April 2023 48° North Digital

La Paz, Mexico

Take the next step in your sailing adventures with our Cruise N Learn (ASA 103 + ASA 104 combo) sailing lessons in La Paz, Mexico! Escape the rain and cold on this 5-day, 4night immersion course on the Sea of Cortez!

San Juan Islands, WA

Sail the gorgeous San Juan Islands on our liveaboard ASA 104 Bareboat Chartering class! Take your skills to the next level and get certified to skipper boats up to 45 feet!

Seattle, WA

Located in Shilshole Marina, our office and dock faces the gorgeous Olympic mountain range. We offer lessons for all sailors, from beginners to experts. Come visit us to learn more about classes and membership, or browse our Pro Shop!

For the complete line of Harken sailing hardware please visit fisheriessupply.com/harken

ON THE COVER: With beautiful spring sunshine but not enough breeze to get around the course, skipper of the Ranger 33, Aurora , Derek DeCouteau summed up the Islands Race: "All I can say about the race is it was a great weekend of weather." At least they got to fly their cool multicolored spinnaker for a while! Photo by Chris Reitz.

Background photo courtesy of Elise Sivilay.

SAIL THE BREEZE YOU'VE GOT

“We just have to sail the wind we’ve got.” I couldn’t begin to count the number of times I’ve heard or offered that ubiquitous suggestion on a sailboat.

This message illuminates the limitations (and possibilities) of our eminently condition-dependent activity. With sails up, we are at the behest of the breeze. Sailors seek to enjoy a productive partnership with the wind, in which it is the constant and our actions are the variable. We might want to sail due north, but if that’s where the wind is coming from, it is fundamentally impossible to do so. Tacking can get us there, but is itself a compromise within the boundaries the weather provides. Sometimes there’s no wind and you’re genuinely stuck. Other times, there’s too much wind, and you might have to wait for a different day to try out your pretty new spinnaker.

In a racing context, this phrase usually insinuates that everyone must make the best of whatever conditions they have at any given moment. A racer might see a competitor flying up the course on a big lifting puff along the shore. Sure it looks nice, but if you’re even a few hundred yards away, there is no benefit to adjusting your course to match until you’ve actually reached that shift. Perhaps there’s much more pressure on the other side of the racecourse; you still have to maximize your performance in the lighter conditions until you get to that puff or it gets to you.

A transition zone, where different breezes converge, is one of the most difficult areas in which to succeed at this effort. Many of the observable inputs around you might conflict — a boat nearby could be sailing downwind on port tack with a spinnaker in a southerly while another might be sailing upwind on a starboard tack in a northwesterly. In convergence situations, one of the breezes is usually going to win out. However, arriving any amount early at a sail configuration or heading that will perform best in the conditions that may eventually prevail will likely harm your ability to make good progress through the transition.

We experience this a lot in Puget Sound distance races, and had some great examples in the first two Center Sound Series races in March. In these events, as is frequently the case, there was an advantage to simply keeping the boat moving — in pretty much any direction — through a transition. Boat speed, apparent wind, momentum... when the winds get light, they all have an outsized impact. Crucially, they also give you options to tack, change course, or get to another part of the racing area. Sail the breeze you’ve got pairs perfectly with the notion, ‘just keep moving!’

Like so many things in sailing, there are lessons from the water that can be applied when we are ashore. What I get from this sailing proverb is the notion that wishing doesn’t take us very far, especially in situations where we lack a certain amount of control. Dreams are important, but it doesn’t always serve us well to be too futurefocused, especially if we aren’t thinking about how our efforts today “connect the puffs” to get us where we hope to be. It’s a reminder that the breeze you envied on the other side of the course may be gone by the time you get there. And, it invokes the concept that inaction (or a lack of boat speed) can often be more detrimental to our goals than less-than-ideal action.

Sailing is as good as any activity I’ve encountered at grounding me in the moment. There’s always value in strategizing for the future or analyzing the past, but the best thing you can do on a boat is trim your sails and drive the heading the conditions afford right now

I’ll see you on the water

Joe Cline, Managing Editor, 48° North

Volume XLII, Number 9, April 2023 (206) 789-7350 info@48north.com | www.48north.com

Publisher Northwest Maritime Center

Managing Editor Joe Cline joe@48north.com

Editor Andy Cross andy@48north.com

Designer Rainier Powers rainier@48north.com

Advertising Sales Kachele Yelaca kachele@48north.com

Classifieds classads48@48north.com

Photographer Jan Anderson

48° North is published as a project of the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, WA – a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to engage and educate people of all generations in traditional and contemporary maritime life, in a spirit of adventure and discovery.

Northwest Maritime Center: 431 Water St, Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360) 385-3628

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We are not responsible for unsolicited materials. Articles express the author’s thoughts and may not reflect the opinions of the magazine. Reprinting in whole or part is expressly forbidden except by permission from the editor.

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News from the Northwest Maritime Center >>

48° North has been published by the Northwest Maritime Center (NWMC) since 2018. We are continually amazed and inspired by the important work of our colleagues and organization, and dedicate this page to sharing more about these activities with you.

48° North is part of something bigger, and we believe the mission-minded efforts of our organization matter to our readers.

REAL WORLD READINESS: EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES

The Real World Readiness (RWR) program started in 2018 as a partnership between the Northwest Maritime Center and Jefferson County Juvenile Services to create the opportunity for youth connected to the court system to gain both the soft skills of leadership, confidence, responsibility and teamwork, and the hard skills to potentially move into a maritime career. Since that time, the program has served 29 young people, weathered a pandemic, and identified the need to expand the program to serve more youth, and perhaps help prevent youth from entering the court system. The spring cohort kicked off in March with a revamped program to address two issues:

• Washington state’s maritime sector is desperately in need of trained workers across the sector’s many categories. Challenges abound for the industry to fill these gaps with new, well-trained employees from a variety of backgrounds.

• Youth from the Olympic Peninsula face many unique challenges — both geographic and socioeconomic. Poverty in many Olympic Peninsula communities is high, and it persists through generations, leaving many young people struggling to find opportunities to succeed. RWR provides young people with alternative pathways into sustainable careers.

The RWR program now accepts applications for youth connected to organizations such as schools, foster care, and social services, as well as the court system. It is also open to local youth ages 16-24 who are in challenging situations — previous incarceration, issues with school attendance and engagement, or homelessness. NWMC has partnered with Big Picture Learning and B-Unbound to help support students in identifying maritime interests and pathways and to connect students to maritime professionals throughout the region.

The first step in the RWR journey is an 80-hour NWMC Training Internship and career exploration program, which includes industry tours and a speaker series. Participants also learn and practice job readiness skills and gain basic skills in The Boatshop and on the water.

The NWMC internship is followed by a 60- or 120-hour External Industry Internship. Using the Harbor Freight Fellowship Initiative from project partners Big Picture Learning, RWR participants work with industry mentors to gain valuable work experience in a professional environment. This helps connect youth to employers, and their experience informs their next decisions regarding education or training.

This program is designed to offer an alternative learning environment for students whose strengths lie outside of the traditional classroom. The small cohort sizes facilitate a tailored, student-centered learning experience. The instructors are literate in trauma-informed care, and the program is structured in a way that makes space for young people to bring their authentic selves to the table.

» nwmaritime.org

APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR R2AK AND SEVENTY48 IS APRIL 15

Got that adventure bug? Good! There's still time to act on it. If you've been thinking about applying to join one of NWMC's world famous adventure races in 2023, Race to Alaska or Seventy48, your application needs to be submitted no later than April 15!

» r2ak.com | seventy48.com

JOIN THE LARGEST WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL IN NORTH AMERICA AS AN EXHIBITOR, PRESENTER, OR VENDOR! Boatfolk rejoice! Applications for the 46th annual Wooden Boat Festival (taking place September 8-10, 2023) are now open. Show off your hard work and skills, display your wares, and share your experience with thousands of friends.

» woodenboat.org

NORTHWEST MARITIME CENTER IS HIRING! HERE ARE THE CURRENT JOB OPENINGS ON THE NWMC TEAM:

• Facility Maintenance Tech (Year-round)

• Retail Specialist (Year-round)

• Adult Sailing Instructor (Seasonal)

• Longboat & Keelboat Captain (Seasonal)

• Longboat & Keelboat Instructor (Seasonal)

• Maritime Outdoor Educator (Seasonal)

» nwmaritime.org/about/job-opportunities

Photo by Jeremy Johnson.

THE PARTIES ARE BACK!

"Race

in Anacortes

Spencer Kunath, Navigator TP52 Glory

Photos by Jan Anderson

All the Power You Need

LETTERS

Hooray for the Hood Canal Article in March Issue!

Dear 48° North and Wendell Crim,

Thank you for the informative and well-written article on transiting the Hood Canal Bridge (March 2023 issue). My family and I have been taking our sailboats under the east (Kitsap) end of the bridge for more than 25 years without any difficulty. I don’t know how many sailors I’ve talked to who have sailed all over the world, but never ventured south of the bridge. I hope Wendell’s article helps change that, and I’d like to elaborate on two points.

Beta Marine West (Distributor)

400 Harbor Dr, Sausalito, CA 94965 415-332-3507

Pacific Northwest Dealer Network

Emerald Marine

Anacortes, WA • 360-293-4161

www.emeraldmarine.com

Oregon Marine Industries

Portland, OR • 503-702-0123

info@betamarineoregon.com

Access Marine Seattle, WA • 206-819-2439

info@betamarineengines.com

www.betamarineengines.com

Sea Marine

Port Townsend, WA • 360-385-4000

info@betamarinepnw.com

www.betamarinepnw.com

Deer Harbor Boatworks

Deer Harbor, WA • 888-792-2382

customersupport@betamarinenw.com

www.betamarinenw.com

Auxiliary Engine

6701 Seaview Ave NW, Seattle WA 98117 206-789-8496

auxiliaryeng@gmail.com

First, if you don’t absolutely need to have the bridge opened, don’t! Picture hundreds of people trying to get home from the Olympic Peninsula on a Sunday afternoon, many missing their ideal ferry sailing because they were delayed for a half-hour by a single sailboat opening the bridge. Traffic backups on both ends of the bridge are typically miles long. Readers may remember a few years ago when the City of Seattle tried to drastically restrict Ship Canal bridge openings and scapegoat sailboaters for Seattle’s traffic woes. The proposal was beaten back, but it is never a good idea to irritate large numbers of our fellow citizens. It is frustrating to hear people tell me they don’t know their bridge clearance, so have it opened “just to be safe.” If you don’t know your bridge clearance, measure it!

Second, Wendell’s description of the height difference between the fixed and floating ends of the trestle is very good. Drivers crossing the bridge may notice that we drive “downhill” to the floating end in all but the most extreme high tides. Staying close to the shore end of the trestle and lining up your boat between the large girders running north and south under the bridge, (shown on page 35 of the article), provides additional clearance. My son’s boat has a bridge clearance of 56 feet and he has passed under the bridge on a variety of tides without problems. It is also worth noting that passing under the bridge near low tide allows riding the flood tide down the canal, often with a summer north wind. Riding the ebb out and passing under near low tide saves time going home.

I hope Wendell Crim’s article will motivate sailors to give the warm waters and fair winds of Hood Canal a try.

Terry M. Dolan

Bainbridge Island

Response to Lisa Mighetto’s “What Lies Beneath” from the March Issue of 48° North boondockshawks: This is a fascinating article. Another great issue overall!

Response to Emma Biron’s article “Sailing the Worries Away” from February 2023

benhempstead94: This was such an inspiring read! There is a book’s worth of story, I’m sure.

Engineered to be Serviced Easily!

Model Shown Beta 38

low tides » News & Events

CHECK OUT SPECTACULAR POWER AND SAILING YACHTS AND ENJOY SHORESIDE FUN — THE SPRING BOATS AFLOAT SHOW COMES TO SEATTLE’S SOUTH LAKE UNION, APRIL 27-30

The Boats Afloat Show docks at Seattle’s scenic South Lake Union from April 27-30, 2023. Boats Afloat will feature a worldclass display of power and sailing yachts, professional marine exhibitors, and a full line-up of other shoreside activities. The spring edition of Boats Afloat debuted in recent years, and has been an instant highlight of the region’s boating season. Boats Afloat is the largest floating boat show in the Pacific Northwest and is presented by the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association (NYBA).

The spring Boats Afloat show is an opportunity to view spectacular craft from the U.S. and Canada in a single location, while learning about the latest boating lifestyle and technology trends. Explore the show to discover a variety of dream boats, as the region’s top brokers and dealers share information about the vessels on display. With live music performances, food and beverage offerings, and hands-on activities, it is a fun and festive destination for the entire family.

Hours for the four-day event are:

• Thursday and Friday, April 27-28, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Saturday, April 29, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Sunday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is $22 for adults 18 and over, $5 for teens ages 13-17, and free for children 12 and under. Tickets may also be purchased through the show’s website, including discounted adult tickets ($20) and a multi-day “All Access Pass” for $35, available exclusively online.

