Cruising Between San Juan and Stuart Islands

"The Star" and S/V Kocoa depart Lopez Island 26 July, cross the San Juan Channel to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island.  Summer appears to have finally arrived - it is still a little bit cooler than normal, but at least the sun is making a daily appearance.  The few days at Friday Harbor allow Jenny's Mom to fill prescriptions, and for all of us to do laundry and stock up on fresh food.  Making a run to the used bookstore is another "must do" activity at this port.

A few days later, anchored in Prevost Harbor, Stuart Island, the tiniest birthday cake is pulled out of S/V Kocoa's refer for Jenny's birthday.  We are barely able to fit candles on it, much less produce 4 slices of cake for the celebration!  At sunset, a bagpiper appears on the deck of the nearby anchored S/V Spike Africa to serenade the harbor as the full moon rises above the tree line.  A perfect end to the day.

At the state marine park dock - Reid Harbor, Stuart Island

Throughout the remainder of our stay in the San Juans during August, we cruise between Garrison Bay/Roche Harbor on San Juan Island, and Prevost/Reid Harbor on Stuart Island.  The enjoyment of watching eagles and Canadian geese in flight, deer at the edge of the woods, and the curious harbor seals with their pups compliments each day.

The fancy outhouse at Turn Point Lighthouse, Stuart Island

Heading east back to La Conner - Mount Baker from the San Juan Islands

The San Juan summer has also been usually windy this year.  Great for the sailors.  The day we head back to La Conner is the quintessential San Juan summer day - no wind, glassy water, and warm.  Secondly, we hit the currents just right (meaning they are moving the same way we are heading), and are tied up in our slip at La Conner by eary afternoon!  We headed back a week early in order do a winery tour in Eastern Washington with Jenny's brother and sister-in-law.  Ah, the sacrifices one makes in life...

Jenny and Bobby on the way to wine country - Roslyn was where Northern Exposure was filmed

Replica of Stonehenge on the Columbia River

After preparing the boat for the winter, it is back to Hawaii,  Until next season - Aloha!

Garrison Bay, San Juan Island to Fisherman Bay, Lopez island

For the five days anchored in Garrison Bay (San Juan Island), we managed to receive a day and a half of sunshine. Jenny continues paddling the double seater Klepper kayak in the morning or evening when the wind is calm or calmer, as long as it is not raining. She is staying in shape to paddle with the North Shore Canoe Club in Hawaii for the long distance racing season in September. At our age, it becomes increasing difficult have enough paddlers qualified to crew a race.

Running is the onshore activity Jenny maintains as often as possible. There is a trail from Garrison Bay to Roche Harbor (4 miles one-way), and trails within English Camp State Park by the bay to hike or run. This visit, Jenny headed south on the roadway from the state park. Besides the run, she checked out the Alpaca Farm's store (lovely woven clothing, some even imported from Peru), and the States Inn Farm's store of local eggs and produce.

July 20th, we depart Garrison Bay for a 2 1/2 hour run to Parks Bay (west side of Shaw Island and across the San Juan Channel from Friday Harbor on the east side of San Juan Island ). Once again we buddy anchor with S/V Kocoa for the night. Jenny's evening paddle involves the local wildlife of herons, kingfishers, and harbor seals. The S/V Adventuress (old multi-masted wooden trading ship) also sails into the bay with a sailing camp crew of high school students dousing sails and tying them up onto the booms.

The next day (Thursday, 21 July), both vessels make the hour run to Fisherman Bay, Lopez Island. Thankfully, we are in the bay, refueled, and tied up at the marina before the wind really picks up. Here we get a better internet reception than at our homeport, so it is time to catch up on email, downloading photos, and this blog.

Saturday the family is doing a triple birthday party (Aunt Heidi's 82d, Jenny's 54th, and Rebecca's 21st) at Kristi and Roger's beach house. Brad and Darla ride the BMW up and get a morning ferry. They will overnight on "The Star". The Saturday Lopez routine is the Farmer's Market, grocery shopping in the village, putting out crab pots, cleaning crabs, and eating a big family meal together. We are in luck - lots of crabs are caught, and the sun maintains an appearance for the entire weekend.

At the Islander Resort and Marina Restaurant Sunday evening, Jenny and Bobby enjoy a dinner and Abbey Road Band concert (a Beatles band). Great end to a lovely weekend. Today (Monday, 25 July) is overcast, windy, and rainy.

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Finally On Our Way to Garrison Bay

It is overcast today, but not raining. By 0945, slack water is present in the Swinomish Channel, meaning it is time to cast off and head out. The currents in the channel can run up to three knots, and sometimes there is no slack - the current just changes directions.
With a full keel (weighted bottom that counteracts the sails and rigging above, and runs almost the entire length of the boat at the waterline) and one small prop, we do not have much power backing up, nor are we able to counteract a current hitting us from either side. Even with a barely perceptible current, Bobby backs "The Star" out of the slip as Jenny counteracts the current shoving the stern (rear of the boat) by applying the boat hook (metal pole) against something on the opposite side. Some boats, usually powerboats, have a bow thruster which provides this function with a push of a button. Bobby yells a bit after Jenny is already responding to the situation. Works just as well.

When we come into a slip/dock to tie-up, Jenny lays out the stern (rear) and bow (front) lines outside the rigging along the toerail (outside line of the deck) ending at the center of the boat next to the spring line. This way, she can hop off with the spring line and tie up "The Star" at the middle, then pick up the stern line and walk it back to the rear of the boat to tie off, and lastly get the bow line as she walks/runs forward. How quickly this is carried out depends on wind conditions and current. This is after laying out the fenders on whatever side we will tie up to the dock or possibly switching fenders and lines to the other side due to conditions as we approach the marina in whatever weather. Meanwhile, Bobby remains ensconced in the enclosure sitting at the wheel. This could be the major reason men like "boating"!

