09/29 - 10/01 - Stuart Island, San Juan Islands WA

Da Nag · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 8:33 pm Post subject:

Weather permitting, I'll be there in the 16. Somebody has to represent the little fellers now that Catman got all uppity with his 23.

Just installed some fancy new electronics in Taco. Does everyone attending have their MMSI current in their profiles?

localboy · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 1:07 pm Post subject:

I think I'm still going to launch at Squalicom. 9 miles longer but more protected and scenic. I'll just head towards Friday Harbor and cut up thru the Wasp/Yellow Islands.

I'll be up there on Friday mid-morning and returning on Sunday. Anybody wanna play follow the leader, I'm up for it.

hardee · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 1:49 pm Post subject:

The weather looks like it should be nice. Have a great time and sure wish I could join, but not working this time.

BTW, for anyone traveling on Whidbey Island, there is a huge motorcycle rally of some sort called the Oyster Run on Sunday but there will be tons of MC traffic on the island Sat and Sun. One of the ferry staff - PT to Keystone -- told me they will have between 100 and 150 bikes on some of the trips. Keep an eye out. (Looks like I get to miss that one too.)

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

starcrafttom · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 1:50 pm Post subject:

Mark, we should be headed out about the same time frame. As much as I dont like bellingham late September is not a good time weather wise to use Blaine. it much open water if the wind comes up.

smckean (Tosca) · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 2:36 pm Post subject:

MikeR · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 2:42 pm Post subject:

Pat Anderson · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 9:35 pm Post subject:

Mike, the Strait of Georgia is a pussy cat compared to the Strait of Juan de Fuca! We live in Birch Bay now full time, and it was our vacation home since 1989. Every time we went out, we had to go into the Strait of Georgia. We would choose Blaine over Bellingham every time. Bellingham Bay is a frickin' washing machine! It is a straight shot out to Stuart from Blaine! Piece of cake! But I may be a little bit biased...

Catman · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 11:08 pm Post subject:

Da Nag, are you sure you want to make that big trip in such a small boat? I hear it can get pretty windy up there this time of year. I just worry that your lake-boat might take on water, or maybe flip. I hope this helps.

TyBoo · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 11:30 pm Post subject:

Brock, you should be more concerned about me and my river boat. I'm used to the puny little Columbia you know.

I wasn't too worried about the water out of Blaine until Tom chose B'ham to not have to worry about it. There have been one or two things Tom and I have disagreed on over the years but I do have a genuine respect for his knowledge and seamanship.

SeaSpray · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 3:01 am Post subject:

This year I am joining a friend who has chartered a 40ft sailboat out of San Juan Sailing in Bellingham from the 23rd to the 29th. It has been a lot of years since I sold my sailboat and am looking forward to the trip. I hope everyone has a great trip and I will be watching for C-Dorys on the water.

Steve

hardee · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 5:59 am Post subject:

Mike R, You are right, Oyster Run is the 24th, and the CBGT is the following weekend. My bad.

But, Always, a good idea to keep and eye out for the "bikes"

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 3:20 pm Post subject:

To be clear it all depends.. got that.

What I mean is that where you launch and retrieve all depends on the weather on that day and what you want from the trip. I will not pick a launch most trips until the day of the trip. I have an A plan and B plan.

So here is an example for this trip. I get up on friday and hear that the wind is 25 knots out of the s to se. Or ssw. These are the worst wind for bellingham . It give's the wind the longest reach and time to build. I would choice Blaine over bellingham on that day but I would choose anacortes over blaine. It provides the most cover and wind shade. If the wind was only 5 miles per hour then blaine for Stewart would be good.

Now if the wind was to change to north west or even west then bellingham or anacortes is the way to go. Any wind over 15mph from the any direction that has north in it makes Blaine a no go no matter where you are going as every where you are going is going to put the wind right on your beam with 50 miles of fetch to build the swell. When we came back from Powell river this summer this was the problem we had. Wind report said 20 out of the W NW. so wanting that wind to my back I headed to the gulf islands the night before crossing in the morning. We woke up and the wind had changed to ne, which now puts the wind on my beam heading back to Blaine. We had to turn back after a few miles because it was unsafe UNTIL( this is the second part of any planning)The tide changed.

I know that I sound like a broken record about this but you should use the wind and tide as your timer for travel and not your watch. Waiting a few hours for the tide to change and allow the swell to lay down will make for a faster and safer trip. So after getting turned back twice we found a place to anchor in a cove and I sunbathed on the roof for two hours then left. Instead of 4 to 6 ft on our beam we had 2 ft on our beam which is far more comfortable and safer.

Have a way to check wind, tide and current ( not the same thing as tide) before your trip and while on the boat. It has never been easier then today to get this information in real time on our phones but I still listen to the weather report on the VHF and know where all the points they are given wind reports for are at. Which ones are effecting me that day.

so were will I launch a week from now? It all depands....

Ordutch1975 · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 3:51 pm Post subject:

I dont think we will be able to make it. Apparently the shop doing my bottom paint is behind schedule. We won't have our boat back till at the earliest next Friday. UGH!!!

We'll see maybe they will complete it early but I doubt it.

H

Salmon Fisher · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 9:09 pm Post subject:

Right now our plan is to leave Friday morning from Cornet Bay.
A mellow incoming tide into Rosario Strait looks good in the morning, which gives a route through either:
-Lopez Pass, Lopez Sound, Friday Harbor, Jones Island to Stuart
or
-Across Rosario, South Lopez through Cattle Pass, Friday Harbor, Jones Island to Stuart Island.

Pretty safe transit through the islands with minimal fetch of wind except across Rosario with a possible North wind against incoming tide.

As Tom said, morning of, we'll make the final call.

TyBoo · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 10:33 pm Post subject:

My plans constantly change anyway, so the actual decision will be made on the spot. Right now it is looking like Oak Harbor will be the starting point, with La Conner as the first stop. I really like going through Deception Pass and have launched a few of my SJ excursions out of Coronet Bay or Oak Harbor in the past.

The way it stands at the moment, we will be going up this Saturday, 9/23, and braving the motorcyclists to go either to Oak Harbor (most likely) or Anacortes. We will decide on a right or left turn when we get there.

If it is Oak Harbor, then we will go Saturday afternoon to La Conner for the night, Sunday night at Doe Island, Monday night at Friday Harbor, Tuesday night on Matia or Sucia, Wednesday night at Deer Harbor, Thursday night at Jones Island, and then Friday morning back to Deer Harbor for a shower then on to Stuart Island for two nights. Of course, any of those places could be swapped for any of several others and a windy Skagit Bay might have us stay right at Oak Harbor the first night.

I understand what you all are saying about conditions and tides and currents and wind direction, and I appreciate the advice very much. We get some interesting stuff going on down here at the mouth of the Columbia pretty regularly so I am aware of what can and cannot be controlled.

Thanks! See you somewhere soon!