» www.boatsafloatshow.com

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR CYC SEATTLE'S 'WOMEN ON THE WATER' EVENTS

Hosted by Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle (CYC), Women on the Water Sailing (WOWSA) is an opportunity for women to learn and build camaraderie among female sailors of all levels of experience.

WOWSA takes place over three Friday evenings: May 5, 12, and 19, 2023. CYC has expanded it long-running Women’s Learn to Sail series, partnering with Seattle Sailing Club (SSC) to help women get access to sailing, learn from peers and volunteer coaches, and form friendships on the water. Now in its third year as a combined effort, the organizers hope to get more women out on boats and comfortable sailing on the beautiful waters of the Pacific Northwest.

Registration — which opens in late March and will close on April 28, 2023 — is available on the CYC website. CYC and SSC members will get priority registration before opening the event to the general public. Cost of entry is $90 for members / $150 for non-members.

The three evening sails are followed by a dinner at the CYC clubhouse, which gives everyone the opportunity to meet club members and crews from other boats. The WOWSA participants

come from diverse backgrounds with varied experience levels, and all come with a high level of enthusiasm. The coaches and participants both show up eager to share and expand their knowledge base and experiences.

CYC and SSC rely on the generosity of their members, and would like to thank boat owners for volunteering their boats and the coaches for volunteering their time.

» www.cycseattle.org

low tides » News & Events

SERIOUS FUN WITH HANDS-ON SAFETY AT SEA TRAINING

SaS courses: one on Bainbridge Island that took place in early March and one in Vancouver, WA, later in the month. In total, 180 sailors participated, from newer boat owners to expert offshore racers. Part of what has enabled more access this year is a shift to a hybrid format. Prior to the hands-on training days, the participants completed a rigorous online Offshore course provided by US Sailing.

This year’s Safety at Sea Seminars have once again been a smashing success in terms of quality and educational value, and expanded participation adds new excitement!

Offshore racers know that World Sailing requires highquality hands-on safety at sea training for many participants. In the Pacific Northwest, this training has long been presented annually by The Sailing Foundation, a local 501c3 non-profit whose mission centers on “the promotion of sailing in the Pacific Northwest.”

In large part due to its good reputation as immensely valuable education, demand for this training has grown as more cruisers discover that this is also the training that they want for their adventures. Last year, The Sailing Foundation’s offering of the US Sailing International Offshore with Handson Safety at Sea Training (SaS) sold out in less than an hour, leaving many sailors disappointed. Responding to the demand and the need, this year The Sailing Foundation scheduled two

FISHERIES SUPPLY SPRING SWAP MEET IS APRIL 29

Join hundreds of your fellow boaters, bargain hunters, and deal makers to celebrate what has become a Pacific Northwest tradition. This ever-popular swap meet makes its springtime return on Saturday, April 29 from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Fisheries Supply parking lot (Fisheries Supply, 1900 N. Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103, across from, but not in, Gasworks Park).

A maritime flea market, full of boating goods, old parts, new parts, outboards, buoys, dock line, coolers, heaters, chain, clothing, and so much more. Die-hard bargain boaters have been known to arrive the night before to stake out a good parking spot, although sellers are not allowed to use the lower tier of the upper parking lot (closest to the store entrance). In addition to the hundreds of boaters buying, selling and trading boating equipment, Fisheries Supply will be offering great pricing on clearance, discontinued, overstock, scratch and dent products, and last season's clothing.

» www.fisheriessupply.com/swap-meet

One exciting and notable aspect of this year’s trainings in the Pacific Northwest, in addition to the participation of more cruising sailors, is the fact that the percentage of women involved as both instructors and students has also increased to about 50%. These numbers have been growing over several years, and it’s great to see equal representation.

One aspiring offshore sailor summed it up simply after his first SaS training, “This is the most useful sailing education I’ve ever experienced.” While these classes have been described as top quality “next level” training, they are also a lot of fun.

» www.thesailingfoundation.org

ANACORTES BOAT AND YACHT SHOW FEATURING TRAWLERFEST WILL RUN MAY 18-20

The Anacortes Boat and Yacht Show, presented by the Northwest Marine Trade Association, features new and brokerage boats of all sizes from your favorite brands, dealers, brokers, and exhibitors in one place.

As in 2022, this year's Anacortes Boat and Yacht Show will feature Trawlerfest educational seminars, offering an impressive lineup of 20+ in-depth seminars across five education-packed days (beginning two days before the boat show and continuing through show days).

Mark your calendars and come join the fun in Anacortes!

» www.anacortesboatandyachtshow.com

Photo by Mike Visser.

Photo by Margaret Pommert.

low tides » News & Events

MARINE WEATHER WORKSHOP IN GIG HARBOR, APRIL 8

Learn to read the weather before you head out on the water. Washington Sea Grant and the Gig Harbor BoatShop are co-sponsoring a Marine Weather Workshop in Gig Harbor. Topics covered inlcude: atmospheric pressure and wind, fog, getting current weather, weather models, strong wind systems, waves, and more.

The class will include a hands-on opportunity to develop an individualized daily weather briefing for paddle, sail, and power boats. Students may work individually or in small groups. Students need to bring laptop computers to access weather and ocean data.

Saturday April 8, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Gig Harbor BoatShop, Eddon Boat Yard House, 3805 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor. The fee is $60

» www.wsg.washington.edu/

NEW KEYSTONE BOAT LAUNCH WILL OPEN IN JUNE AT FORT CASEY

Construction is underway for the new Keystone Boat Launch on Whidbey Island. Located near the Keystone Ferry Terminal, the popular launch is part of Fort Casey Historical State Park. This project includes removal of previously storm-damaged infrastructure, new guide piles and new floats, a new breakwater, and shoreline restoration. The facility and shoreline were hit by a storm in December of 2018.

Depending on weather and other factors affecting construction, the boat launch may open intermittently and with limited use between mid-April and late May. During that time, the launch may be temporarily narrower, and the new floats will not be in place. The ramp and floats should be fully operational in June 2023.

» www.parks.wa.gov/505/Fort-Casey

DECORATE YOUR BOAT FOR THE SEATTLE EASTER BOAT PARADE, APRIL 8

Get your crew together, decorate your boat, and join the fun! Registered vessel check-in and line up is at 1:45 p.m. and the parade begins at 2:00 p.m. The route starts near the White Swan Restaurant next To Duke's on South Lake Union and goes through the Ship Canal. After a U-turn at the Ballard Locks, it will end at Fishermen’s Terminal. Parade Speed will be an average of 4 to 5 knots.

Parade line up will be directly behind the First Lead Boat, with larger vessels and power boats at the front of the parade line up. Next is sailboats that need a bridge lift, followed by skiffs, dinghies, kayaks, paddleboards, etc. The smaller vessels and those without power, bring up the rear of the parade.

» www.SeattleEasterBoatParade.com

low tides » Products News

» BOATASY ROPECLEANER

In the “work smarter not harder” category, Boatasy’s new RopeCleaner is the ideal tool for cleaning muddy and barnacle encrusted lines — especially mooring lines that stay submerged. Made of 316 stainless steel with an ergonomic handle, the tool’s metal spiral section has sharpened inner parts, which efficiently cuts and removes various shells and algae. Simply twist the Ropecleaner onto the line and apply pressure while scraping up and down. Without causing damage to lines, it quickly breaks down and removes the overgrown and dirty parts, leaving your ropes and lines looking new.

Price: $49.00 » www.boatasy.com

» BAY DOG NARRAGANSETT BAY DOG JACKETS

Perfect for spring storms in the Pacific Northwest by insulating your dog from rain, snow, or cold winds aboard your boat or around the marina, the Narragansett Bay Sailing Jacket is designed to protect your dog without overheating them. The unique Bay Dog design is water and wind resistant, yet breathable and comfortable. Its form-fitting comfort makes it a great choice for long trips on the water or a damp evening stroll around the harbor. Features include reflective piping for nighttime visibility, a pocket for waste bags or treats, waterproof twoway zippers, fleece lined neck with quarter zip, breathable mesh interior, and optional rear leg elastics. The jacket comes in red or blue, and a variety of sizes are available.

Price: $45.00 » www.baydog.com

» ROLL-UP EMERGENCY VHF ANTENNA

Historically, emergency VHF systems had a short and stubby antenna that limited range when you would need it most, but they were easy to store. Revolve-Tec has solved the problem with their new roll-up Emergency VHF Antenna. Using the proven “Rolatube” design — which was developed for and is in use by the military — the patented design integrates a high-performance antenna into the rollable composite material, removing the need for separate mast and antenna units. Just unroll the antenna, connect it to your radio and start transmitting. The antenna is over 8 feet tall when unrolled, it is ultralight, compact, and has a high-visability cover with an integrated SOLAS approved LED strobe for location assistance. It comes in a waterproof, roll-top bag for easy storage.

Price: $279.00 » www.revolve-tec.com

CROSSWORD AND TRIVIA

DID YOU KNOW?

by Bryan Henry

A sandy beach generally has a slope of one to five degrees, a pebble beach 17 degrees.

Blackbeard the pirate was killed and beheaded due to poor seamanship. His ship struck fast on a sandbar, where a battle with the Royal Navy ensued.

Children playing on a beach found the first diamond in South Africa.

People who collect sands from beaches around the world are known as arenophiles (sand lovers). The word arena derives from ancient Rome when the ground in amphitheaters was covered in sand to soak up blood from gladiator contests.

Sea foam encountered on almost every beach, which can be white, greenish or brownish, is caused by pulverized plankton, the froth being the cells and their fat that’s whipped into suds.

ACROSS

1 Sailor that was stationed in the crow’s nest

5 Fill a seam with caulking or pitch

1 Sailor that was stationed in the crow's nest

7 Temporarily reduces the area of sail exposed to the wind

5 Fill a seam with caulking or pitch

8 A small opening in a ship’s deck of hull

7 Temporarily reduces the area of sail exposed to the wind

10 Blueprint

8 A small opening in a ship's deck of hull

11 Caught a marlin, for example

12 Provide

10 Blueprint

11 Caught a marlin, for example

12 Provide employees for

13 It shows the direction of the wind

15 River transports

16 Fastened

Down

Annually, rip currents cause the drownings of more than 100 people in the United States, and account for 80 percent of all beach closures.

1 Large mass of sand or earth, formed by the surge of the sea

Sand accretion is beach sand buildup, such as when it forms hills or buries posted beach signs.

2 Marsh plants

3 Banner

4 Sail holder

Shell Beach in western Australia is said to be one of only two beaches in the world composed entirely of seashells.

5 Vessel's motion, rotating about the beam axis

6 Give way

9 Employing

Fraser Island, a World Heritage site off the coast of Queensland, Australia, is the world’s largest sand island, at 74 miles long and 18 miles wide. It’s the only place on Earth where rainforests thrive on top of sand dunes.

10 Idiom for ther bottom of the sea, 2 words

11 A long way

The widest beach along the east coast of the United States in North Wildwood, New Jersey.

12 Docking facility for small boats and yachts

14 Narrow elomgated stretches of land

15 Go up and down in the sea

Miami Beach pharmacist Benjamin Green invented the first suntan lotion in 1944 by cooking cocoa butter on the stove.

16 Fastened

17 Ross Sea sight, 2 words

The earliest record of ocean swimming in the United States — off the shores of Long Island, New York — was in 1794.

22 Time period

MY BOAT 20 DEVLIN SURF SCOTER 22, LOYAL

by 48° North Editors

Tell us a little about your boating background.

I (Molly) came to boating because I fell in love with a handsome young Canadian boat nerd 20+ years ago. I have done a lot of sea, surf, and whitewater kayaking under his influence. Max fell in love with sailing on the Glenmore Reservoir in Calgary and has been doing his best to be either sailing or building watercraft ever since then.

Have you owned other boats before this one?

Max and I have only owned smaller craft. We have six kayaks, two paddle boards, and a rowboat at home, and five of those small craft were built by us. Max did own a Hobie Cat with his friend Paul that they kept on Lake Washington for a few years, but that was more than a decade ago. They’d go out and sail on the lake and often come home wet and bleeding. For us, it wasn’t exactly a strong advertisement for boating life.

Tell us the story of how you found your boat and what makes it special to you.

We had been thinking it might be nice to get a piece of land on one of the San Juan Islands that doesn’t have Washington State Ferry service. Then we realized that we didn’t need to pick just one island if we had our own little boat. We chose a powerboat specifically for gunkholing in the San Juans.

Honestly, Loyal was the first boat we looked at and it was so perfect in every way, we just went for it and have no regrets. It was a big surprise that our first “big” boat was a motor boat. Because Max grew up sailing, he still can’t believe his first boat doesn’t have sails.

