The next day we caught some 11-13 MPH winds and 50 degree weather. It was a very exciting cruise for Sam and I. We got some heeling in, a little wing on wing , avoided coast guard boarding, exercised our right of way with the motor boaters, avoided many near misses with the Washington state ferry, ate sailing food, tacked, jibbed, and made a perfect 5-star landing at our dock.
Heading towards the shipyard.
We're heeling I tell ya!
The Port Orchard to Bremerton passenger ferry. I can't tell ya how many times we avoided her.
Just a good looking boat
The big ferry. We seemed to always be keeping out of her way!
Proof that my chart table idea was going to be useful.
My crew for the weekend. Sam really got a work out with all the tacking and jibbing.
We did a little wing on wing during our downwind return to the mooring. However, as fate would have it, the wind died down to nothing as we were trying to get out of the ferry lane. I get nervous when trying to get out of the way of the ferry.
I look almost like a Mousekateer don't ya think?
Crew people with time on their hands.
Heeling and heading toward the Illahee State Park dock. The is at the north end of Port Orchard Harbor, between East Bremerton and Bainbridge Island. The wind actually is at its' best here as the north easterly winds run right through here. We had 10+ knots here.< P>
Skipper Sue at the managing the helm with Bainbridge Island in the background.
We had noticed this boat in the distance heeling in the northern Port Orchard bay, so that is where we headed. It is funny how you notice that kind of stuff when you are the only two sailboats undersail.
Skipper Sue is manning the spinnaker pole on the genoa as we go downwind, heading back to our moorage. The wind seemed to stop and we were doing a wing on wing and actually making good time considering.
Our course from Dockside in Port Orchard to Illahee State Park.
A view of our moorage, way over there.
Here I am smiling cuz I'd rather be sailing with my sweetie.
AVI Video of pissed off sea lions.
Rounding #4
Today is my first attempt at sailing solo. Normally I would be more confident but today I am continuing with my "no engine" policy. Departing and landing at the dock under sail. My luck is bound to change.
As I departed the dock at Dockside, I had the jib and the mainsail flying to get me away from the dock in a 8mph northerly wind. The weather was warm and sunny with winds estimated 8-11 mph.
The Port Orchard Yacht club was sponsoring a sailboat race with twelve entries staging along side of my moorage. After the last boat left the starting line, I departed and never really caught up with them. In fact, by the time I got to Ilahee State Park in East Bremerton, The twelve boats were returning under spinnaker from the northern part of Bainbridge island.
The sailing day went totally without incident. My return docking procedure went without a hitch and the landing under sail was totally uneventful.
Skipper Sue making log book entries. There might even be an entry related to the number of times she hit her head on the cabin ceiling.
Tied up to one of six moorings at Illahee State Park. Viewing the "Emerald Lady" through our extremely helpful railing.
High Tide and sunset at Illahee, awaiting the fireworks from somewhere.
Storing the Dinghy at Dockside. I was too lazy to haul it to the van so it will stay here for now. I tested it today prior to leaving Dockside. It is a little rocky but will hold two with a two horse Honda outboard. I am concerned about moderate seas swamping it, so I think I will finish it up and get rid of it.
Chillin' at Illahee on the Fourth of July>
Skipper Sue at the helm building her strength holding the tiller.
One of Skipper Sue's sunrise pics from our moorage at Dockside.
Ominous cloud formation after we arrived at moorage. This cloud is the remnants of the one that dumped on us during our docking attempts.