Slogging up the US wet coast

[Lepke]

I was a salmon/tuna fisherman and been in most of the ports above SF. Crescent City can be entered in almost any weather, but Brookings often has the bar closed more often than most other ports north of Crescent City in bad weather. The next good entrance is Neah Bay. Englund has a big store in Astoria. One of the best I've been in. In my experience, if they don't have it, they can get it. The Columbia River bar in average weather isn't the nightmare that most people make it out to be.

[model 10]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

Head out about 80 miles and miss all the crappy weather and other sailors to say nothing of rocks and reefs!
Watch for tanker traffic, though!
Phil

Oh that is a fond memory! My very first sailing adventure was on a Westsail 32 that tried this route. I knew nothing about boats or sailing but remember how wild it all was. So gray and rough. There were 4 of us and I was the only one not barfing, so weird. They turned around after 2 days.
I wouldn't do that again.

[Montanan]

Cpt.

Are you still in port tending to mechanical issues?

It seems you aren't getting any breaks from the weather.

Winds now projected to be from the typical northerly, makes for a tough slug or slog up the wet coast. Running south is an easier ride. Never gone far up north from S.F. Bay, but sure can understand why some chose to go by way of the wonderful Hawaiian Islands to get to Portlandia or the Salish Sea.

Forecast for Northern California coast:

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Lepke

I was a salmon/tuna fisherman and been in most of the ports above SF. Crescent City can be entered in almost any weather, but Brookings often has the bar closed more often than most other ports north of Crescent City in bad weather. The next good entrance is Neah Bay. Englund has a big store in Astoria. One of the best I've been in. In my experience, if they don't have it, they can get it. The Columbia River bar in average weather isn't the nightmare that most people make it out to be.

Ilwaco is a lot closer to the ocean than Astoria and has an Englund's. And, if they don't have it, they can get it. From Astoria. Most likely sooner than you could by boat.

[hellosailor]

Crunchie, when all else fails pretend you are on an RV.

Order your parts from Amazon, have them shipped to an Amazon Locker (sometimes in 7-11, convenience stores, Whole Foods) in your next destination, and then just pick 'em up there. I think they hold things in lockers for 3 days. WalMart also offers all kinds of things from their own online bazaar for "hold at store for pickup" but they are way less reliable about schedule.

And if all else fails, have them shipped via Priority Mail to "General Delivery" at a US post office (not a postal station, but a main PO) or "Post Restante" whatever they call the equivalent in Mexico.

Of course, if you were an Amazon Prime Premier member, they'd just drone it out to the boat for you. Up to 25 miles offshore. (Would I lie to you about that?(G)

[Dooglas]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Ilwaco is a lot closer to the ocean than Astoria and has an Englund's. And, if they don't have it, they can get it. From Astoria. Most likely sooner than you could by boat.

More important, the Port of Ilwaco has a haul out yard and a hoist.

[Don C L]

CptCrunchie! Where are you? Wondering how your trip went!

[CptCrunchie]

Originally Posted by Don C L

CptCrunchie! Where are you? Wondering how your trip went!

Like helming in a washing machine, it was an adventure. After spending 4 weeks in dry dock in Brookings, OR, we got the boat home to Port Angeles on July 7.

I'm now tackling the long list of changes I want done before heading back out to sea. Vacu-flush and all the old hoses are gone. New electric head with Purasan treatment system almost completed. Old headliner mostly removed, replacing windows and standing rigging is underway.

...And thank you for asking.

Side comment: For those naysayers about my reasons for Brookings and not Crescent City, all the commercial guys will tell you to go to Brookings! We can work on any project ourselves with no regulations to hinder our progress, ...AND THERE IS NO TAX! Haulout and splash for our 46 was $500 on a 1 or 2 day notice, and $50/day while in dry dock. The same service here at home is $1500 PLUS tax.

The Harbormaster, Travis also let us use the Port of Brookings address to order parts, and again, receive them with no tax added.

[Don C L]

Good to hear Cpt! Thanks for the info on Brookings too.

[picklesandjesse]

Good to hear that you got there OK. I think everyone who does that trip has an adventure of some sort. Something to remember. Should be on everyone's sailing bucket list to do the Northbound trip.