In our latest My Boat column, we’d like to introduce you to Max Stevens and Molly McCarthy, and their awesome Devlin Surf Scoter 22, Loyal . Built in 1992, their Surf Scoter is homeported in Des Moines, Washington, where they’ve kept it since buying the boat in July 2021. Perfectly sized for the couple, they enjoy getting away to destinations around Puget Sound and look forward to gunkholing in the San Juan and Gulf Islands in the years to come.

What’s the history of your boat? Where’s it been? Who built or designed it? Tell us its story.

The boat was designed and built by Sam Devlin in Olympia. Sam has been a great resource to us since before we even bought the boat. I love that Max sends him an email and Sam immediately calls him.

We bought the boat from a lovely couple in Port Townsend who had it for a few years; they bought it from someone in Seattle who had it completely refurbished in the 2000s. Loyal might have previously been named Peregrine, at least that is the name on some of the tools inside.

What do you like best about your boat?

It’s perfectly sized for the two of us to putt around Puget Sound, with a V-berth, tiny kitchenette, and chemical toilet. We can go just about anywhere, although with an average boatspeed of 6 knots, we’re not going there particularly fast. The space in Devlin boats is used very efficiently, I am always amazed at how there is a place for everything. The boat also has a propane heater, which is lovely for winter adventures.

What do you know now about your boat that you wish you’d known when you bought it?

Nothing. Maybe I’d love it if it went a smidge faster… maybe.

Max is a lifelong and self-professed boat nerd.

What’s your favorite story involving your boat?

During our second overnight trip on Loyal, we rescued a man from the middle of Drayton Passage by Anderson Island. His kayak had some sort of catastrophic failure and he was in the middle of Puget Sound with no wetsuit and an improperlydonned life vest. The Coast Guard had put out a call and we were nearby, so… that’s how we found out that the boat came with a rope ladder!

Thankfully, the man is fine, though the Sound is no joke and he could have gotten hypothermia. His wife called and thanked me a few times; I kept asking if she’s bought him a wet- or drysuit yet.

My other favorite story is from our fourth overnighter. We ended up towing Race to Alaska competitor Wraith2AK off the rocks inside of Port Townsend’s Boat Haven when their pedal drive failed.

Where do you plan to take your boat? Do you have a dream destination?

Summer 2023 is when we finally get to go on the longplanned trip to gunkhole the San Juans and maybe the Gulf Islands. We can’t wait!

If you could have any other boat, what would it be and why?

I like how this question assumes that someone ever gets rid of a boat. That isn’t really allowed in my house! Max is building a SCAMP in the garage at the moment and he’s onethird done. After the SCAMP, he’s thinking of building a Dudley

Dix-designed Cape Henry because he thinks gaff-rigged cutters are “sexy” and it meets my requirement of a V-berth — I’m not interested in sleeping in a solo bunk on cold nights! At some point very soon, we’re going to have a hard time storing so many boats at our home in South Seattle.

What didn’t we ask you about your boat that you wish we had?

You forgot to ask about the awesome Devlin community. We met the owners of two other Surf Scoters when we moored at Swantown Marina in Olympia. Shout out to Whistler and Lil’ Toot! It is fun to be part of the Devlin club and compare notes with fellow owners.

Molly (right) enjoys summer fun in Loyal's cockpit.

Sailing a small boat is like moving a paintbrush across the water. It’s slow, thoughtful, and requires a careful, continuous attention to detail. A typical cruising day for me covers just 10 to 15 nautical miles. On a pretty good run I might pass the 20-mile mark, and a 30-mile day is epic.

Despite the slow pace, there’s not much time to do anything but mind the tiller, control the sheets, and feed myself. Even a slight lack of attention will cause my craft to veer off course, round up, or worse. Yet I am able to scan for danger, watch the weather, and steer, while another part of my mind observes things that have nothing to do with survival at all: the fin of a lone harbor porpoise as it comes up for air; tiny bryozoans encrusting a blade of eelgrass; the profound fog rising beyond a headland. Moving slowly, I spot so many stimulating things around me that I want to capture them all.

When I’m able to stop, a camera seems a decent tool for the job, and it certainly has its place in my gear. But too often, fiddling with knobs or reviewing a photo takes me out of the scene. Besides, it’s easy to capture too much with a digital camera. I often rush to get the next shot, without considering how well I’ve framed it, or whether I’d truly wish to revisit the scene later. Heck, beyond the first couple of days after a trip, does anyone ever sit

SKETCHING THE SEA

down and pore over their collection of digital photos?

In the last few years, I’ve found something that works better. Drawing satisfies my desire to record both little details and broader landscapes. So on a cruise, in addition to my ship’s log, I always carry a sketchbook, pencils, waterproof pens, and a modest watercolor set. The sketchbook, which is solely for documenting my adventures, helps me recall vivid details about the people, places, and things I encounter — in a more visual, visceral, and emotional way than my straightforward, factual log ever can.

When I open my sketchbook, my mind moves to a new realm of observation. I can focus on just one thing, and I begin to notice details I might have overlooked before. For example, working on a handdrawn grid, I might spend an entire afternoon creating a penciled, time lapse drawing of my favorite cove near Olympia, each square representing a half-hour interval that captures the water falling with tide. Here comes a rounded boulder as the tide hits the six-foot level. There a channel emerges. Now I can tell you what lurks beneath the surface, should I ever decide to anchor in these shell-covered depths.

A lone heron fishing on a mudflat, ordinarily noted and then passed by, becomes an important element of a

by Bruce Bateau

sketch at Useless Bay on Whidbey Island. I draw the eroding bluff, observe the angle and texture of a pile of driftwood; even the pattern of the mud becomes interesting. Meanwhile, I wait for a heron to turn and step into the right part of my drawing. I notice its curious legs, how they bend backward, opposite from the way human legs work. Would I have observed that, had I just been floating nearby? I doubt it. Putting pencil to paper makes me a better observer.

Of course, I draw boats. Sometimes just a silhouette or a simple outline. Other times, I try to include something more complex, like rigging or the fine lines of a wooden boat. I am constantly confounded by the difficulty of correctly capturing the strakes that form a sloop’s elegant curves, getting tighter at the bow. Sometimes I get them right, but often they’re too wavy or imprecise. My sketches aren’t perfect, and sometimes

they are incomplete. But that never stops me from trying again. I view each drawing as both a record of where I’ve been, and what I’ve learned about art.

When I share my sketchbook, I sometimes hope to inspire other sailors to start their own. Banish the memory of that mean third grade classmate (or worse, teacher) who said you couldn’t draw. If the same kid had said you couldn’t sail, you’d still be at the dock.

If you want to start drawing, think of your sketchbook as a memory machine. It’s a tool to help you see details, remember stories, maybe even to aid in writing your observations later, about a good anchorage, or a particular hiking trail. A drawing can help you to recall the feeling of a place; it can record the names and portraits of other cruisers you met, or inspire the next color scheme for your craft.

When someone asks where I’ve been on my latest cruise, or what I saw, I’m not shy about pulling out my sketchbook. Maybe they’re not professional caliber, but my drawings reveal a truth about how I see things. I push aside the memory of that mean kid and allow myself to be vulnerable as folks look over my drawings — and interesting conversations always follow.

Unlike my ship’s log, which I feel obligated to write in each day of a cruise, my sketchbook is more personal. If I don’t feel like drawing, I don’t. And if I want to spend an entire afternoon observing a tidepool and drawing an inch-long chiton, I won’t hesitate. If I make a mess of a drawing, unable to accurately capture the contours of a cloud bank, I have no regrets, because I’ve done the best I can. But more often than not, my sketchbook keeps me excited about seeing the world — just the way my boat does.

Bruce Bateau sails and rows traditional boats with a modern twist in Portland, Oregon. His stories and adventures can be found at www.terrapintales.wordpress.

Banish the memory of that mean third grade classmate (or worse, teacher) who said you couldn’t draw. If the same kid had said you couldn’t sail, you’d still be at the dock.

FIRST LAUNCH:

LONGTIME SAILORS CHART A NEW COURSE ON A C-DORY

by Dennis Bottemiller

It had been a long time since we trailer-launched a boat. Our past two boats — a Cal 27 Moondance and a Kent Ranger 24 Bora — had been moored in Foss Waterway for the last 10 years, so the fact that some boats are on trailers was something we had practically forgotten. “It will be like riding a bike,” I figured. “We’ll remember when we get there.”

For our first attempt to ramp launch our recently purchased C-Dory 22 Cruiser Sea Lab, we chose a midweek day because I figured there wouldn’t be too much traffic at the Point Defiance launch and hence fewer people watching or waiting on me. We would be performing several “firsts” at this launch, the biggest one being the first time we’d ever be in charge of a powerboat.

Long ago, we trailer launched our sailboats, and those boats were of a size that made it sensible. Our very first boat was Seashell, a Venture 17 complete with farm store hardware standing rigging. A few years later, Seashell was followed by our Kent Ranger 20, auklet, which I have especially fond memories of cruising on. With these boats, we learned that launch day was easy, but dependent on the tide being high enough. The effort really centered around raising the rig and not breaking anything, including ourselves, while doing so. We had the routine down, but it always took some time at the launch site to get it right — there were so many details.

When I pulled up at the ramp with Sea Lab and began to prep the boat, I took the tie-downs off and proceeded to circle the boat three or four times trying to remember what to do. Kim, the previous owner, had reminded us, “Never forget to put the plug in.” So I did that. Hmm… this was odd: there was nothing

Look Ma, no tiller! The author adjusting to the weatherprotected helm of the C-Dory.

else to do. “This is too easy and there’s no ritual to it,” I thought, catching myself imbued with sailorly feelings about the boat, which was slightly distressing since we were now powerboat owners. Taking a breath and one final look over the boat, I overcame my anxiety and backed into the water, took off the bow strap and gave a light shove. The Sea Lab was afloat. Tekla had the lines and I drove the trailer up to park and ran back to the dock, excited by the newness of it all and more than a little relieved.

Already, I missed the ease of just going down to the marina, starting the Yanmar diesel with its chopping lettuce sound, shaking the docklines from their cleats, and being out there; but I decided I could get used to the tradeoff.

I had resolved that if I wanted to stay on the water, I would have to give up the rig climbing and upside-down-crammed-ina-hole stuffing box adjusting lifestyle. I’m not old old, but I’m getting there, and our love for cruising our islands and inland waters runs deep. So, we determined it was the right time to make the jump to “easier” cruising, while it was still easy to do so. Don’t get me wrong, one of my favorite sayings is: “If there’s anything worth doing, it’s worth doing the hard way.” And this dude still abides. That said, there’s certainly an argument for easy.

By the time I got back to the launch dock, Tekla had the Sea Lab shipshape, fendered, and tied out at the end of the pier ready to sail. But of course, no sails. Now, we had to contend with the 90 horsepower Honda outboard that we had never started. Kim told me that both the primary motor and the 15 horsepower

kicker worked well and, after giving them a quick look (and considering myself a reasonable judge of mechanical condition and character) I believed him. The used market for C-Dorys is unbelievably competitive, so we had essentially bought the boat sight unseen and driven six hours to get it. We didn’t have an opportunity for a sea-trial or to test the engines, so I was hoping for the best. I lowered the motor into the water, pulled the choke, squeezed the little hand pump bulb, yelled “Fire in the hole!” and turned the key. It started on the first crank, woo hoo!

After my initial excitement, my very next thought was, now what? We let the motor warm up for a while, planning our next move and engaging in discussion that revealed we weren’t quite sure what we were doing. We decided the best option would be for Tekla to untie lines and get on as she gave a gentle shove away from the dock, while I would simultaneously begin to reverse away.

All the boats I had ever piloted up to this moment had a tiller and a small motor. Motoring off a pier usually happened in a slow, measured manner; but not so in this case. As I tried to ease the control into reverse, the sticky throttle cable was reluctant. Of course, this demanded applying a little more pressure to the throttle arm. Then, too quickly it lurched into gear and suddenly all of the outboard’s 90 horses jumped into action. The prop whirred unthinkably fast, and we did a reverse donut right between the docks!

I checked to make sure Tekla was alright, before quietly scanning the area to discover that thankfully no one else was on

Tekla ably wrangles Sea Lab once the boat is off the trailer and afloat.

the docks to see my un-seaman-like conduct. As I hastened the throttle back to neutral, I felt relieved. Somehow we hadn’t hit anything, and bonus — no witnesses! After a few calming breaths, our heart rates returned to normal. I carefully eased the throttle into forward gear without mishap. We slowly corkscrewed our way out of the launch area, around the breakwater, and into open water.

We motored along for quite a while at our customary 4-5 knots marveling at our Lowrance screen, another thing we had never before possessed. Our sailing was always accomplished with paper charts and a tiny handheld GPS with a 2-inch-by-2inch screen in beautiful amber monochrome. At 10 inches, this new screen seemed like a big screen TV, and it was in color even. Soon, we adopted a Captain Ron attitude, and figured if anything was going to happen it would “happen out there.” It was time to see what Sea Lab could do.

