C Horse 1":f1f9j57k said:
Harvey we are looking at putting in at Hood canal was wondering how trip is from your location near Sequim?
Thanks
Jim and Kandi
C Horse
Hi Jim and Kandi,
Depending on where you launch on Hood Canal that will determine how long it takes you to get up to get up to Port Townsend. Point No Point, just north of Hansville, can get pretty bouncy there so be sure to note tide and wind directions. From there, stay along the west shore and take the Port Townsend Canal into the PT Bay for good protection. From there, Sequim is about 15 miles west along the south shore of Juan de Fuca. From Sequim Bay it is about 25 miles straight north to go into Cattle Pass, the entrance. It is about the same distance from Point Wilson. You do not need to come around to Sequim Bay, it will be nearly the same distance from Point Wilson, the NE corner of Port Townsend. (You will want to give the point some consideration before rounding. It can be pretty rousing.) The tide rip there extends out over a mile at times, and can have 6 - 8 foot washing machine waves, depending on the tidal flow, wind and where you are on the rip.
The Strait of Juan de Fuca should not be trifled with either. It can be smooth as glass or whipped to a froth. I have seen it both, I have crossed many times, and made each one though they are not all glassy flat rides. When you are crossing, If there are waves, they will be nearly dead on beam seas. That's a result of you going north or south, and the current going east or west, and generally the winds are going east and west too. You want to mitigate that if possible. Once they get to 3+ feet it gets less than comfortable.
I would recommend doing an early crossing. I would check weather (VHF) listening for (or do on line checks) for 1. Race Rocks, the windiest place on the strait, and just west of Victoria, 2. Ediz Hook, near Port Angeles 3. Smith Island, the eastern side ow where you will be crossing. I do a (Very early) launch and plan so I can be out on the water before sunrise, and try to be a line between Protection Island and Dungeness Lighthouse in time to see the sun pop over the horizon. That will usually give you about 2 hours with the least wind of the day. That should give enough time to make the crossing. If you have a stable, high pressure weather system, you might have glass flat all day. If so, take it slow and enjoy the ride. If winds are 10 or over, I would really hustle, and if 15 or over, I would have to see what the barometer is doing and get local conditions from any vessel in the area, but at 15, I am probably not going to do the crossing. UNLESS, sometimes it will settle in the mid to late afternoon. I would not start a crossing unless I have at least 4 hours before sunset. Once through Cattle Pass you will have pretty protected water.
I hope that helps answer you question. If not let me know what else I can help with.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
