Traveling North to Port Townsend, WA.

The weather window finally opened wide enough to fit the boat through and make it up to Port Townsend, Washington.  There were a few other times that the weather was good, but I was unable to find fellow boaters to help with the trip.  Then the combination of the right weather and Susan having time off, we decided to make the move.  So on March 24th, after Susan worked all day, we left the dock in Charleston, OR.  Our plan was to travel up the coast to Neah Bay, WA and take a rest.  The winds blew from the port/stern at all times, around 20 knots.  I had not planned to sail as the genoa was not on the boat, but had rigged the storm sail to help steady the boat so it would not roll so much.  It may have helped but we were still rolling 30 degrees to port and then 30 degrees to starboard.  This makes for a very uncomfortable ride, having to hold on and brace yourself at all times.  We would trade watches every 3 hours, so Susan would be on for 3 hours and then I would be on for 3 hours.  After about 36 hours the winds slowed and the water calmed to make for a much nicer ride.  46 hours after leaving Charleston we arrived in Neah Bay.  The anchor was dropped, showers were taken, a small dinner, then bed time!!

To catch the best tides to get to our next stop (Port Angeles) we needed to leave by 8:00 am.  Up with the anchor.  The wash down for the anchor did not work (which we later figured out that a through hull was closed) so the anchor and chain had to be washed when we got to port.  The trip was uneventful with smooth waters, no wind, and plenty of sunshine.  It is an 8 hour trip, saw some big ships coming down through the Strait of Juan De Fuca.  I stay out of the shipping lanes, just skirting the edges.  Port Angeles is a nice place for a stop over.  The dock is a side tie, wide, concrete, with water, electricity and a locked gate.  There is not much for shopping or restaurants close by so we just stayed on the boat and relaxed after cleaning the boat and anchor.

The next morning we left for Port Townsend at 7 am.  There was a west wind blowing but it did not seem to bad.  It would be a 5 hour trip with the wind at our stern.  Well, the wind kept increasing up to 20-25 knots.  The wind waves that developed reminded me of the ocean on our way up the coast.  Start bracing again.  4 hours later the wind did calm down, and as we entered the marina to dock the wind was down to 8-10 knots.  The plan was to back into the slip so we could remove the Monitor windvave off the back of the boat by standing on the dock, but with the wind I was not sure it would be smart to try.  So, Susan had to prepare the boat on both sides for a possible port or starboard tie up.  As we got close to the slip the wind cooperated and I was able to back in, and Susan tied us up.

We had made it in one piece, no breakdowns, no casualties (Susan did have one nasty bruise on her arm).  Over all the weather was ok.   Going up the coast can be difficult with the prevailing winds coming from the north.  To try to get up the coast with a south wind, in seas that are not dangerous, i.e.  storm conditions, it has to be a perfect window.  We picked a good time to go, it could have been better and it could have been much worse.  The Pacific Northwest can be a very dangerous stretch of ocean.

Summer Place will have some work done while in Port Townsend, then this summer Susan and I plan to go up the inside passage again, and if time permits up into Alaska.

Ouch!!