Being a cautious sailor, I eased the throttle up to 1800 RPMs and felt the stern sink and the bow come up to a point where I couldn’t see anything except sky above the pulpit. It needed more, so I gave it more. Now, I had read about planing boats and have an understanding of how they are supposed to work. I’ve even ridden on a couple, but I had never brought one up on plane, and the noise and power of getting there was new to us. We were not entirely sure that this was the feeling we wanted while on the water. The peaceful quiet of sailing past the big jellies was blasted away by the outboard and soon we were traveling across the water at the extreme speed of 20 knots! It was a bit terrifying, initially.

In a short time, though, we settled into a comfort with it. I wanted to see how fast it could be, so I ran it up to 29 knots and that felt like something of a natural limit. It wasn’t long before we fell into daydreams, imagining where we could go with all that speed. We had done all of our cruising at small sailboat speed for so long, this was five times as fast.

We decided to run over to Dockton on Vashon Island, which has always been one of our go-to spots because of its proximity. Admittedly, “running” was not what we usually called it. Getting there was a big part of the experience on our previous boats. On Sea Lab, we arrived at the park in an unbelievably short time; so quickly in fact that we cruised around the corner to look at

Quartermaster Marina, where we had never been. Throttling back to a gentler speed, we toured the inlet in a completely foreign fashion, feeling quite satisfied with our new ability to get to places we had previously missed because of the time it would take to get there.

Of course, we were still wrestling with the tradeoffs: peace for speed, journey for destination, experiencing the weather for pilothouse. From Quartermaster, we puttered our way back out into Dalco Passage and up the east side of Maury Island along the beach below the old gravel pit — a location we love to hike to when we tie up in Dockton Park.

It was clear right from the start that, as sailors turned powerboaters, we could audaciously go against nature, taking our time fiddling around bays and not worrying so much about missing slack current somewhere. All we have to do is grapple with the idea that we’re at a different stage of life, like sailors bucking the tide. That, and fill the tanks with fuel. On our last sailboat, a Cal 27 with the single cylinder diesel motor, there were a couple of summers that we only filled the 14-gallon diesel tank once in the season. Typically, our “season” on the water averages 30 to 40 days, so those 14 gallons went a long way. Granted, we did sail as much as we could which boosted our fuel economy, but still. We will have to adjust to the aspect that our fuel does not last as long now… and it smells like gas!

As we acclimate to our new boat and lifestyle, there are many times when we’re on the water and I find myself pining for the sail and long passage days in perfect sunny conditions. That’s not always how it actually was, but some of the best memories of my life involve sailing the incredible waters of the Pacific Northwest. By continuing our travels in a different mode, I hope we’ll make even more memories to light up our smiles when our water adventures can only be recalled from rocking chairs on the porch. Either way, we’ve launched into a new era, literally and figuratively.

Dennis and his mate, Tekla, reside in Auburn, Washington and usually launch from Point Defiance to spend time on Sea Lab, their C-Dory 22 affectionately nicknamed “Boatswagen Bus.” When not playing with boats or guitars, Dennis can be found tending tropical Rhododendrons at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.

The primary outboard started on the first crank. Now, about that sticky throttle cable...

Dennis, Tekla, and their son Brandon, on their Cal 27, Moondance.

PREPARING OUR MENTAL HEALTH FOR SUCCESS AT SEA

by Jaelyn Wielbicki

The forecast called for pleasant winds of 10-20 knots, a perfect day to do a trial run on a small boat we planned to eventually use for the Race to Alaska. My husband, Scott, and I decided to sail our Santana 23D 35 miles from our homeport of Port Angeles across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands. Any PNW boater knows that the strait is a stretch of big water that shares space with cargo ship lanes, large fishing vessels, whale watching boats, ferries, and other recreational vessels. Though these waters can certainly be placid, it’s also known to see rough conditions with heavy winds, rapidly developing storms, sloppy seas from varied tidal currents, and tall swells coming in from the Pacific Ocean. Even with high quality, modern forecasts, these conditions can change frequently and be quite unpredictable. On the day we chose for our crossing to the islands, the skies were clear and the winds seemed fair and in line with the predictions.

Reaching north under mainsail and jib, doing 7.5 knots in a prevailing westerly, we were on a beautiful port tack with winds filling the sails and excitement in our hearts. The once-distant archipelago came into view, and we could see the sea changing color and were preparing for a shift in the tide and perhaps some rougher chop, but we were ready and unconcerned. These are familiar waters for us. They are our sailing backyard and we have made this passage many times.

As we neared Cattle Pass between Lopez and San Juan islands, the sea state quickly changed and became confused. If you have never experienced this sensation, it’s as if you are

sitting inside a washing machine when it is in the agitation cycle. On a small boat, this causes a sloppy, unpredictable, and uncomfortable motion. Ordinarily, I can ride out this sea state and remain focused. However, this time I immediately became seasick. I stood in the companionway, staring at the landmass ahead, bucket in hand, repeating the phrase: “Stay aware, keep breathing, stay centered.”

My husband worked the helm, attempting to minimize the motion and my seasickness when, suddenly, the tiller fractured right in his hands! All control was lost. I was standing there, unhelpful, fighting the next urge to purge. The boat rounded up in the waves and flogged uneasily. Though the challenge he was facing was different from mine, he used the same mantra — stay aware, keep breathing, stay centered — as he acted calmly and quickly. With duct tape, quick-set epoxy, and zip ties, he was able to repair the tiller. Within a few minutes the waters calmed. My seasickness subsided and I turned to see him, holding the repaired tiller, a look of astonishment on his face. We handled what could have been a very dangerous situation with relative ease.

The rest of the voyage into Friday Harbor went smoothly, and we were happy to arrive at our destination unscathed. Over beers at the brewery, we debriefed about our passage. How had we been able to handle the crisis that arose while remaining calm without screaming and yelling at each other or being overwhelmed with panic? It came down to the preparation and practice we had been doing on land.

We sailors can spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of

hours preparing our boats for cruising and long passages. We can spend almost as much money outfitting our bodies preparing for any weather, or untold hours trying to interpret GRIBs and forecasts that seek to predict it. But how do we prepare our minds and emotions for the stressors that can accompany even an easy day sail?

In addition to being a sailor, I am also a psychotherapist and Somatic Experiencing™ practitioner (an alternative therapy focused on treating trauma). What I know about humans, including sailors, is that we don’t handle stress and anxiety well. According to John Heiser, instructor at Medical Support Offshore, “the number one medical issue on board worldwide is mental health.” So then, why do we not gear our minds and emotions with the same level of care and intention as we do our boats and bodies?

As a specialist in trauma healing, I have spent my career teaching others how to regulate their emotional responses by paying attention to their body sensations, thoughts, and feelings. The mantra repeated by both my husband and I during our crisis at sea is one tool I designed. We have practiced it on land in many different situations. This mantra has helped many of my clients remain calm and alert during stressful times, and it can help you, too. I call it the ABCs: Awareness, Breath, Center.

A good sailor is unconsciously doing the ABCs all the time when it comes to physical safety on the boat. It is vital that we stay aware of our surroundings lest we trip over a line or get caught by the boom. Our regulated breathing is necessary to keep us awake and alert. Being physically centered in our

The author's Santana 23D safely in port after a tiller failure.

bodies might keep us from falling overboard during a swell or gust of wind. Without being aware of it, our bodies are doing what it takes to be successful at sea. Taking this to the conscious level helps us to be emotionally successful as well, especially during stressful moments.

AWARENESS: Take a moment right now and look around you. Slowly, turn your head and look to the left, to the right, and in front of you. Turn your head and look over your left shoulder behind you and then over your right shoulder. Look down at your feet and up above your head. Take the time to really notice where you are. When stress begins, our nervous systems activate and our scope of focus narrows. Taking a few minutes to expand our focus back out helps to regulate our nervous system.

BREATH: Notice where your breath is. Is it in your throat? Your chest? Your belly? Are you holding it? Is your diaphragm tight? Exhale. Inhale to the count of four, hold it for a count of seven and then exhale for a count of eight. Repeat this three times. Notice how your shoulders begin to relax, your chest feels less tight and your heart rate reduces. Notice if your breathing changes, if you are taking deeper slower breaths. This also helps to regulate our nervous system.

CENTER: Where are your feet? Wiggle your toes a bit, bring your attention all the way down to your feet. Notice them. If you are sitting, stand. If you are wearing shoes, are they tight, loose, comfortable? Can you feel the texture of your socks or the ground beneath your feet? Are your feet cold, warm, sweaty, or dry? Stand firmly on your feet. Notice how you balance your weight. Settle into your feet. Rock on the balls of your feet so

you can feel your center of gravity. Bringing your attention to your feet helps you land fully in your body, down-regulating your nervous system and calming your body.

Notice how your body feels. Are you thinking more clearly? Are you feeling calmer? Become familiar with this sensation. Next time you feel stress and/or anxiety start to rise, pause, spend a few minutes doing your ABC’s, and then respond to the situation. The more you practice with this tool, the more quickly you can return to a state of safety, both mentally and emotionally whether on land or at sea.

Prudent sailors must, of course, balance the need to act quickly in certain situations with the needs to act effectively. The thing to remember is that stress, panic, and hurry are seldom effective. Building your personal familiarity with the process of calming your mind and regaining clarity in stressful situations will help you respond adeptly and in a timely fashion at sea.

Scott and I have moved through two boats since the broken-tiller incident on the Santana 23D. We have had many opportunities to practice the ABCs, both individually and together.

While I hope you don’t ever experience an unexpected gear failure in a Strait of Juan de Fuca washing machine, I do hope that this article provides you with tools and assurance that you can navigate a difficult situation when one inevitably comes up. Thoughtful preparations for both our boats and our minds go a long way in helping us to enjoy sailing, our boat, and each other; and I believe it can do the same for you.

Jaelyn Wielbicki, LMHC SEP, now lives in and sails out of Sequim, Washington. You can learn more about her work at www.jaelyn.love.

Why do we not gear our minds and emotions with the same level of care and intention as we do our boats and bodies?

Jaelyn and Scott enjoying a stress-free day on the water.

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A LIFE CHANGING WEEKEND CRUISE

by Samantha McLenachen

Iwasn’t born with a love of sailboats. In fact, I would say that I still don’t have a huge passion for them, even though I’ve owned one since 2018. They’ve been growing on me the last several years, but it’s taken a lot of work to get to this point.

What I’m really in love with is the lifestyle that sailing can bring me. The boating community, the destinations, the refreshing minimalism, the connection with nature, and more. All of these things drew me in and continue to outweigh my fear of sailing.

Like many people, it’s the boat’s heeling motion that gets to me. Although at a cognitive level I understand the physics of sailing and that heeling is normal and even beneficial, there’s a deep, primitive part of my brain that sounds the alarm when my world goes sideways.

Muse, my 1992 Hunter 43 Legend, is my tiny floating world. It contains nearly every precious thing in my life. I live aboard in Tacoma with my kids, my stepson, my husband, and our two cats. It’s more than just a sailboat. It’s my home, and when it’s off kilter, my protective instincts go absolutely haywire.

Accordingly, I actually look forward to summer in the Salish Sea when I know the wind will all but disappear and we can lazily ghost along toward our chosen anchorages. I feel fairly comfortable in 5 to 10 knots, but anything above 12 starts to make me nervous. In 20 or more, I’m in full panic mode.

It’s something I’m actively working on, and the summer of 2022 was just the exposure therapy I needed. I didn’t get the calm, easy breezy season I had learned to expect. It was unusually windy, and I experienced more sporty sailing in those few months than I had since buying Muse in 2018.

So it was that, with a reef in the main and the genoa partially furled, we made our way north toward Vashon Island from Tacoma’s Foss Waterway in August. We almost always get southerly wind in these parts, but it seems to switch direction on us every time we make plans to head north. If I’m going to get away from the dock at all and experience the things I love about this lifestyle, I must begrudgingly accept all the upwind sailing practice mother nature sends my way. With a 65-foot mast and a monster of a mainsail, Muse is a tender ship. This makes her a delight to sail in light winds, but nearly petrifying for me in the 15 to 20 knots we experienced that weekend on our way to Quartermaster Harbor.

After a breathless (me, not the wind) sail of only an hour or so across Commencement Bay and into the harbor entrance between Vashon and Maury Island, I made the call to stop tacking up to our destination and drop the sails so we could motor the rest of the way in. Nervous that I’d disappointed my husband (who, unlike me, apparently popped out of the womb with a love of sailing), I was already on edge when we had a little difficulty setting the anchor. Although the wind was forecast to die that evening, it was still blowing like mad when we arrived, and Andrew and I couldn’t hear one another from opposite ends of the boat. My lingering self consciousness got the better of me and, once the hook was set, I let my pent up emotions flow freely. We were here to spend what precious free time we had having fun as a family, and I was worried I’d blown it.

