08/16/2008 Left Newport, OR

Nice Sailing...But fog again as we left Newport in a windless sea. Motoring for four hours, we were delighted to settle into winds of 15-20 kt NW. Whales passed us in the distance and then one surprised us to breach before us five feet from the side of the boat. The camera of course would have caught the famous black dot of this once in a life-time closeness. A wonderful sail under a poled out jib in sun had us thinking "so this is what it's about".
Our tuna fishing line of 300 lb test went out, jerked and produced a spring salmon of 20 lb! No chance this fish would break the line. Our gourmet chef, Cam, prepared a wonderful barbequed salmon later that night. We settled into our night watches with winds of 10-15 kt and a lumpy sea. The next day gave us fog again and winds of 10-15 NW. Our speed was good and we were definitely bundled up in our full floater suits (Our dress attire for every day). We settled into our first night out from Newport.

Our second night out from Newport brought fog and slowly growing winds as we prepared to round Cape Mendocino from 10 miles out. The forecast was for 5-10Kt NW. However, we headed 30 miles out as winds were obviously building. Sail was reduced to the smallest the headsail has ever been (one third) as we faced high and confused seas. The Monitor windvane worked hard as our eyes got bigger and bigger and so did the seas! The true wind was 40 kt. and lasted for about 6 hr. We were safe but how could this have happened? Aren't we novices to be gently lulled into downwind sailing! Or is it because we are novices, it did. Actually, we feel it was unforecast winds and that staying in close among undersea valleys and mountains would have been worse. We stood our watches; however, still felt tired and decided to rest at Fort Bragg, Noyo River, California. Nice sailing through the rest of the night and then eventually found no wind. Would the motor start? Of course not! Bleeding it etc.didn't work so we called the Coast Guard for a tow from two miles out. The tow was so disciplined and smooth that we did not feel we were under tow. Identified the motor problem later as a fuel blockage from junk in the tank (which had been polished!) and its now fixed. Tied up safely now at midnight, we sure had a good sleep.

08/10/2008 Newport, OR

A beginning light sail from Westport, Grays Harbour in our familiar gray was promising a forecast winds of 15kt NW for the day. But not for this day as the wind literally stopped. The trip became a motor for 24 hr in an almost flat sea. We gained ground but did not want this to be the way we would travel in the future. At least we were getting practice with our night watches! The bar at Newport, Yaquina entrance was almost flat and quite easy to cross. SW winds came in as did some light rain for two days and now the promise is for wind of NW 15-20 and more. Our little weather maps show wind and the VHF speaks of it also. So we will leave Monday morning after having had a good look at Newport.
Saturday was the weekly market with some of the freshest produce ever. The bread lady is also the attraction as the line-up for her lasted the whole day. Cam and Richard visited the Aquarium and spoke well of it. Tom and Pam rode the bus loop twice! They missed the first bus and had to do the long route. However, they got to know all the locals (and their problems) who routinely take this bus. Commercial tuna fishing and crabbing is a major group of industries here with steady tuna charters also active. .It is especially nice to meet the other people who are also “heading south”. Four boats are waiting for the change in wind and will leave at various times.
So now to wait for our winds.

08/03/2008 Port Angeles, WA

After crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca 3 times (long story!) to get here, our travelers arrived and ran the gauntlet of US Customs and Border folk to get permitted and cleared into the States.

They were met by CS friends, Don and Mary Ellen Spinar and Gary and Jan Kohler (Catalina 34) who arrived at the dock with a cooler of frozen meat and a case of wine for the journey.

After stowing the provisions we headed uptown to find lunch and the customs office and then visited the local Safeway for perishables. We then returned to the boat to sample the wine and inspect the boat and all it's new gadgets and gear.

Tom and Pam are accompanied on this leg of the trip by Tom's brother Richard and their friend Cam from Blue Water Cruising Club.

08/07/2008 Grays Harbor

Fog lifted in the Juan de Fuca so the sun could warm us up to10 C while we knew Vancouver was 30 C that day. We basked in 15 C as we passed Tatoosh Island and rounded Cape Flattery in about 12 kt of wind. We had left Port Angeles that morning, topped up with fuel and water at Neah Bay and decided to do our first overnight to Grays Harbour, Westport. The wind would be about 15 kt tonight and a good start for us to learn about watches. Strong current with us and we were extatic with our 6.5-7 kt speed in a well loaded boat. (Of course, its a CS). At night as the wet darkness arrived we watched the wind drop to under 10 and eventually our speed to 3.5 (now against current). However, we were committed to reach Grays Harbour and do the first bar. We found we could all sleep on our shifts and the roll of the boat was gentle as were the winds and seas. By morning, it was time for a drifter! What! We had prepped ourselves for crashing seas, spume blown into our faces and tying each other in the cockpit. Instead, we were given great practice and time to settle into the trip. Now onwards to Newport. Tom and Pam