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Jabez · 21-11-2012, 14:03

Hey, People!
Just got home last night from 4 wonderful days cruising in the Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca. We set out for the Pacific to do a heavy weather shakedown, but only needed to go as far as Port Angeles. Gale force winds, torrential downpours and more insanity was readily available without going further.
We made Port Angeles in just 11 hours and pulled in for the night Saturday. Spent Sunday hanging out (it was sunny and warm, really) and upgraded the charging system with new alternator, volt reg, belts, and 2 new house batts.
Took out Monday for PT, heading back. Nice run, no air, under diesel power. Dinner and drinks at Sirens. Tuesday a.m. out we go, double reefed and a slice of jib into contrary everything. Contrary tide, contrary wind and then on the flood, 7-9' seas in the middle. Laughing all the way, hey!

Well, that's me (us). Glad to be here. Looking forward to meeting you all. FW&FS

Mike D

Cheechako · 21-11-2012, 14:33

hmmm I thought the first two of the last four days were 25-40 sustained with gusts to 60....?

Jabez · 21-11-2012, 14:43

Day 1 we ran before it on the ebb and it was pretty fast sailing. Not bad at all. Winds from the South, so Pt Angeles was in the lee of it for day 2, Sunday. It was kinda weird. Monday, still in the lee and under diesel power til Dungeness and then I think we sailed with a single reef to PT. It wasn't as bad as anyone said. Yesterday was the big weather for us. 11 hours from PT to Shilshole.

We had checked with the Port guy and he gave me a cool site to check wind with. it is the Washington State Ferry Weather site. just google it and it will come up first. They have the anemometer readings from each of the passages. Watched that pretty close.

Cheechako · 21-11-2012, 16:01

That IS one thing not oftened mentioned in threads here when someone asks: "how big a boat to buy". Bigger boats in the 40-50 range just seem alot more easy in seas and winds.... unless you're caught with too much sail up!