Not only was I an emotional mess, the kids were already complaining about having no friends to play with. To help

The kids play on the bow while sailing toward Vashon Island.

The author's husband, Andrew, has spent his life around boats.

make cruising most enjoyable for my kids, I usually do my best to organize meetups of local boating families at different anchorages or try to bring one their friends along for a trip; but this time no one was available. Cruising tends to be a very social activity for us, which we love, and I was uncertain how this solo weekend would pan out. It seemed we were already off to a shaky start.

Throughout 2022, we didn’t have much time for casting off the dock lines. My husband’s employer only gave him two weeks of vacation a year, and we had used it all up within the first few months with a long list of haulout projects and a honeymoon. We had no regrets about those decisions — the boat was in much better shape after a good bottom paint job, rudder shaft bearing replacement, fiberglass repairs, and more. Any boat owner knows you have to roll your sleeves up in the offseason if you want it to be safe and operational come springtime, but this left us with only the weekends to take short cruises away from our home slip.

Andrew, who had grown up living aboard various boats and had amassed all kinds of technical education and career experience, dreamed of one day owning a boat repair business and making his own schedule. When I met him, he was gutting a rotten old 1970s DeFever and restoring and refitting every inch to perfection while living aboard. If that experience didn’t kill his love of boats, nothing would. How sweet it would be to be self-employed doing something he was so passionate about, all while finding a better work-life balance and prioritizing time together as a family. The dream persisted but, for now, we had to make the most of our weekends. Thankfully, we have a few great anchorages close by for these short cruises.

That weekend, we chose to visit Dockton, which has become one of our favorites. The anchorage has lots of swing room, decent depths, and a relatively easy mud and gravel bottom to set the hook in. There’s also a great trail network ashore that leads to a defunct old gravel mining pit, which Andrew and I love dragging the kids to. I think the children would agree, though, that the very best part is the playground near the dinghy dock. During our previous visit, we noticed that Dockton Park has large fire pits for public use, so this time we brought a bundle of wood and lots of yummy things to roast. Friends or no friends, we were going to try and make the best of our weekend.

Saturday morning came, and we made a plan for the day’s explorations. The kids weren’t very enthused about doing the

gravel pit hike again, so we set our sights on a dinghy ride across the harbor to Jensen Point. Pulling the dinghy way up onto the shallow beach and securing it as best we could, we set off on a walk through the beautifully forested Burton Acres Park. When you get halfway through the loop trail, it splits off and takes you out of the woods and into a neighborhood. Following this trailturned-road brings you right into the charming town of Burton and straight to the Harbor Mercantile, or as our kids like to call it, “The ice cream store!”

We grabbed some goodies for everyone (including Beyond Meat jerky, which I was surprised and delighted to find, and thought other vegan cruisers might want to know it’s available here) and waited for the kids to finish their drippy frozen treats on the bench outside the store before heading back to the boat. The weekend was really starting to turn around, but we had no idea how serendipitous it would become.

Shortly after returning to Muse, a dad and his 5-year-old daughter came over on a SUP to introduce themselves. He had spotted us on the beach at Jensen Point and saw that we had potential playmates for his little girl. They were up from Oregon for a special daddy-daughter weekend on their new aluminum boat they moor at Harstine Island. We love meeting other boaters, and having a chance to connect with another kid crew was a huge plus, so we were excited to invite them to our campfire at the playground that evening. He paddled back, pulled up anchor on the other side of the harbor, and came to join us at Dockton. Friendships form so fast within the boating community, especially when you’ve got kids to help pave the way.

We all headed ashore when the sun was disappearing over the horizon and started getting to know one another. The kids played happily on the playground equipment, and we grownups hung around the fire talking about parenting, boats, and other interests. In the course of the conversation, we learned that our new friend, David, owns a software company in Portland that employs over 200 people. He is an entrepreneur who has started six businesses with varying levels of success, and can’t seem to get enough of it.

Bashfully, we confessed our dream of starting a boat repair business, explaining that it was a long-term goal, maybe five or so years out. “Why wait so long?” he asked.

For starters, there’s business insurance, health insurance, all the different licensing, and capital to get started. So many

A stop at Burton's Harbor Mercantile is a family favorite.

things seemed to stand between us and our lofty goal. And the biggest, scariest concern of all, “What if we fail?”

With the ease and confidence of a motivational speaker, David assuaged all our fears and assured us that jumping through all the bureaucratic hoops to get started really wasn’t as difficult as it seemed. “Figuring out private insurance is easy. Get online and get a few quotes, then pick one. It’ll take you no more than a couple hours of your time.”

As the night went on, the kids periodically coming back to the fire for more toasted marshmallows, we divulged more and more information about our financial situation and our business plan. David helped us see that, not only was there a practical way to make this dream a reality, there were several viable paths to get there.

But what about the F word? He said that failure is not something to be feared. “You will make mistakes, but most of them won’t be catastrophic. You’ll screw up, and you’ll learn from it. You’ll course correct, and your business will become better because of it.”

As we dinghied back to Muse late that night, the kids were exhausted, but Andrew and I were buzzing with dreams and plans for the future.

In the morning, it was time to pull up the anchor, head back to our slip and our normal lives — physically tied to the dock and metaphorically tied to all our responsibilities ashore. But something had shifted, and we both knew it.

I got the windless summer day I had secretly been hoping for on the way back home. Even our asymmetrical spinnaker was

With the skills to do it, and the desire for more time with the family, Andrew has dreamed of starting a boat repair business.

The kids help the grownups make friends in the boating community even more quickly than normal.

deflated and lifeless. So we took the sails down and motored the 8 miles to Foss Waterway, watching for sea life, chatting, applying sunscreen, and enjoying our last bit of time together on the water. From the outside, it looked like a return from any old trip, but we left Vashon that weekend with more than just good memories and a new cruising buddy. We’ve met lots of wonderful people in the boating community, but this particular chance meeting was about to change our lives.

Back in Tacoma, we ironed out the finer points of our business plan, took a hard look at our finances, and made the decision to move up our five year goal… to now. Right now. We took the leap and applied for a business license.

Was it just coincidence that we met David, and he gave us the exact push we needed to get past our fears and get going?

The following weekend, we decided to hike instead of sail, and it ended up being a dreadful “trail” — mainly a long, bare, dusty dirt road on a hot day. We turned around earlier than we planned and attempted to salvage the day by going to Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor for lunch. Watching the boats out the window while we ate, we spotted a familiar boat at the restaurant dock. It was David, our friendly Oregonian entrepreneur! We felt the tingle of serendipity as we headed down to say hi and to tell him the

good news that we’d begun our journey into self-employment.

Cruising and the boating community have given me so many gifts, and our family meeting David is one of those. He was just a fellow boater who also has a passion for being on the water and came to introduce himself and his daughter; but he shared so much more. Sharing generously is remarkably common in the cruising community — skills, experience, and camaraderie; a wrench or a hose clamp; a sunset bonfire on the beach or the encouragement to pursue your dreams as soon as possible. Even the shortest excursion can offer you fresh inspiration or a new perspective… it might even change your life!

Just six short years ago, I knew nothing about boats, nor did I want to. Although I still struggle with the act of sailing itself, boat life still has an otherworldly pull for me, and the kindness and support of the boating community has only strengthened it. As long as we keep getting out on the water, even when it challenges or scares us, the gifts will keep on coming.

Samantha McLenachen and her husband, Andrew, live aboard with their children in Tacoma, Washington. They proudly own the newly opened marine repair business, Independent Marine Service.

The younger generation played together while big plans were in the works for their parents.

The boating community gives such extraordinary gifts.

Author, Samantha McLenachen.

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LIFE LESSONS AND HALFWAY ‘ROUND

REFLECTING ON THE CLIPPER AND MY FIRST 12,000 OCEAN MILES

by Lizzy Grim

Icannot believe it’s been a year since I sailed away from home with Team Seattle as a part of the Clipper Round the World Race. It has been a hell of a ride to process.

The Clipper Race is pretty epic in its own right, even before there was a two year pause for a global pandemic. 48° North readers may recall I shared my story of the training in Gosport, U.K. back in 2019 (holy crap that feels like a lifetime ago). In describing that experience, I said that everything was bigger and heavier than I’d ever experienced before; and it was true on the race too, and not just regarding the equipment on the boat.

Let’s just say MTV’s The Real World has nothing on the Clipper Race when it comes to crew dynamics. Seven strangers picked to live in a house? I see that and raise you 14 to 20 people with a broad range of sailing experience crammed onto a boat with two heads, no shower, and food options of “eat it or don’t.” Add

sleep deprivation, malfunctioning wind instruments, a whale strike, wind holes measured in hundreds of miles, and pandemic aftershocks, and I’m thankful there wasn’t a film crew on board. Friends, this is not a Clipper fluff piece, this is how I experienced it.

Thankfully, it wasn’t all bad, and my first 12,000 offshore miles taught me so much. One thing the Clipper definitely gave me is an even deeper appreciation of the sailing community around Seattle. I have been so supported and encouraged by a huge group of awesome sailors who believed in me, before, during, and after this wild adventure.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was created in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox Johnson, the first person to sail solo nonstop around the world. He wanted to create an opportunity for people who didn’t have vast (or any!) sailing experience to go offshore racing. The Clipper owns and manages the fleet of boats, and ordinary people can sign up. Four weeks of training and some serious

cash later, and they’re theoretically ready to help sail one of the eleven 70-foot fiberglass racing tanks across oceans.

The only paid people on the boats are the skipper and an “additional qualified person” (AQP, aka first mate). The route is broken up into eight legs, with stopovers in host ports between. Some people sign up to do the whole thing (“Round the Worlders”) while others sign up to do one or more legs (“Leggers”). The Clipper race has been visiting Seattle since 2016, which is when I became acquainted with it.

Once I signed on, I went full-tilt excited and passionate about the Clipper Race, which came as no surprise to my friends and family. By the time the fleet finally arrived in Seattle in April of 2022, I could not wait to get back on the boat that I hadn’t touched since training in 2019. My mother and I put our little Catalina 27 Happy Place in Bell Harbor Marina for the week so that it could be my combination floating apartment and the renegade hospitality suite.

The arriving crews had just completed the longest ever Clipper passage across the North Pacific Ocean — 35 days, due to light air. This delayed their arrival and shortened the stopover by more than a week. Many of the skippers, AQPs, and crew arrived tired and grumpy — foreshadowing much of my Leg 7 experience.

Before I knew it, it was time to realize my dream of setting sail from Seattle as a Clipper crewmember. Immediately, my dream and reality diverged. I had envisioned myself on the bow giving signals about traffic and the line to the back of the boat during an Elliott Bay buoy race prior to heading to the actual race start at Neah Bay. Unfortunately, the buoy race was canceled for lack of time and wind, and we were quickly heading out of the bay after a parade of sail. I was bummed, but it was still exciting to see the Seattle skyline slip away. We departed the same day as Seattle Yacht Club’s Smith Island Race, and it was special to see those friends waving us on and wishing us good luck on our way out.

After a day of refresher training and crew overboard drills off Neah Bay, it was race time. The Clipper uses a Le Mansstyle start in which all crew have to be aft of the forward grinding pedestal, while the skippers motor to keep in the same line. At the mark, crewmembers raced to their designated spots and hoisted sails as quickly as possible. My Clipper race had well and truly begun.

Things quickly got interesting on board the good ship Seattle. We started the race with our Code 2 spinnaker up, the workhorse and lifeblood of the race. The kite had been stored in a sail locker in the Philippines for two years, and I was concerned about its condition with the building wind and the lumpy sea state. I voiced these concerns to the skipper, but was blown off. Thus, I was less-thanthrilled when, in the wee hours of the morning, all hands were called on deck to find a bunch of commotion and discover that the kite was in the water. Not my favorite team-building exercise.

To add to the fun, more than a few of my fellow crew members soon suffered from seasickness, or fell plain-old ill. Some people were barely able to leave their bunks. Making matters worse, those

who had stayed on after the Pacific crossing had not gotten much time to rest and recover in Seattle. Morale was… not cheerful.

We had a mix of personalities, ages, and experiences — same as on every boat, I suppose — but this is uniquely true on a Clipper boat. I greatly enjoyed some of my crew members, but others made life aboard difficult.

Several sailors clearly had the attitude that it was “their” boat, and were bossy with me and other crew members who had joined in Seattle. I absolutely understand a desire to help new crew get reacquainted with the boat, but their relentless condescension occurred sailing, doing boat work, even in the galley. As someone with ADHD and anxiety, it’s not productive to have multiple people yelling at you simultaneously, while giving contradictory instructions. Whatever I did, they took issue with how I did it. I started to feel really down and began second-guessing myself.

