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PamC
Navigator

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171 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/12/2005 : 13:03:33

Okay, we've just completed our first season of sailing on beautiful Howard Prairie Lake in So. Oregon. We've practiced every weekend since Memorial Day - sailing, anchoring, reefing, rafting up, docking. We've put in hours of study on navigation. We've disassembled and reassembled the shifting and fuel systems of our Yamaha 4 stroke 9.9 We've experimented with iceboxes & coolers. We've cooked with the propane grill, butane burner and perfected our technique with the infamous curtain burner. And I've become a pretty good little dinghy captain. This weekend we hauled "My Prozac" to prep her for a two week adventure in the San Juan Islands. Besides being our first big sailing adventure, it will be the first 2 weeks we've vacationed together in 21 years of marriage. We are VERY excited.

Which means I'm sure I'm overlooking something

I have tremendous respect for the advice I've gotten from this forum. Any tidbits you'd like to share as we head out?

Pam
S/V "My Prozac"
1980 C25 SR/SK #1718

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2005 : 13:23:59

Read Jim Baumgart's trip report of his 4 week trip off the California coast.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2005 : 14:40:12

If you go into Victoria Harbour, you may want to check out the Coast Harbour Hotel. For $25 CDN per night ($1 per ft) you can moor with water and power hookup, and get full use of the Hotel's very nice spa, pool and showers. They also have shuttle buses that will drive you anywhere in Victoria at no additional charge. You will be treated like a regular hotel guest.

You can make reservations by calling Gail Windle at 1-800-716-6199. Gail is the very nice lady that handles moorage reservations.

Let me know if you need any more info about Victoria and Vancouver Island in general.

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2005 : 15:02:59

PamC
Tidbits.....Load and unload boat at high tide, bring canvas for shade.
<b>I just remembered...
The whales run daily on the <font color="red">West side </font id="red">of San Jaun Island.

You can sail a little bit into Canadian waters but just don't step ashore. The border patrol is always along the border islands hidden in small coves. The Canadians are nice but be very humble with the US.

If you have an motor the currents are not that bad ,leave anytime you want, you will either get where you are going twice as fast or twice as slow.</b>

I been up in that area for a month at a time for the last 3 years and any place you go to will be nice.

Have a swell time.
paulj C250wk #719

Edited by - johnsonp on 09/15/2005 19:09:23

GeorgeB
1st Mate

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90 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2005 : 17:19:07

Make sure you have current tide tables for the area and are familiar with their use. Fair winds.

Edited by - on

mashedcat
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2005 : 00:24:38

pam. we did three weeks in san juans and gulf islands in july. 'waggoner cruising guide','evergreen pacific atlas to the san juans' and the corresponding chart for the whole of the san juans, and finally, 'current atlas/atlas des courants juan de fuca strait to strait of georgia' (and the 2005 washburnes tables that goes with it) are the charts and tables you need. washburnes tables are really valuable to help you plan. the tidal currents there can really move so you need to be aware. also there is a book called 'gunkholing in the san juans' that is a very good guide to have with you. great time to go. you should have a beautiful trip. i envy you. ill be putting buttercup in at howard prarie for the remainder of sep and all of oct to take your place. have a great trip

Edited by - on

mashedcat
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2005 : 00:26:38

ps. if you are putting in at anacortes, all of the books and guides i mentioned are available at west marine a block away from cap sante.

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PamC
Navigator

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171 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2005 : 12:56:54

Thanks all! I've read Jim B's log a few times and it's been a help. Especially for an inexperienced anchorer. It was reassuring to know we should be covered with a 16.5lb Bruce and 13lb Danforth. We're also taking a 200' stern tie.
We will be staying in the US for this trip. But we've been informed that we won't be content with that after the first trip. So I guess we'll have to get passports for next year's trip.
Dave - Thanks a ton! I was wanting the current almanac & Washburn tables & wondering if they were an easy find up there. You answered that one, one less stress point! Is the Evergreen Pacific Atlas the wire bound chart book? Our sailing mentors, who will be accompanying us with their boat, Sacred Space, gave us a current Waggoner Guide. Sorry we didn't get to meet at the lake this summer, although I think we did chat with you in front of the store one afternoon. You should have a beautiful couple of months up there. It's a special little lake.

Edited by - on

mashedcat
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2005 : 16:24:02

pam, thats the evergreen youre looking for. all the folks at west and harbormasters and cap sante are very helpful. sounds like youre fixed for anchoring, just remember to account for the tides when you do it. also we found that an anchor for the dink is handy. good trip

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2005 : 16:42:57

What to take...
remember all the places that can itch and take the stuff you will wish you had.