Today (Friday, 15 July), "The Star" heads north out of the Swinomish Channel, turns east into the Guemes Channel to pass Anacortes, crosses the Rosario Strait, and enters the San Juan Islands through Thatcher Pass. We round the north end of Lopez Island, and run the southern side of Shaw Island to head north up the San Juan Channel. At the north end of San Juan Island, we again head east into the Spieden Channel. Entering into Roche Harbor, our heading continues south into Mosquito Pass and onto Garrison Bay. A easy six-hour run.

Here, the S/V Kocoa (Jenny's parents' boat) is anchored. We slip alongside and tie-up together.

Anchoring is easier than tying up to a dock. After figuring out the water depth at high tide (and that you will have enough water underneath during low tide), adding in the height of the deck off the water, the anchor is dropped with enough chain to allow a scope of 3:1 feet in normal conditions. Windy conditions can increase the scope to 5:1 or even 10:1 in a gale/hurricane. After a fair amount of the chain is let out, back down on the anchor (engine in reverse) and ensure it bites into the bottom, then let out the remainder of the calculated amount of scope. Prudent sailors will use the GPS to confirm the anchor is set and remain aboard for an hour or so to ensure the boat is not drifting (a condition that may also arise upon change of current direction or increase of wind conditions). Upon departure, bring up the scope, keeping the boat fairly lined up on the chain, while idling forward enough to provide slack on the chain. 

Tonight is a full moon. Bobby spends the part of the night watching the full moon between the clouds. The clouds' reflection in the water makes it seem as if "Wanderin' Star" is floating in the sky.

Another Chilly Summer Cruising the San Juan Islands

The San Juan Islands - where we are headed

If Bobby thought last summer was the coldest he ever lived through - the weather this summer is in fierce competition. The temperatures are colder than normal (again), in addition to rainy days after the 4th of July (virtually unheard of in the Pacific Northwest). Unbelievable, as the remainder of mainland U.S. is broiling! Our original plan entailed sailing up the coast of British Columbia, Canada, but the weather forced rethinking. So, we will sail the San Juan Islands again this summer.

S/V Wanderin' Star requires little cleaning inside and out to be presentable after a winter of hanging at the dock. We found the engine room fire extinguisher out of date and unable to be serviced easily (too old), so off we head to the nearest West Marine store in Anacortes. Of course, the smaller size extinguisher we need to fit into the engine room's rack requires ordering and is not able to be delivered for 10 days. At least the emergency flares are in stock, as ours are due to expire the end of July. 

S/V Kocoa and Nigeria Marine Police - Did someone make a wrong turn?!

Jenny's parents spent two days sailing up to the La Conner marina, after July 4th, to spend a few days with us before they head into the San Juan Islands. We will follow once we have the fire extinguisher and the rain quits. Not only does Bobby detest the cold, he is a fair weather sailor.  

Bobby does the crabbing and Jenny paddles the kayak

Lopez Island and Saddlebag Island

Sunset at Saddlebag Island.

Another Dungeness Crab dinner in the cockpit.
Underway again - staying warm inside the cockpit enclosure.

Bobby and Paden heading out to check the crab pot.
Bobby cleaning crabs.

Wednesday, 11 August, we return to Lopez Island for Jenny's Aunt's birthday. This time we dock at Island Marine Center in Fisherman's Bay. Jenny's nephew, Paden, ferries over on his motorcycle to visit and overnight. We also find pirate vessels arriving on the 12th - turns out the Lattitudes and Attitudes (cruising magazine) Pacific Northwest cruise is overnighting here also. The three of us head up to the bar to find it is the same place the Latts and Atts pirate crowd is hanging out at this evening, including magazine owner, Bob Bitchin' and his wife. All of us enjoyed watching an older couple cutting the rug together.

By Friday, the cousins and aunt arrived for her 81st birthday. Jenny's middle cousin and husband, owners of the beach house on the bay, are unable to come as Kristi is having surgery on a broken ankle. The rest of us pull off a festive weekend.

Time is approaching for Bobby to return to La Conner for medical appointments. On our way back, we spend a day at Saddlebag Island across from Anacortes and the entrance to the Swinomish Channel.

Still in La Conner

In the Pacific Northwest it has been a "Bummer Summer". Temperatures were 5-10 degrees below normal. June was rainier than usual, and we even had some rain in August. Now, when we expect a warm, dry September - it is the wettest on record!

We canceled plans to head back to the San Juan Islands this month due to the weather. And we are preparing the boat for a winter layover. We will fly to our home in Hawaii 3 October and return to "The Star" late spring or early summer in 2011.

La Conner to Hope Island and Back

On the way to Hope Island.

Rainbow Bridge at the south end of La Conner.

La Conner from the Swinomish Channel.

Taking the tidal current south, we depart the La Conner marina to head to nearby Hope Island for five days. The weather is cool, but okay, so we decide not to head out too far, plus Bobby has another medical appointment in a week.

Only a few boats are at Hope Island when we arrive, so we pick up a mooring ball and enjoy the quiet. The hike around the island is not well marked in spots and can turn into somewhat of an adventure if you do not pay attention. We did a lot of reading cuddled up in fleece. On Sunday, we catch the tidal current and head back to La Conner marina.