I had hoped to bring lots of fun and positive energy to the boat, but the unsolicited advice, yelling, and nitpicking zapped my joy and motivation; and I wasn’t the only one on the boat feeling that way. Eventually, I had a bit of a meltdown and burst into tears on deck, giving voice to the feelings that I didn’t belong and the frustration that I was being bullied by some of my own crew during an experience I had worked towards for so long. The skipper listened from the helm, but did nothing that I was aware of.

Ocean racing is hard on the mind and body, even when you’re with a team of experienced sailors you know and trust. With such varied backgrounds and levels of skill (or perceived skill) on our crew, the distrust reached new heights. And when things get tough offshore, there’s nowhere to go. The hardest thing about this leg wasn’t the adrenaline-fueled racing — we weren’t working well together, and because of it, we weren’t going to be competitive.

The racing itself didn’t offer many rewards either. If we weren’t stymied by wind hole after wind hole, we were called to slow down to be a stand-on vessel for our friends on Imagine Your Korea. Seattle to Panama felt like a glorified delivery

The author's mother at the helm of Happy Place, getting ready to bid Lizzy and the Clipper fleet bon voyage.

Transiting the Panama Canal was cool!

The author repairing sails at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

leg — the race was halted for time, and we motored for nearly a thousand miles to make the arranged dates to transit the Panama Canal.

By the time we got to Panama, I could not freaking wait to get off the boat. A cheap hotel room to have some time to myself (shower!) would be a treat. There was certainly fun to be had in the port of Casco Viejo; and fun we had. It was good to blow off some steam with part of my crew and friends from other boats. I have a new appreciation for why shore leave is so important to sailors.

Just two days after arriving on the Pacific side of Panama, we transited the Panama Canal, which was pretty cool! Then, it was off to Bermuda.

The trip from Panama to Bermuda was relatively short compared to the near-month it took to get from Seattle to Panama. Bermuda would be the changeover port from Leg 7 to Leg 8, which meant some welcome crew changes. The crew drama wasn’t over yet, though. Much of the negative dynamic remained and, at one point, I finally blew my top on one of the people I had really been butting heads with. We were working to get a spinnaker up the forward hatch and had a classic too-many-cooks situation. I was leading the sail locker maneuver down below and the crew on deck had a different plan. Words were exchanged, and a fellow crew member and close friend looked at me with a grin and said “Well, you’ve got a short fuse haven’t you?” Still-heated, I responded,

“This has been brewing since Seattle and I’ve finally had it.”

Going full redhead on this person was a turning point for me. I was tired of feeling like I didn’t fit in and didn’t know how to sail this boat, and reminded myself that this was the exact boat on which I had been much more comfortable during training. I resolved to get through the remainder of the race to Bermuda with this spirit.

In Bermuda, I had my first true Clipper stopover experience, with some fun activities organized by the race office (hello, Gosling’s Cellars!) and organic hangouts with fellow crew. I started connecting or reconnecting with some amazing people from training and from other boats. I also got to speak to my mom, husband, and friends back home, all of whom gave me much appreciated advice and encouragement.

With the crew changeover in Bermuda, I had a new watch leader who really listened when I expressed my frustrations about the previous leg and my goals for the next one. This watch leader believed in what I was capable of, and was excited to have me on board. What a difference that made.

Oh what a leg it was! Everything went much better on the race from Bermuda to New York. The start was an exciting one, and I finally showed what I could do on the pointy end when, shortly after the race started, we changed headsails in a lively sea state. Feeling alive and happy after that maneuver instead of frustrated, I rode that high. This leg felt like much more of a race — I was refreshingly engaged in the sailing. After seven days of shifty light air racing, playing the Gulf Stream, and a few fun boat-to-boat battles, we were on our way into New York Harbor.

It’s hard to say what was more unbelievable, the experience of sailing past the Statue of Liberty and approaching that famous skyline; or the fact that we struck a whale shortly before getting there, doing some damage to the sacrificial part of our bow. I was off watch at the time, but those on deck didn’t see any signs of a whale before the strike and said it smelled awful immediately. This led us to think the whale was already either mostly or completely dead.

There wasn’t a nearby haulout option in New York and, since there wasn’t water intrusion behind the crash bulkhead, the maintenance crew did the best they could with a patch above the waterline.

I had only been to New York City once in high school and was very eager for the stopover, but also needed some alone time to prepare for our Atlantic crossing. My Clipper race was now more than halfway over, and it went in the blink of an eye. I did a lot of reflecting in New York. I really wanted Team Seattle to show the fleet, and ourselves, that we were capable of great things. We had a solid team and had not been on the podium yet. We were hungry for it.

Things got wild on our Atlantic crossing, and there were some very special moments and incredible highlights. Our crew kicked into high gear. For over half the race to Northern Ireland, we were on the podium, which was even more amazing considering the extra drag where our bow had been blunted by the whale strike. We sailed 303 nautical miles in a single day, a realization that led to major whoops and hollers at the midday team meeting.

Other than the very handy, very analog Windex at the masthead, our wind instruments — which had been flickering in previous legs — gave up the ghost a few days out of New York. Our lack of wind instruments got interesting when we learned that a 30-40 knot storm was forecast to be in our area when approaching Derry, Northern Ireland.

Some well-earned relaxation at Gosling's Cellars in Bermuda.

Monkeying around on the way into New York City.

Things got rowdy! It’s probably for the best that we didn’t have wind instruments, since we later learned that other boats had clocked wind speeds closer to 60 knots. This storm held so many, “wow, am I glad I’m alive” moments. I’m sure I even said that out loud a few times.

During that storm, we saw what happens when a Tylaska shackle gets sideloaded beyond its breaking strength, and the results were disastrous. Our Code 3 spinnaker dropped with frightening speed. I was called in to perform what was quite literally the splice of my life. It was so special when we put the kite back up and my splice held, and I even got some rare praise from my skipper.

Alas, the race was not done teaching lessons in disappointment. What was left of the sacrificial bow tore off completely, and we became the “Seattle Snowplow.” Another kite gave in to wear and tear. And to top it off, after these failures had slowed us down, race officials needed to add more distance to the race course. All this meant we did not get our podium spot, instead landing a 5th place finish that we fought like hell for.

Arriving in Derry, two milestones overshadowed any disappointment: this was the first time I had experienced the joy of first smelling, then seeing, land after an ocean crossing; and it was the last time I sailed into port before the end of the race. Derry was amazing, welcoming us in like heroes with our team songs blasting and crowds lining the Foyle River to cheer us in. Locals were so kind and excited to have us there.

In Derry, there were a lot of familiar stopover shenanigans, mixed with quiet reflection to consider what I hoped to squeeze out of the end of the race. St. Columbs Park became a safe haven away from the festivities, where I could hear myself think. I took stock of how the race had already changed me — I kicked myself for getting so down on my first leg, but was very proud of the way Leg 8 had gone. I resolved to accept that I had no control over others’ negativity, and to believe in myself even when others don’t.

My advice to anyone planning their own Clipper journey is to be sure of yourself, and don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself. Your skipper and your crew

have a big influence on the dynamic aboard, but you determine how you experience it. You’ve worked for your spot just as much as anyone else and you should enjoy your time.

Three months and 12,000 offshore miles on the Clipper race taught lessons about managing and changing expectations. I came in hoping for a full-send racing experience beyond my wildest dreams and, yes, I got some of that on the Atlantic. At other times, this journey was an exercise in perseverance — which would be true on any offshore passage, but felt particularly true for my Clipper.

I am still not proud of how I let the difficult things affect me — the bullying, that my skipper didn’t “get” me, the selfdoubt. But I learned to laugh or roll my eyes at some petty things, and refined the art of nodding and smiling and carrying on while someone decided to be a butthead.

I came to terms with the fact that not everyone understands or appreciates my desire to live in a world of glitter and rainbows and sailing unicorns, but I also realized that’s on them, not me. In time, I was able to find my people on the race. They are the ones who kept me going, even if they sometimes thought I was as crazy as I was amusing. Those relationships were so important, since I spent more time away from my mom than I ever had. Boy howdy was that an amazing hug at the finish! Leaning on the

people who love you for you is a lasting lesson.

This trip halfway around the world showed me that my body is capable of some amazing things even when really tired; and that includes being able to fall asleep in my bunk almost instantly, even at 30 degrees of heel. Adjusting to a watch system came quite easily for me, and gives me structure I’ve been unable to replicate on land. I learned a lot about sail trim and helming in the ocean — for offshore dump trucks, these boats are incredibly fun to steer.

There were truly remarkable moments when I felt that the ocean was my home. Massive waves soaking me during sail changes on the bow is like a baptism that made me feel so alive, even if I said things that would make a sailor blush at the time. Seeing stars with absolutely no light pollution made me feel things I simply can’t describe.

Most importantly, after such a long, bumpy, and winding road, I finally finished what I started. I am now looking forward to many more ocean crossings and offshore races, with a solid group of sailors.

When not working at Ballard Sails, Lizzy can be found racing on the Salish Sea and beyond. She owns a Catalina 27, Happy Place, with her mom that they race in Duck Dodge and sail around Puget Sound. Follow her adventures on Instagram @sailingunicorn426

Lizzy with dear friends and fellow members of Foredeck Union near Derry, Northern Ireland.

GIG HARBOR ISLANDS RACE

THE RACE THAT NEVER WAS

This year’s Gig Harbor Islands Race will be forgotten as the race that never really happened.

Early in the week prior to the final event of the four-race Southern Sound Series that began in December 2022, forecasts gave a foreboding wind prediction of 0-2 knots. Usually an early forecast like that will change into something, anything! Not this time. All the models agreed that this was going to be a great weekend for doing just about anything outside…other than sailing.

The dock banter at Gig Harbor’s Jerisich Dock on Saturday, March 18, was fun and jovial as the chilly morning gave way to warming sunshine. The cruising class got off to an uneventful, downwind start a half-hour before the PHRF boats, and achieved speeds marginally faster than the current. This observation gave the rest of us hope that we might be able to manufacture some wind.

The first two classes of slower PHRF boats minded their manners with an orderly start. The boat end was favored and most boats started with their jibs to get out into whatever breeze there might be, as well as more favorable current in a building flood. A couple of kites popped out and hugged the shore.

The next start was for the medium-fast PHRF classes, and those of us in the last start thought things were proceeding. But somewhere the wires got crossed. The flags on the committee boat were difficult to see, and sound signals difficult to hear. Sailors weren’t paying attention, and before you knew it things went sideways. The fast boats started, but several minutes later an Individual Recall went up. One by one, boats in that last start started following the leader and returned to the line, all the while fighting adverse current in no wind.

Radio chatter escalated as each “selfappointed PRO” offered their unsolicited advice. Eventually, the committee decided to call the last fleet a General Recall. We started our engines and returned to the starting line. Then, the middle-fast boats were included in the General Recall. After another 10 minutes, all PHRF classes (but not cruising classes) were recalled. The boats that had started first were going to have to buck a building tide from a long way down river, and several of the first PHRF to start chose to keep going and enjoyed a beautiful, sunny day of sailing. While the going was slow, sails were full, and springtime had arrived!

Aboard Time Warp, rather than wait for

by Peter Nelson

a restart in no wind, we decided to head to the dock. We took second in that “race” as Gardyloo was already tied up at Tides Tavern.

After dropping off crew, we motored past the few remaining holdouts for a restart as we began the delivery home to Seattle. Still no wind. Farther up Colvos Passage we saw legendary Puget Sound racers Dave Knowlton on Pearson 36 Koosah, and Pete Stewart on Cal 33 Cherokee, packing it in. We knew then that we’d made the right call.

In the end, no one made it across the twice-shortened finish, and most boats never made it across the start! Despite the lack of breeze and racing, the warm, sunny skies still made it better than the best day at work!

With no scores for Islands Race, the first three events made the series. Congratulations to all the sailors, especially to overall top finishers. Riptide 35, Terremoto, took the series going away with an amazing score line of 1, 2, 1 in each race’s overall results! The rest of the overall top 5 for the series included Aerodyne 38 Kahuna in second, Jeanneau SO 519 Equus in third, Olson 40 String Theory fourth, and Santa Cruz 27 Wilder fifth overall.

An orderly start for PHRF 8. Aurora won the prettiest kite award.

BLAKEY ROCK REACH REPORT

CYC CENTER SOUND SERIES #1

by Joe Cline

The Blakely Rock Race — the first of the Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle’s Center Sound Series — is for all intents and purposes central Puget Sound’s sailboat racing season kickoff.

Sixty-seven crews loaded up their boats with sails — possibly a crinkly new one or two for 2023 — and warm gear for a chilly, damp edition of the annual spring trip around “the rock.” Breeze forecasts suggested light-to-middling pressure, probably a southerly with some easterly trends, and a possible afternoon switch to the north.

