon tomorrow

Sentry Shoal bouy shows over 9ft waves earlier this morning!
Would have been 11ft+ by Cortez with the SE

Tim · November 12, 2015, 04:08:55 PM

Yep, may be on your nose a bit but definitely settling down "Wind veering to southwest 15 to 20 late overnight then backing to southeast 10 to 15 Friday evening."

Frank · November 13, 2015, 03:15:27 PM

amazing what a diff 12 hours makes

crazy evening...underway in near flat calm now....

CharlieJ · November 13, 2015, 04:20:53 PM

According to forecasts, we'll be having some of that system here by Monday-

a part of the report-

"Upper level system will drop down the US west coast and into the SW US on Sunday and really begin to intensify. This intense deep longwave trough will force strong surface pressure falls over NW TX Sunday night into Monday with an impressive mid-November cyclone developing over the central and southern plains. Strong low level jet of 40-60kts develops over coastal TX Monday transporting significant deep layer moisture northward."

Doesn't sound like sailing weather!!!

Frank · November 13, 2015, 06:33:56 PM

Well CJ....hang on :)

It was laying the boat over on it's side "tied to a dock" from about noon yesterday until about midnight. The gusts exceeded 45 knots.

Glad I wasn't caught out!!

In Powell River now.....easy ride today.

Hard to believe how crazy it was yesterday.....

32adios · November 13, 2015, 07:05:18 PM

If you continue this subliminal persuasion I fear that I will go ahead and enter my contiplated retirement, buy a boat,and live the life! If the "Warden" is lucky she can join me! Is 63 too old?

Frank · November 13, 2015, 10:09:30 PM

Heck NO!!!!!!!!

Perfect age!!!

Most cruisers ya meet are 60's

CJ was cruising Bahamas in his 70's!!

GITTERDUN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Frank · November 14, 2015, 10:57:05 PM

I'm as ready as I will be.
Provisions on, oil/filter changed, water tank filled and extra fuel.
My last visitor left at 9am today and now I finally have time to head up north...way north.
Funny.....I find myself slightly apprehensive about this. I've gone to the Broughton's and Queen Charlotte Sound once before, but it was on an 18,000lb boat carrying 200 gallons of fuel and 100 gallons of water. That boat cruised easily at twice the speed of my 23, could speed up to make "slack" at the rapids and only had a "gallon per hour" burn pulled back to 6.5 knots. With 200 gallons aboard, range or running the heater wasn't an issue.
Once I leave Heriot Bay N, it becomes extremely isolated...you truly are "on your own". Both Eco Bay marina and Kwatsi Bay marinas no longer have fuel or provisions....if anyone will even be there. Lagoon Cove "may" have fuel, but the owner died a few years ago and his wife doesn't stay over winter. Port McNeil....further up the coast is a good fuel/provision stop but the fuel to get there and back from where I want to cruise is a good burn in of itself.
The 23 cruises nicely at an average of 4.5 knots. The fuel tank is only 7 gallons! While I can increase RPM to make 5.5 knots....fuel burn goes up dramatically, negatively effecting both range and the ability to have heat. I am carrying 2 extra 2 gallon cans and one 4 gallon. Any more than that, weight becomes an issue. It will be interesting....
Captain Vancouver, after rounding the Horn to get here in search of the "north west passage" called Johnstone Straight and the areas tidal rapids "the most vile body of water in the world"
One of my cruising guides warns that of the entire "inside passage" from WA to Alaska, this stretch is the most difficult, requiring the most advanced seamanship.
I will have to time 6 different tidal rapids both up and back. There will be 2 narrow passages with "range markers". Throw in cold temperatures, freezing nights, lack of fuel stops or provisioning , a slow boat and truly being "on your own" with literally no other boat traffic and I guess my "butterfly's" are justified.
The good news is I hope to return to the untouched beauty of Bond Sound with the unreal Eagle, Seal and bird population. I hope to go up Knight Inlet to Glendale Cove to watch the Grizzly Bears....passing the resident Dolphins on the way. A 2 day stop at Joe Cove to relax and fish on Eden Island is also in the plan, as is crossing Back Fish Sound (old local name for Orca's) with the many Sea Lions and Humpback whales (too late in season for Orcas...but I'm hoping) I also hope to stop at Echo Bay to see Bill Proctor.....an area environmentalist legend.
I met him as he turned 80 while I was there last year and I truly hope he is still alive and well. An "old school" fisherman, he has gained the respect of a multitude of biologists with his "self taught-hands on" knowledge of everything in nature. A simple, understated very wise old salt....google him if you're bored. He lives a quiet life in the Broughtons that have always been his home.
Yep....I have butterfly's tonight....probably a combination of excitement and a grain (or 2) of apprehension.
As plans go.....I'll be heading straight into a NW 25-35knot sea to start. Fun eh :-)

Tonight and Sunday
Gale warning in effect.
Wind northwest 5 to 15 knots increasing to northwest 15 to 20 early this evening and to northwest 20 to 25 after midnight. Wind increasing to northwest 25 to 35 late Sunday morning.

CharlieJ · November 15, 2015, 12:02:36 AM

Understand totally- single hand can be troubling.. Hope every thing works well for you .

Frank · November 15, 2015, 08:28:13 PM

Made it....
the saying goes:
The difference between adventure and ordeal is attitude"

After 7+ hrs in a washing machine, I'm having my 1st stiff rum to adjust my "attitude"

Long story short...it is amazing what a small boat can do..

Norman...I burn about 1,1 liters/hour throttled back to 4.5 knots.
So....with a total of about 56 liters....200 miles +/-
I hope to sail when I can, motorsail if possible in light winds (throttle back more) AND...most importantly, play the tides.
And, yes its a twin, no...the oil filter isn't the biggest grief...the impeller is!!
The oil filter has to be off to even get at it. Don't want to cross threads...I'll post a pic undet Beta/Westerbeke later

CharlieJ · November 16, 2015, 12:27:40 AM

Quote from: Frank on November 15, 2015, 08:28:13 PM
Made it....
the saying goes:
The difference between adventure and ordeal is attitude"

;D ;D Been using that for YEARS. Originally saw the quote by Bob Bitchin of the original Lats and Atts long ago, but so very true

Frank · November 17, 2015, 06:38:49 PM

The northern adventure begins....

Left early this morning in fog

Still pretty out there to my eyes..

The sun tried a few times

Heh...at least the Gales are over :D

Frank · November 17, 2015, 06:43:42 PM

With logging such a main industry, there is always lots of floating logs and big branchs. Seems the further N ya get...the more they are.
Gets tricky in a chop as you always have to be on the lookout.
Makes running after dark unsafe

Pics are a small example of today...literally 100's

News:

23ft in the PNW