Saturday, June 17, 2017

The Calm Before the Storm -- Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Marine WX forecast checked, engine oil checked, strainer checked, coolant checked, and we cast off the lines tying Willie's Tug to Shilshole Bay Marina dock at 6:47A, then Herb cruises at 4 knots to exit the marina.

It is partly sunny, with low lying clouds along the shore, and winds light, so there is no need for me to wear my usual warm hat, vest, and sweater.  Have I acclimated to the PNW temperatures?

The lovely Olympic Mountain range on our port side presents a beautiful picture with the snow drifts not yet melted this Spring.  Adding to the pleasant feeling of the morning is learning that the Strait of Juan de Fuca will be quite calm as we cruise through, and at the speed we will travel, our ETA at Cap Sante in Anacortes will be 5P.  Just in time for Happy Hour!













Skipper calls Traffic and gives our intention to stay east of the traffic lanes, and we get a report of the log tow, Swinomish, coming south.  Washington State Ferry Walla Walla is eastbound to Edmunds, and the Puyallup is westbound to Kingston.  












Seas are one foot or less, and a very nice day for a cruise.   Herb sees on AIS a cargo ship, Brighton, which is 392 meters long, and a draft of 32.5 feet -- big enough to give us a big wake -- and she does.  I am glad nothing in Willie's Tug falls out of place, nothing breaks.  We do adjust course a bit to cross the large vessel's wake.
  















Just south of Point No Point I get a photo of the Victoria Clipper.












I am still amazed at how well the seas are behaving.  It is almost flat calm as we approach Bush Point, and Herb does some calculations to determine the best speed relative to the flow of the current.   Taking advantage of the push we are getting gives us a speed of 17.5 knots now, and means we will have less current on the nose farther up north.

Continuously listening to Channel 16, we hear of gale warnings at the west entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but today we are only concerned about the east entrance where we cross it.

Rounding the corner into Guemes Channel, we see no ferries at the Anacortes Ferry Dock, and traffic is very light in the channel.  We arrive at 11:50A to a side tie at the reciprocal dock of Anacortes Yacht Club.  The rules allow us to stay a maximum of two nights, moorage is free to members of other yacht clubs, and the only cost is a charge for electricity at the dock.


Flower photo of the day.





















A picnic area on the north side of the marina, showing the motor home dry camping area in the background.


 

















Next to do is Find Willie's BMW....


















Tym joins us for Happy Hour and reminds me that the big storm here a few years ago caused a boat in this slip to capsize.  WX will blow in tomorrow, and the storm clouds are already gathering.



















Find Willie's Tug in a precarious position....


Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Wednesday, June 14, 2017

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