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May 31 2009

After working on the boat on Memorial day weekend, the first truly good weather in many months, I was ready to go out and float somewhere besides the dock. The 31st offered overcast to clear 80 degree weather. The conditions were an outgoing tide with a north/northeast wind on 5-13mph. The breeze was stady and we actually made it to Brownsville in six hours. With a number of sailboats on the water, I was inclined to judge Nanashi's performance to the other sailboats by trying to catch up, keep up or stay ahead. The anticipated trip back to Port Orchard was expected to take as long as the trip to Brownsville but we made it in two and 1/2 hours, with a five mph tail wind and a six foot flood. I am sure now that the sail configuration is all wrong. Sail sizes are incorrect and the existing sails are not made for the Coronado 25.
Menu for the day
I just love it when Skipper Sue comes along!
Tuna fish sandwiches, homemade coleslaw and fresh mellons. That is better than when I go by myself with a can a chili and chips.


Our course, as the crow flies.

Skipper Sue at the helm, taking us to Brownsville. We really got some distance today. The wind and tide worked to our advantage all day.

Mt Rainier from Port Orchard Bay.

The lunatic lune followed us most of the day, maybe trying to warn skipper Sue that she forgot to put sun screen on and the suffering would soon begin.

Can you believe this sky?

June 7 2009


Night sail from slip in Port Orchard. We had a couple of passengers turned crew. Jessica and Kieth found out that no one rides for free. The conditions were favorable and the tide worked to our advantage. I am starting to enjoy the night sails, short distances and a couple of hours on the water makes for a great decompression for the end of a work day. Kieth handled the helm for the majority of the short trip while I barked out orders and directions. We made it almost to the Bremerton ferry before turning around and catching a steady 13 mph southerly that highlighted the end of our trip.

June 18 2009

Went for a night sail with Sam and Natalie in Sinclair inlet. We had a high of 13mph winds around the navy shipyard and pretty much sailed in circles (or squares) then ended with a near-perfect docking. Lesson learned: I have been pretty lazy and left the outboard in the water for a couple of months and the growth was so bad that at full throttle, the prop was creating massive bubbles (like Alka Seltzer) and the boat was hardly moving at all. This made for an interesting docking with barely any thrust whatsoever. I took the engine home and spent the next day scraping the barnacles off. I thought I learned this lesson last year!