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2005 : 17:59:43

If you launch at Cape Sante they use slings only and the free ramp on the west side of the island a little dicey at low tide, pay the sling fee.
paulj

Edited by - on

ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2005 : 22:29:05

"... it will be the first 2 weeks we've vacationed together in 21 years of marriage."

Next week I'm going to Europe to celebrate 25 yr.s of marraige (and yes, she's coming with me.

I would suggest that since you will be in very close quarters for a relatively long time (relative to the size of the space), be extra patient, courteous and forgiving with each other.
Find things to praise each other for.
Take some good rum. I like Mount Gay.
A shot of it is even quite nice in coffee.

Edited by - on

ngrinich
1st Mate

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28 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2005 : 00:28:24

Another very popular spot that should not be too busy now that it's after Labor Day is Roche Harbor. Besides the nice store, laundry and shower facilities, you have access to the outdoor pool and tennis courts with your moorage fee.There are some great walking trails and country roads nearby to allow you to stretch your sea-legs. With a good GPS chartplotter you might be tempted to venture out in the fog, but don't do it. The large ships that transit the Straits move very fast. Bring your crab trap and enjoy!

Edited by - on

bbriner
Captain

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349 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2005 : 13:20:08

Pam
Sounds like an awesome trip. Please tell us how it goes!!

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2005 : 05:39:52

Take a camera, use it often, keep a log, then share it

Oh, reduce the gabage you take onboard (remove wrappings etc) and take some big black garbage bags! We keep some in the stbd cockpit locker. All garbage goes there (in the bags), out of sight, out of mind, and easy to dump at ports-o-call.

Edited by - britinusa on 09/15/2005 05:42:13

frants
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2005 : 23:18:50

sounds like a great trip. perhaps we will see you in lake chelan?
frants

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2005 : 11:56:48

Pam: DANG! I am sure this is too late for you, but just in case: have done this trip most summers since 1978, trailering from the Portland area to Cap Sante mostly, where I use the slings. Contrary to what others have said, I would suggest seeing the marine parks this time of year and not feeling like you need a "marina" every night. Should be lots of room. I personally HATE Roche Harbor, but that is just because the rich folks like to hang out there and Buffy and Muffy bug me a bit. I go for solitude most times, and only see "civilization" for a shower, gas and supplies. I highly recommend one of my favorites: Rolfe Cove on Matia Island. Gorgeous...if not super windy from the West.

Besides fog, the biggest concern for the "newbie" , IMHO, is being VERY careful to read charts carefully and avoid the many reefs and rocks that can ruin a trip! Also, get very familiar with TIDE books and current charts. The tide can run 6+ knots on a big ebb at times. If you can plan to go WITH the currents instead of against, you are time and money ahead.

You will likely do much more motoring than you thought, so take capacity for fuel. Even with my Yammy 9.9. I take 12 gallons. Never needed ALL of it, but you could easily get all around up there for quite awhile on that.

Call me at 360 687 2048 if you want to "chat", but my hours are terrible right now....often not home until 10 PM or so....never in the rack before midnight. Or email me if you have questions. I would love to help if I can.

Gary B.
Fleet 94 Captain
s/v Encore! #685

Check out the photos on our Fleet 94 website. The San Juans link will take you to a slide show of our fleet cruise in 2003 when 4 boats of us went. The cover shot is at Matia.

https://home.comcast.net/~fleet94/

Edited by - Gary B. on 09/28/2005 12:06:34

PamC
Navigator

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171 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2005 : 14:51:07

Hi all,

I am currently sitting in Penguin Coffee in Anacortes, WA, waiting for the 15 kt winds (gusts to 35kt) to quit so we can drop our mast and lift the boat so we can head back home. The trip has been far better than we imagined. The sun shined everyday until today. We had some great sails especially on the day we left Anacortes. Spent half our time on the hook in some of the most beautiful places we've seen. And as we motored back on our last day on the water we had a pod of about 15 orcas pass RIGHT in front of our bow. A great finale to the show of wildlife we've had, dolphins, sea lions, seals, bald eagles. So any hopes the 'normal' people in our lives had that this was just a 'phase' we were going through are now dashed against the rocks on the shore of real life. We spent yesterday checking out the marina at Bellingham and Catalina 36's. I'll post some pictures when I get back home. Right now I have to go check out some more boats...

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2005 : 21:36:46

Don't give up on your C25 just yet... trailer that puppy down to the Sea of Cortez.

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2005 : 22:10:11

Congrats Pam on a "great adventure"!
I would love to cruise the San Juans but we are a wee bit too far away...

We do, however, have a 46' catamaran chartered in Belize for June next year

Derek

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