Weather: Sunny and warm, becoming overcast with showers. Winds: S @5kts. Waves: <1ft.
Pretty day after a pleasant night, but time to move on. Freestyle wanted to go to Gorge Harbour as they were dropping one of the 13yr olds there on Saturday to fly back home.
Departed around 1000 and beat at 6kts initially with the genoa only. Exchanged it for the screacher as winds quieted, maintaining 5+kts to the sound end of Cortes Island. Motored from there.
The reef between Sutil Point and the Q20 buoy was clearly visible. Though rounding the buoy to the west is recommended, there was the boat equivalent to a traffic jam there. So, we cut the corner to the east with no difficulty.
Two bald eagles greeted us from the Guide Islets outside Gorge. Looked for the petroglyphs on the narrow entrance into Gorge, but did not find them. Once inside, we expected to anchor out because Freestyle wanted a dock. Was motoring around looking for a place, while enjoying the variety of unusual boats anchored, when Freestyle left the fuel dock and headed our way. No room at the inn. So, we waited as Freestyle found a high spot on the west side and dropped the hook. Just in time for the rain, we rafted around 1500.
Two groups made dinghy excursions, the ladies ashore for some retail therapy and the gentlemen on a cocktail cruise to take a closer look at the anchored vessels. There was a Catana 50 sporting a German flag causing some major boat envy on my part....
The rest of the night started damp, but quiet. Around 0200, winds picked up and gusted causing a restless couple hours as I was constantly checking our position as we swung, hanging far out on Freestyle's big anchor. We did not drag, but there was a game plan in place involving our anchor, dinghy, braving the teeth of the storm and getting very wet. No need however and the winds died back down around 0400 and restful sleep returned!
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