Pacific NW

Expeditions

We sailed under jib alone all day today, soaring across the Juan de Fuca in a stiff southeasterly.  As it turns out, we snuck across just in between storms.  We made a wonderful passage in quick time!  Due to last night’s bon voyage party, I slept like a rock through the alarm, missing a bit of the favorable tide as a result.  But there was a whole capful of wind in the Straits, and we blasted right through the opposing current.  “Privateer” is proving again and again that she is a SOLID ride!  She comfortably shrugged off the roughest seas that the Juan de Fuca handed her today, with casual grace.  As we sailed inside of Sidney Island, Kelsey spotted a “pod” of seals, swimming and diving through the waves like porpoises.  Pod and “Privateer” passed eachother about 50 yards off, each going businesslike in their own direction.  The seals nodded a quick greeting of acknowledgement, then turned their attentions back to splashing through the on-coming rollers.  We did the same, making a bee-line toward Sidney through rip-tides and square waves.  Under full speed, the tiller felt wonderful.

I am thrilled to be away from the dock in PT, all checked through Canadian Customs, and in the safe harbor of Sidney tonight!  Winds are forecast to blow SE 60 knots tomorrow, which is an early spring gale at its finest!  For now we will take a much-needed rest as we wait for the storm to howl through.  It’s already blowing 35 out there, I am exhausted, and too tired to write any more tonight.  The beginning of a voyage is indeed a special time–I am very proud of my ship and my crew (who is hogging the blankets right now).  We are warm, dry, and happy after a stellar sleigh-ride sail!  Privateer aced the run today.