On the TP52, Glory, we headed to the course with the lightwind jib on deck. We hoisted sails to dial in settings before the starting sequence, and we were suddenly rocked up in 18-knot growlers directly from the east. Hmm. “Jib down.”

Crew went below to don foulies or add layers as the rain came in and mysteriously didn’t reappear until the soggy few still on deck called “all-hands” because it was time to go racing. As the fleet got started, the biggest gusts had subsided and a puffy 7-12 knots from the east-southeast had settled in.

The race committee shortened the course to eliminate the temporary mark near Point Wells, making the course an almost14-mile route from Shilshole around Blakely Rock and back.

With the easterly breeze, it seemed an easy fetch of the rock off the start. You definitely wanted clean air, but it was advantageous to start near the boat end (west side) to reduce distance to the mark. As the pressure fluctuated, the game was to get as low as possible in bigger breeze, while heading

up slightly to keep speed up when the puffs abated. Past West Point, the breeze backed, inviting some explorations with Code Zeros. It was right on the borderline of conditions where that sail would have been a huge benefit. The breeze was just strong enough and just far enough forward that it didn’t seem like there was much, possibly anything, to gain with the Code Zero.

As it turned out, the jib reachers also had an advantage when, closer to the Bainbridge side of the Sound, the breeze quickly headed south, even southwest in some puffs. A quick transition to upwind sailing wound up being a factor in the final outcome of the race.

Traffic and shifting winds made the last few hundred yards approaching Blakely Rock pretty hectic. It wasn’t easy to stay on the breeze with oscillations and disturbed air, and there were quick tacks and ducks galore. Finally, tacking to starboard to round the rock, everybody’s pulses got to come down for a minute.

The first portion of the run back to Shilshole was a tight spinnaker reach. Crossing the Sound and approaching West Point, the breeze shifted east enough to take the kite down. At least for us. The pockets of pressure got so wonky that some were able to hold their kites and their lanes longer than we were. But you’ve got to sail the breeze you have.

Sailing the breeze you have became even more difficult entering Shilshole Bay, when the breeze went exceedingly light and got very flukey. Kite up, jib up, kite down… we were searching, but only occasionally finding the puff on the right heading. Roll tack. Ease. Trim. Nobody move. Auto-tack, everybody to the other side!

The breeze eventually filled as a light southwesterly, presumably on its way to the predicted northerly. It filled from the south, and the majority of the fleet finished in the few minutes after we had eked out line honors on Glory

Glory came 3rd in our ORC class on corrected time, behind TP52 Mist in 2nd, and J/160 Jam in first. The overall winner of the day was Carl and Carol Buchan’s Custom 40 Madrona, who pipped the win after handicaps were applied by a mere 13 seconds over Philip Dean and Pete Dorsey’s new-to-the-area Jeanneau Sunfast 3600, Rush.

The day provided plenty of fun and intrigue, and it was truly great to be back on the water with so many sailing pals! The 2023 season is off to a wonderful start.

Photos by Erin Noelle Parker.

The fleet navigating a transition on the return trip past West Point.

REACHING THERE AND BACK CENTER SOUND

SERIES #2

by Joe Cline

Afew years back, the course predictability of the second installment of CYC Seattle’s Center Sound Series was replaced with course flexibility. No longer Scatchet Head or bust, the race committee has more options to run unique races that fit the day’s conditions.

The 2023 edition saw the committee making use of another easterly-trending southerly to send racers south around Blake Island (passing it to port, which most consider the “wrong” way around if given the choice), then across the Sound to Duwamish Head, back to a temporary mark north of the committee boat, and on to the finish.

The race started in a 5 to 8 knot southeasterly with most boats aiming to short tack the beach up Discovery Park to West Point, looking for current relief in the building ebb. Some of the first classes to start had a couple of boats who headed immediately to Bainbridge Island off the start line and those boats got positively launched. A combo of the ebb and a decrease in breeze made that plan less viable for the later classes. But, even the boats that were literally miles ahead of the competition endured consolidations in changing conditions.

On the Bainbridge side, short-tacking the beach was crucial up to the spit that protects Eagle Harbor. Near Blakely Rock, somewhat unexpectedly, boats only about 100 yards farther offshore than the inside-most group were lifted near rhumbline to Restoration Point, while those inside were forced to tack up the beach.

Navigating the transitions was the job of the day, and the section around Restoration Point was one of the biggest. The ebb was pumping, so finding a lane with pressure was paramount. Once clear of the point, the breeze backed, and it was a deep jib reach to get to Blake Island for the lead pack. Those arriving later flew spinnakers on this leg. On the TP52 Glory, we had gotten out to a solid lead on the other 52s off the southern end of Bainbridge and stayed focused on boat speed on this single-lane portion of the course.

Blake Island’s topography created

Photo by Diane DeBorde.

The TP52s ghosting past Alki on a light spinnaker reach.

Photo by Erin Noelle Parker.

a bit of wind shadow on the leeward side. However, there was a point where boats needed to stop giving the island a wide-berth to avoid wind shadow, and begin banging the beach to stay in better current and avoid wind glassing off to the west. It was here we finally caught the

Ross 930 Gaucho, which had been one of the early crossers and had horizoned the fleet up to this point.

Bearing away on starboard at the southern end of Blake Island, it looked like we’d have a nice tight spinnaker reach over to Alki, but the breeze evaporated. Transition time — sails went up and down as we tried to keep boat speeds above 1 knot. Eventually, we got moving again on another jib reach with the breeze shifting around to the west. The other 52s, Smoke and Mist, were gaining on us with kites up, so we put up our A1 spinnaker, which helped us ghost around Alki in slow motion.

East of Alki, the wind was well aft of our course, so we got to practice our light air jibes on the way to Duwamish. In slightly building pressure, we rolled the dice by turning up around the mark with the kite up, and were able to hold it most of the way across Elliott Bay. Eventually, we moved back to the jib to give some westward distance to the shelf under Magnolia Bluff (where another blue boat unfortunately found the bottom early in the race).

We snuck around West Point jib reaching in the inconsistent westerly while watching the breeze dry up on the south side of the point, allowing us to gain more distance on the competition. We kept steady progress, tacked around the temporary mark, and jib reached back to the finish. Several lifelong Puget Sound sailors on our boat agreed that they’d never jib reached in this area as much as these first two Center Sound Series races! One way or another, it had been a clean and efficient day on Glory, and we were happy to cross the line first and win our class.

In the overall, the top spots went to some of the light and fast PHRF competitors, with first going to the always-well-sailed Riptide 35, Terremoto. They were followed by Farr 36OD Annapurna in second, and Farr 39CR Tachyon in third.

Thanks to all the sailors and the committee for coming out to play. And congrats especially to those boats who were able to stay on their toes through this unusual course with such variable conditions.

The J/105 fleet has been showing up with impressive numbers, and they had a 12-boat class for CSS #2. Creative, skippered by Al Hughes, won the day. Photo by Diane de Borde.

RED RUBY REPORT

UK DOUBLEHANDED OFFSHORE SERIES ON RED RUBY

THE FIRST HALF OF THE 2022 SEASON

In recent issues of 48° North, we’ve shared with readers how a unique partnership transpired that has enabled my husband Justin and I to purchase and campaign a SunFast 3300 in Europe with Jonathan McKee and his co-skipper Alyosha Strum-Palerm. Now, we’ll share a bit about how our first races unfolded as we jumped into racing the new boat, Red Ruby, out of the famous Solent.

Justin and I had committed to racing in several of the UK Doublehanded (DH) Offshore Series events in order to qualify for ranking in the overall results for the series. The series required a minimum of four races to be scored in the overall, so we opted to race only four events — shoreside commitments and too few frequent flier miles kept us from doing more. Our races would be the De Guingand Bowl (115 miles), the Myth of Malham (230 miles), and two back-to-back UK DH National races in September.

DE GUINGAND BOWL

Our first race on Red Ruby, the De Guingand Bowl in May, was a fantastic experience. The start area was directly off of Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, and apparently in the path of the high speed catamaran ferries. In the starting sequence for the classes right ahead of ours, one of the ferries gave five horns to some of the racers. In the Pacific Northwest this might have been instant disqualification, but maybe it’s more civilized in the UK, “Excuse my quick ship, but I must hurry through. Cheers!” Right before our starting sequence, we had a very warm hello and welcome from RockIt, which is co-skippered by sailing icons

by Christina Wolfe

Dee Caffari (who had raced the previous two seasons on Red Ruby, when the boat was called Gentoo) and Shirley Robinson. We had friendly waves from the others, too. We ended up with an excellent start, and even a picture to prove it (note: yes, the Americans do have a very large Union Jack on their mainsail).

The leg west in the Solent was a tactical one, trying to stay in phase with shifts and balancing current effects (deeper water in the middle meant more favorable current) with land breeze effects. The course had two lines of longitude as turnarounds, rather than marks — very tricky to optimize routing for that. We did well racing to the western line of longitude, where we jibed and then began our leg to the eastern line of longitude. We opted to stay inshore, close to the Isle of Wight, hoping for early benefits from the expected current switch, and we got them. We made huge gains inshore against the fleet who stayed more offshore to the south. We were then banking on an expected left shift that would have us on the inside of the lift.

At the western line of longitude we tacked and hoisted our A2 spinnaker for the run to the finish. After hoisting, the breeze was holding at 10-12 knots, a band in which we found it surprisingly difficult to drive the SunFast. In our light-air PNW sailing, these would have been perfect conditions for our very responsive J/111, but Red Ruby felt much less so — likely due to the twin rudders. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait too long before things changed, the breeze built to 15-20 knots as we approached the Solent. We liked that better and felt the boat was in a really nice groove!

We then had another surprise when a boat appeared, without

AIS, and we realized it was the SunFast 3300 Atomic — suddenly we were in a very close boat-on-boat race to the finish. We had to jibe to stay in the channel, and we took Atomic’s stern. When we jibed back, we found ourselves reaching in a narrow channel right behind them. We had our staysail out and started working to windward of Atomic. We made our move, ready to remind them that under COLREGS, at night, they weren’t supposed to luff us up; but of course, they were completely polite and let us by without issue.

We got by and did our best to focus on boat speed. Justin reminded us that this was one SunFast 3300 we actually owed time — variations in design mean some SunFast 3300s have different ratings. After a few tense jibes and some intenselyfocused nighttime navigation to the finish, we managed to get to the finish line one second before Atomic for line honors in IRC 2 and IRC DH. When the race committee confirmed the order of finish, we may have broken English decorum as we cheered very loudly into the night. Once the handicaps were applied, it turned out that we were second overall for the race, second in IRC Class 2, and second in the doublehanded class — all behind Atomic. We were really pleased, even a bit surprised since this was our first race on Red Ruby and first race in the UK. After months of preparation and wondering, this was a pleasant affirmation that we could be competitive overseas.

MYTH OF MALHAM

In June, our second race of the year on Red Ruby was the Myth of Malham — a 230 mile race that would provide a preview of the first 115 miles of the famous Fastnet course. We started in an uncharacteristic easterly that launched us downwind in favorable current out of the Solent. Similar to the de Guingand race, Justin and I got into our onboard routine after exiting the Solent (about 13 miles), where we started 30-minuteson/30-minutes-off for the remainder of the race (outside of major navigation decisions and sail changes). Offwatch time allows us to eat, hydrate, navigate, and catch a 15-minute nap which provides a surprising amount of energy. We’ve found that starting to rest early, even for very brief periods, prevents fatigue and brain-fog from setting in later in the race.

We took down the kite at the Needles, a bit less gracefully than normal as the breeze went forward. We swapped to the Code Zero and genoa staysail quickly for a few miles, before resetting the A2 spinnaker again in a backing breeze that we held to the turnaround. We were the second SunFast 3300

around the Eddystone Light.

Our return leg was more challenging. We faced weather transitions and key routing decisions that ended up being pivotal for the race. After Eddystone, we were close-reaching back towards the Solent. Most of our fleet was opting for the rhumbline, which was the more northerly course, but we made the decision to foot for speed towards the header we expected when the northerly transitioned to an easterly. As a result, we ended up being the boat farthest south in our fleet. We chose to stay in touch with the fleet rather than take the right-hand turn the routing was calling for, but that positioning was enough to pay well. We reached the header first, tacked, and crossed all but one boat in our IRC 2 fleet.

In Lyme Bay, approximately 40 miles from the finish, the breeze shutdown but the current (unhelpfully) did not. We found ourselves struggling mightily. We had managed to crawl to within a quarter-mile of our class leader, Mzungu!, but then watched them sail away when they found a zephyr we couldn’t reach. We ended up sailing backwards in the current to get into pressure before we could escape. In that time, Mzungu! put 2 miles on us.

