SAVOR THE
Season by Andy Cross
FALL MEANS NEW SAILING ADVENTURES AWAIT
W
ith Yahtzee in a full sprint southward down Padilla Bay, I sat to leeward, looked up at the jib, and gave a few cranks on the winch. Leaning back against the rail, I was glad that just days before, Jill and I had bent on that smaller headsail, which was perfect for these blustery conditions. It was one of the first big blows of the fall, and the sun dropping behind Anacortes created splashes of yellows, oranges, and reds that made for a perfectly autumnal end to the day while approaching Cap Sante Marina. Fall is one of my favorite seasons to cruise in the Pacific Northwest. Sure, the days are getting shorter, cooler, wetter, and windier, but that’s just it—it’s immensely rewarding to watch the change of seasons from the water. The green of summer hangs on as long as it can until a cornucopia of colors dissent and start popping when the time is right. Stronger breezes mean
48º NORTH
more opportunity for sailing and truncated days move meals and games from the cockpit to the coziness of your boat’s cabin. In typical years, any post-Labor-Day cruising typically means fewer crowds; and reduced traffic brings a host of opportunities for seeking solitude. This year, finding a new “normal” in this pandemic environment will likely be different, but we hope you’ll (responsibly) get out for some autumn cruising. Here are a few tips and some of our favorite places to visit when summer fades into fall. THREE FALL CRUISING TIPS Service your heater early: Having a working heater is essential. When the days—and especially nights—start to turn cooler, your crew will be much more comfortable and, therefore, happy if they’re warm. It’s a lesson I learned the hard way.
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SEPTEMBER 2020
