First overnight shake down cruise

[rainger]

So I decided to take C-Hawk on her first overnighter to Friday Harbor. Now my old sail boat use to take me 3.5 hours on average to get there using the currents.

So I set out Friday morning from "cattle point" in Victoria, (yes Virginia there are two cattle points) and placed my crab trap and took her up to 4400 rpm ( my cruising speed) and with current was running between 14.5 and 16 knots over ground. I was going over on a flood.

After getting past Beaumont Shoals the waves were now up to about 3 to 5 feet from the south west and wind was about 15k and I was taking a few teeth jarring slams. So I backed her down to about 10 knots and bore off from my waypoint heading to port to get to the Island shore quicker to get flatter water.

As the sea flattened I was able to increase speed again and get around "cattle point" (the San Juan Island one).

While coming north up the San Juan Channel what did I lay my eyes on to port but a C Dory heading the other way. After a honk and a quick detour I was able to say hi to Soulmate and about 100 people on board.

After resuming my challenge, I made it to the RVYC dock (In Friday Harbor) in 1 hour and 30 minutes from departure, did I mention that it use to take me 3 hours and 30 minutes on a good day. (oh yea I did )

After spending my first night on my new boat I headed out Sat morning for the trip home, fueled up and off to the races.

So I left Friday Harbor at 9:20am and decided to go the long way home, North through Spieden Channel, Roche harbor, Mosquito Pass and down Haro Straight.

The seas were just a ripple with gorgeous sun and I was able to keep the throttle on cruising speed, all the way home. Even with an adverse current in Haro Straight I was still able to make it back to my crab pot in, guess what? Yea you got it, 1 hour and 30 minutes. Did I mention that taking this route on my Sailboat was a 4 hour motor. No I did not, but it was.

So after an afternoon of fishing in the gap around Discovery Island on Saturday and my trip back and a couple of crabs in the trap I would say that my first over nighter was a smashing success.

Looking forward to meeting a bunch of BRATS in Victoria in a couple of weeks.

[JamesTXSD]

That first overnight sets the tone - sounds like yours was outstanding!

Congrats on a successful shakedown.

Jim B.