Strait of Juan de Fuca

[s/v Beth]

With all the lows coming through right now I would not recommend a day sail out on the strait. Maybe next June...

[minaret]

Originally Posted by John A

Does the US Navy still escort their boomer subs back and forth in these waters?

Actually the CG does. Just recently ran into one off Pt. Wilson again myself, it's surprisingly common. They want all vessels to stay 1000 yds away from the escorts, which can be quite impossible to do when you are under sail and they are doing 20 knots or more in a huge formation. I just make sure to let them know I'm doing my best to get out of the way, they seem to appreciate it.

[John A]

Originally Posted by minaret

Actually the CG does. Just recently ran into one off Pt. Wilson again myself, it's surprisingly common. They want all vessels to stay 1000 yds away from the escorts, which can be quite impossible to do when you are under sail and they are doing 20 knots or more in a huge formation. I just make sure to let them know I'm doing my best to get out of the way, they seem to appreciate it.

Sailing south from SF a couple of nights after Fleet Week in the SF Bay, a deep voice came over my VHF " sailboat position ** maintain your course and speed and we will overtake and pass you". I checked my GPS and said 'yes sir'. A Aircraft Carrier and seven other large support ships passed me. Looking up at an Aircraft Carrier in the dark is very humbling.

[Astrid]

Originally Posted by John A

Sailing south from SF a couple of nights after Fleet Week in the SF Bay, a deep voice came over my VHF " sailboat position ** maintain your course and speed and we will overtake and pass you". I checked my GPS and said 'yes sir'. A Aircraft Carrier and seven other large support ships passed me. Looking up at an Aircraft Carrier in the dark is very humbling.

I have had the same thing happen in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The carrier strike group is based in Everett, if I recall correctly.

[s/v Beth]

You had a carrier pass you in the strait? That would have been no fun. What did you do, hang along the Canadian coast and hope for a small bow wave? :-)
I had a cruise ship pass me just at cape flattery- but I was still in the ocean.

[cchesley]

Actually, when you feel ventursome enough to tackle Port Angeles, you might be happier if you just popped up to Lopez Island or Friday Harbor. The distance isn't that much different but there's a greater liklihood of a reach and then you have something a bit more interesting to look at once you reach your destination. Just give Smith Island a wide berth if you're going to the west of it. (shoals and kelp).

PS, I had a visit with the Coasties who do the 'protecting' of the big subs. They REALLY don't want you near them. They ARE authorized to shoot real ammo! The trick is to stay alert all around Puget Sound and the Straits for the big ship traffic. There's no excuse for being 'too close' and claiming to be a purist and not wanting to start your engine won't work as an excuse. That's another reason to head north. The big ship traffic thins out significantly once you're 5 miles out into the Straits and there's only a Wa State Ferry or two to worry about in the San Juans---and they're used to little guys being nearby.

[Astrid]

You had a carrier pass you in the strait? That would have been no fun. What did you do, hang along the Canadian coast and hope for a small bow wave? :-)

That was pretty much it. They raised me on the VHF, identified themselves as a US warship, told me to hold my course and that they would overtake and pass me. They gave me plenty of clearance, but it was still impressive seeing something bigger than village where I was born pass by.

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by Captain Jeffry

Agreed! No danger. Lots of fog at times. PA has nothing on PT or Port Hudson! Was in PA in September and only stopped there for the night heading to PT from Flattery. You got that right about strong current at Point Wilson, near Port Hudson.

Since Swains is no longer in PT, PA definitely has that over PT.

Also I prefer the PA working town atmosphere to PT tourist village thing any day of the week.

[Ike]

I have lived in both PA and PT. I much prefer PT, but PA is much larger and offers more, and is a nice place too. Yes, I miss Swains too. Great store.

Interesting comments on Carriers. There is no doubt about it they are big, big, big. I have been alongside several of them at sea, on a 327 foot Coast Guard cutter and it makes you feel really small. ( the sea is so large and my ship so small) But back in 1967 on a 327 foot cutter off the Grand Banks we were passed at night by the Queen Mary. She was doing over 30 kts to our 15 and looked like a whole city going by. Truly awesome. You definitely don't want to get in the way.

[Captain Jeffry]

Originally Posted by Adelie

Since Swains is no longer in PT, PA definitely has that over PT.

Also I prefer the PA working town atmosphere to PT tourist village thing any day of the week.

Sorry, didn't mean to sound as though PA was not a nice place to live. I was merely responding to Steve about taking the day to cruise to PA for, I assume, sight seeing, visitor stuff and what knot. For that I suggested PT and PH as they are more vistor friendly in terms of shops, bars, restaurants, cool boats, shipyard etc.. I did eat at Michael's in PA and the night I was there, a SteamPunk convention was happening and lots of folks got dressed up to eat dinner. Pretty Kewl!

[Captain Jeffry]

Originally Posted by Ike

I have lived in both PA and PT. I much prefer PT, but PA is much larger and offers more, and is a nice place too. Yes, I miss Swains too. Great store.

Interesting comments on Carriers. There is no doubt about it they are big, big, big. I have been alongside several of them at sea, on a 327 foot Coast Guard cutter and it makes you feel really small. ( the sea is so large and my ship so small) But back in 1967 on a 327 foot cutter off the Grand Banks we were passed at night by the Queen Mary. She was doing over 30 kts to our 15 and looked like a whole city going by. Truly awesome. You definitely don't want to get in the way.

Cool event! I remember in Dec '67 my Dad took us kids to Long Beach in a Cal 25 to see the Queen come in out of the fog. What a mess. No one had radar!

[Ike]

Capt Jeff: didn't mean to imply anything, just stating my preferences. Frankly I prefer PT when the tourists are gone, but it may be I prefer it because my love affair with PT goes back about 55 years, long before the tourists showed up in droves. I lived in PT in the early 70's working for the city, and then in PA in 74 & 75 because I was stationed on a cutter (the Campbell) out of PA. But I agree, day trip there by sail isn't worth it simply because the amount of time it takes to sail there and back. That's why my comment about driving from PT to PA. Of course the view from the strait is spectacular on nice day.

Cool event! I remember in Dec '67

Wow. I believe my encounter was in Mar. 67. We were returning from Ocean Station in the Labrador Straits headed to NYC. The Queen beat us there by a lot! I've seen the Queen in Long Beach and she is really sad. Damn shame.