Voyage of the Permagrin, Girdwood Alaska.
Even though I didn't do it in a C-Dory the trip was great.
Started at 7:30 AM on Thursday 12-2 first night to Port Townsend. Got in to Marina S. of PT.Wilson in 10 hours. Tides running through Juan De Fuca were keeping forward speed down to .5 k for the last 15 miles.
We then found out about entering the country and the proper ports to enter. My friend (and owner of this 37' Sailing vessel) had a phone encounter with a very unfriendly guy from homeland security who said we were in big trouble and to sit tight and wait for him to show up.
As things turned out a very nice guy showed up and after a reasonable conversation realized it was a weather issue due to tides that made it impossible for us to follow their guidelines. We had started calling at 3:20 PM and their office did not close until 4 O'clock. Evidently it is a 1 person office and the unfriendly guy was overworked, sick and also stressed a wee bit.
After resolving this situation with the nice guy, we were ready for the next leg to Shilshole Marina the next AM at 9:00AM.
We rode the tide well that day sometimes making 8k. I had never seen a Marina that big- Said to be a mile from one side to the other...Dinner at Ray's
Next AM Ballard locks and 3 drawbridges to Freemont.
My friend was not prepared for the border stuff and had not done his homework re: ports of entry. Back up in Port Townsend we were told Port Angeles was where we should have gone. It didn't sound too reasonable beacause we didn't want to go to PA. There are ways to get inspected by appointment but only during the hours of 8 and 4-
What do they do to deal with hundreds of yahoos like us during the summer months when lots of private boaters are going everywhere?
Moral of the story, do some reading on government websites to avoid MR. very unfriendly. Dealing w/ Mr. nice guy is more fun.(we had originally estimated our Victoria to P.Townsend leg @6 1/2- 7 hrs which would have given us much more wiggle room with the defenders of our shores. )
We also had a few conversations in Juan De Fuca Straights about having a 22 Cruiser going = 20 knots!
Even though I didn't do it in a C-Dory the trip was great.
Started at 7:30 AM on Thursday 12-2 first night to Port Townsend. Got in to Marina S. of PT.Wilson in 10 hours. Tides running through Juan De Fuca were keeping forward speed down to .5 k for the last 15 miles.
We then found out about entering the country and the proper ports to enter. My friend (and owner of this 37' Sailing vessel) had a phone encounter with a very unfriendly guy from homeland security who said we were in big trouble and to sit tight and wait for him to show up.
As things turned out a very nice guy showed up and after a reasonable conversation realized it was a weather issue due to tides that made it impossible for us to follow their guidelines. We had started calling at 3:20 PM and their office did not close until 4 O'clock. Evidently it is a 1 person office and the unfriendly guy was overworked, sick and also stressed a wee bit.
After resolving this situation with the nice guy, we were ready for the next leg to Shilshole Marina the next AM at 9:00AM.
We rode the tide well that day sometimes making 8k. I had never seen a Marina that big- Said to be a mile from one side to the other...Dinner at Ray's
Next AM Ballard locks and 3 drawbridges to Freemont.
My friend was not prepared for the border stuff and had not done his homework re: ports of entry. Back up in Port Townsend we were told Port Angeles was where we should have gone. It didn't sound too reasonable beacause we didn't want to go to PA. There are ways to get inspected by appointment but only during the hours of 8 and 4-
What do they do to deal with hundreds of yahoos like us during the summer months when lots of private boaters are going everywhere?
Moral of the story, do some reading on government websites to avoid MR. very unfriendly. Dealing w/ Mr. nice guy is more fun.(we had originally estimated our Victoria to P.Townsend leg @6 1/2- 7 hrs which would have given us much more wiggle room with the defenders of our shores. )
We also had a few conversations in Juan De Fuca Straights about having a 22 Cruiser going = 20 knots!