The breeze picked up again as we approached Duriston Head, the last major headland before the finish, and we shorttacked along that shore to take advantage of the current and breeze acceleration. We were on the homestretch to the finish, trying to go as fast as we could, in case we could correct out on Mzungu!, who owed us some time. We crossed the finish line at Hearst Castle right before 1 a.m., about 36 hours after we started. We wound up missing out on the top spot in IRC Doublehanded and IRC 2 by about 15 minutes (second again!). We were nonetheless quite pleased to have been able to keep all of the other 12 Sunfast 3300s at bay.

The trip home to the marina was definitely as epic as the race. The forecast easterly front rolled in with a change in tide (an unfavorable ebb, of course), so we had a 4-hour slog motorsailing back to our slip in eyeball-piercing rain, even having to dodge a cruise ship in the dark.

We’re definitely learning a lot, but also having an amazing time with this Red Ruby adventure. It’s telling when you are immediately talking about the next race despite being sleepdeprived and hungry and cold. From word go, it has been incredibly fun to be experiencing new waters, sailors, and boats, while representing the Pacific Northwest abroad.

Red Ruby, with the Union Jack on the mainsail, got a terrific start in the De Guingand Bowl.

CLASSIFIEDS

BOATS FOR SALE

$115,000

BOATS FOR SALE BOATS FOR SALE

$220,000

1983

World Capable Cruiser. Ready to take you cruising. Beautiful yacht. Cutter rigged with oversized rigging and extra cockpit winches. Lots of newer equipment; 40 hp Yanmar engine, autopilot, radar, stove/oven, watermaker. Cruise equipped; large sail inventory, windvane, heater, fridge/freezer. 2018, engine and power train refurbished at $20K cost. Orcas Island, WA.

» Contact Tom Owens • (360) 632-8896

• svlandsend@yahoo.com • $115,000

$3,000

Sailboat with trailer, 5hp Nissan 2 stroke outboard, bottom paint last year, standing rigging less than 10 years old, all running rigging in good working order, and many sails including a full set of North.

» Contact Ronald Campo • (360) 662-6293

• ron_diane@cablespeed.com

$24,000

• $3,000

1979 36 ft C&C centerboard. New standing & running rigging, lifelines, stansions, electronics recently. 750 hours Yanmar 30 hp diesel. » Contact Anselm Parlatore

• (360) 739-9865

• anselmparlatore@comcast.net

» Contact Gail Parlatore • (360) 410-0813

• gailpar@comcast.net • $24,000

Want to cruise? The Valiant is a Bob Perry design and has done multiple solo circumnavigations. This one, Reverie, just completed the owners’ dream of cruising from California to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, and the inside passage. Equipped to get out there now! Radar, AIS, water maker, 2015 Yanmar 54hp. More details at BoatTrader. » Contact Mark • mark.lambertsen@gmail.com

• 520-270-1645 • $220,000

$6,000

1997 Custom Built Sailboat, Cold Molded 25 ft Sailboat, North Sails Main and Genoa plus other head sails, Spar Tec mast and boom, Honda 8 HP classic outboard motor, 2008 Quality Dual Axel Trailer included. Depth sounder, knot meter and compass. Great weekender.

» Contact David Cross • (253) 732-7519

• crosswins@rainierconnect.com

$85,000

• $6,000

Due to health issues and aging crew, I reluctantly am selling my boat of 30 years. You will not find a better cruising sailboat. The boat is located in the Pacific Northwest, a rare find on the west coast. Email for specification sheet/pictures or answer any questions.

» Contact George Leonnig • 1(503) 707-6062

• moctobi@gmail.com • $85,000

32' steel sail boat unfinished condition for a person with ambitions. New motor, new mast and other accessories. Open ocean, cutter rig, documented.

» Contact Marcus Moellendorf • 253-686-0341

• marcus014@centurytel.net • $25,000

“Ohana” Hull #42, Sail #69219: As the third owner, I have had her since 1993. Included items are a 1993 double axle Quality Trailer set up for ramp launch and a Yamaha 4HP, 4 stroke OB. She comes with Garmin Instruments and a full set of racing sails as well as other well used back ups. Call or text for more details.

» Contact Bill Schafer • (541) 760-5467

• billsohana@gmail.com

$25,000

• $14,000

Quality racer/cruiser. Well maintained, upgraded. Bottom foils faired/painted 2018. Diesel htr, hot water, fridge/freezer. Furuno Navnet chart plotter GPS, AIS. Digital charts Vancouver Is. to Oregon. Radar, autopilot. Dodger + Bimini covers. Perkins M30 eng. Flexifold 3 blade prop. Full set sails w/ cruising genaker. Lying Brownsville.

» Contact John Burton • (360) 731-2461

• Jcburtonclan@gmail.com • $25,000

$35,000

Comfortable cruiser and NW veteran. Dual helms. Yanmar3GM 30 engine with Autoprop 2- 30 gal aluminum fuel tanks. Pressure hot and cold H20, propane oven, heater. engine heat, Newer 130% Genoa & Harken furling system. Main sail in good condition. Bruce anchor manual windlass. Bottom sider cockpit cushions. Radar & GPS. Moorage available.

» Contact Douglas W. Davidson • (425) 864-1955

• ddavidson@pumptechnw.com

• $35,000

OLSON 25 FOR SALE

1978 NORTH SEA 34 PILOTHOUSE

‘91 SCHOCK 35 SAILBOAT

ETCHELLS 30FT SAILBOAT

C&C 36 FOR SALE

1997 ENSENADA 25

VALIANT 42

32' STEEL SAILBOAT FOR SALE

PASSPORT 40

CABO RICO 38

BOATS FOR SALE

$17,000

1966 CENTURY RESORTER 17

Mahogany inboard. Newish 383 (500hp). new upholstery. 5200 bottom w/glass-epoxy over. Serious inquiries only. Bainbridge Island.

» Contact Jim Llewellyn • (206) 842-4552

• jim.llewellyn47@gmail.com • $17,000

$4,500

MOORAGE

LIBERTY BAY MARINA

40’ - 48’ - 60’ open slips. Great location in Poulsbo, WA Restrooms, Showers. For More Information

360-779-7762 or 360-509-0178

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

RAPTOR DECK - PATTERN/INSTALLERS

202

»

$29,000

Join our fast-paced, fun, team. Candidates should be fit and prepared to work outside alone, and in teams. This job requires good knees, good mobility, and the ability to lift 50 pounds. Patterning tasks include using pens, tape and clear film to duplicate boat decks to a high degree of accuracy. Installation involves light cleaning, prep, and installing sticky-back foam panels with precision. As we work on-site at marinas around the sound, a drivers license is required. When weather is not cooperative, expect to participate in general duties at our shop in Ballard. We believe in our staff, and are motivated to reward those who rock. *

RAPTOR DECK - CAD/DRAFTERS

HELP WANTED

Excellent

Join our fast-paced, fun, team. Candidates should be fully fluent in 2D computer drafting. Experience in Rhinoceros software is a plus. General duties include digitizing physical templates and creating perfectly scaled line art in CAD as related to boat decks. Students are welcome, as are folks with a nice balance of basic engineering knowledge, and graphic layout. Competence in Adobe Illustrator, or similar, is welcomed. Expect some general duties around the Ballard shop in addition to the time behind the computer. We believe in our staff, and are motivated to reward those who rock. *

Based

Please contact us to arrange a visit: 206-285-3632 E-mail: info@emharbor.com

Electronics E-mail: larry@emharbor.com

www.emharbor.com

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

VESSEL MOVING

No ocean too big, no trip too small, no ship too large, no mast too tall, sail or power, we move them all!!! When you are ready, give us a call. Professional service since 1967. CappyTom@aol.com • (206) 390- 1596

Full service rig shop serving Puget Sound

Cliff Hennen (360) 207-5016 • (206) 718-5582

www.evergreenrigging.com

» Contact John

• (406) 465-2366 • truenorthsailing@gmail.com • $29,000

BUSINESS FOR SALE

READY TO LIVE THE DREAM?

Love to sail? Make a great living in the San Juan islands running a fantastic charter business! After 34 years it is time to sell our dream job. We have already done the hard work for you. Dedicated client base, beautiful website, five star reviews. Outstanding modern 55’ sloop with moorage. Great income if you are ready to take the helm of the best job in the world!

islandsailor600@gmail.com

* Pay is competitive, and health insurance is provided for full time employees, starting after a 3 month trial.

MARINE EQUIPMENT

www.raptordeck.com

Facebook: Raptor Deck

SEASONAL HIRING IS NOW OPEN AT THE NORTHWEST MARITIME CENTER!

We are hiring for various educator roles to work with youth aged 5 all the way up to adults! Spring and Summer seasons, get out on the water while providing a fun, inclusive, and safe atmosphere for learning. Positions are based out of Port Townsend and Seattle, WA. If you're passionate about what we do and eager to learn more, we'd like to meet you!

» Full descriptions on our website at nwmaritime.org/about/job-opportunities/

For even more photos and listings check out 48north.com/classifieds

1973 San Juan 21 + 2002 King Trailer sails-Main, Genoa, jib, Spin 2018 Halyards, backstay, Keel cable Spreader assembly, cushion covers 2020 frack cleats

Merc 5hp propane motor flushed after every use

Contact Sue • foramendog@gmail.com • $4,500

C&C 33 SAILBOAT FOR SALE

sailing boat, multiple sails including great set of racing sails, trailer. LOA – 32’6", Beam – 10’6", Draft – 6’4", Weight – 9800 lbs.

Simms

Basic through Advanced Sailing Lessons

Week-long Cruise & Learn lessons

Spinnaker, Intro and Advance Racing Classes

Gill foulweather gear & Dubarry footwear

206-782-5100

www.seattlesailing.com

info@seattlesailing.com

Tethys

Offshore Sailing for Women

Nancy Erley, Instructor 206.789.5118

nancy@tethysoffshore.com

www.tethysoffshore.com

Basic through Advanced Sailing Lessons

Week-long Cruise & Learn lessons

Spinnaker, Intro and Advance Racing Classes

Gill foulweather gear & Dubarry footwear

206-782-5100

www.seattlesailing.com

Fractional Membership makes boating affordable & easy! Your boat is ready when you are!

https://sailtime.com/location/anacortes info@seattleyachts.com

360-299-0777

American Sailing Association courses Basic Keelboat 101 through Advanced Coastal 206 Based in Beautiful Anacortes, WA sailtime.com/location/anacortes/sailing-school info@seattleyachts.com

360-299-0777

info@seattlesailing.com

CMS 41’ Custom Cutter

homeport

41’ NEWPORT 41 ’80

..................... $49,500

“PETREL” For an adventurer thinking of sailing to distant horizons and exploring the world PETREL could easily fulfill your dreams.

40’ NORDIC 40 ’86

.................... $115,000

“BLADE AND WING” This offshore performance cruiser is very well equipped for long distance cruising and she is ready to go again at any time.

32’ PEARSON 323 ’78

..................... $16,000

“PASSPORT” This classic Pearson design that needs some TLC could be just the boat that you are looking for! Give us a call.

“JADA” All-wooden historical yacht certified for Charter. Completely restored. Performs with speed

WLB

- boatshed seattle boatshed tacoma boatshed everett . boatshed porttownsend

WATERLINEBOATS.COM|206.282.0110|HELMSMANTRAWLERS.COM

36’ CHB ANGELMAN 36 ’78 $49,500 “DANCINGDOG”Sea-kindly and seaworthy cruising ketch. Meticulously maintained. Ready for her next deserving owner.

26’ NONSUCH 26 ’84 $34,900 “SOLAR WINDS” Fast, easy sailing with unstayed cat rig and wishbone main. A pocket cruiser ready for new adventures.

38’ PEARSON INVICTA II ’66 $54,500 “JIGGER” Custom companionway, interior upgrades, newer standing rigging and Yanmar diesel. A real treat!

58’ CUSTOM YAWL ’38 $299,500

and grace.

43’ WAUQUIEZ AMPHITRITE ’85 $79,500 “PARTY TIME” Solid cruiser with much equipment included. Needs a handy person to personalize and is priced accordingly.

For sailors looking for a no-nonsense cruising yacht that is as comfortable in her home waters as it is circling the globe, Oliver III is the complete package. With a robust aluminum hull, e cient design, and bright modern interior, the Bestevaer 45ST appeals to a wide range of sailors. The boat came from owners wanting to downsize from a 53ST when their children no longer joined them for extended voyages, but they still wanted to have guests aboard. Constructed by the renowned KM Yachtbuilders, who specialize in sail-anywhere expedition yachts, she features a carbon rig, retractable bowsprit, and a performance-based yet simple sail plan that is intended to be singlehanded. The aluminum doghouse protects the forward cockpit from wind and spray – and at the same time her tiller steering provides the ultimate feel at the helm. Her two-cabin, single-head layout (with separate shower stall) includes a large U-shaped galley, proper nav station, and spacious salon that balances space for entertaining and living aboard. Stepping aboard Oliver III will undoubtedly inspire your next sailing adventure.

– MOLLY HOWE, SWIFTSURE YACHTS