Thursday, January 9, 2014

Sunday, 29December2013: Cowichan Bay to Friday Harbor

Weather:  Overcast and cold.  Winds:  Calm building to SE 10.  Waves:  1-2ft.

Breakfast was a loaf of still warm rustic bread from True Grain.  Spread the amas dockside and had an uneventful departure around 1000.  Motored out Cowichan Bay and through Satellite Channel.  SE winds picked after passing Piers Island.  Sailed 7-8kts under full main and genoa.  Initial E tack brought us to the north side of Celia Reefs buoy and the south end of Portland Island.  Tacked S to vicinity of Coal Island.  Tacked E past the north side of Imrie Islands to the SW corner of Moresby Island.  Tack S and once clear of Moresby, tacked E making 7.5kts across the Haro directly to Turn Point Light.

The tide and currents had changed at this point and with the SE winds and knowing it would be a motor, we chose the north side of Stewart Island route, avoiding the unfavorable currents on the south route.  Once in the lee, fired up the engine and Kelly called out, "What's that noise coming from the engine compartment?"  Fan belt was slipping, and squealing.  Secured the engine and we drifted for the 10min required to tighten it.  Once repaired and fired up, motored along the north shore of Stewart and checked out Prevost Harbor.  Midway along Johns Island, SE wind picked up and were once again under full main and genoa making 7.5kts.  East tack took us to a point a couple miles NNW of Flattop Island.  S tack to vicinity of Green Point, SE corner of Spieden Island.  At this point, it was 1400 and I was tired.  Fired up the engine and we motored into the wind the rest of the way to Friday Harbor securing the sails enroute.

Winds in Friday Harbor were calm and I decided to leave the amas out and backed into slip G15 - got to practice when able!  Several people showed up to assist and took lines.  I asked them not to do anything so I could bring Strider in.  After, one man stated he had both bow and stern thrusters and could not have done better!  Felt good to bring Strider in that way.  Neighboring boat started talking to Kelly, "I think you were here the last time we were.  Don't you have a couple of dogs?"

Not wanting to cook, had wonderful German comfort food (pork schnitzel, mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy and roasted veggies along with a Fish Tail Mudshark Porter) at the Rumor Mill.  Did not stay for the live entertainment though the duo sounded nice in warm up.

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