The Things I Do...: The 2019 Salish 100, Day Three

Monday, June 24th

I woke up feeling fine, and poked my head out of the hatch to see a gorgeous morning. Sun, light wind, the last dregs of fog blowing off the water, another beautiful day ahead.

Glassy water, and Simeon on Noddy, still sleeping under his cozy cockpit cover

Arnie, Dave, and another M15 rafted up together, getting ready to depart

Another SCAMP looking cozy. Can't say the same about the boat that ended up on the beach!

Check those tides, people...

The day's route would take us from Penrose Point State Park to Gig Harbor, passing through Hale Passage and the Tacoma Narrows, a distance of approximately 15 miles. Upon arriving we were to be treated to a BBQ hosted by Gig Harbor Boat Works. There also was a shower at the marina, which I was really looking forward to!

After enjoying another simple, pre-assembled breakfast, I tidied up the cabin, got my gear sorted for the day, and prepared to raise anchor. With the light breeze I decided to just sail off my anchor and depart quietly. I raised my mainsail, and began hauling my anchor line. I was startled to see my anchor easily pull free of the bottom, well before I was over the top of it! With any significant wind my anchor would have certainly dragged last night. It's possible that the rocking and rolling overnight loosened it, or maybe it wasn't set as hard as I thought it was, but it was an eye opener, and I was very lucky. Once I was directly over my anchor with the main luffing into the wind, I hauled in the remaining few feet of anchor rode, hoisted my jib, and sailed away.

The wind was very light, and several other boats and I sailed sedately out of the bay and into Carr Inlet. About halfway across the inlet I started thinking of my dear friend and sailing buddy Lee, who had passed away several years ago. We had done everything together and he was my co-conspirator on many adventures. I thought to myself, "Lee, you are supposed to be out here with me. Why aren't you here?!" and I started sobbing uncontrollably, missing him so much and wishing more than anything that he could share this grand adventure with me. It took me a while to calm down and pull myself together. Every time I'm on the water I think of him and all the wonderful times we shared.

Once I crossed Carr Inlet the wind died and it was time to motor into Hale Passage

A newer model Montgomery 15 motoring down Hale Passage

Light winds in Hale Passage

Passing Fox Island to the South and approaching the Tacoma Narrows

I looked back to see Arnie catching up to me...

...and at a higher RPM he passed right on by!

Approaching Point Fosdick (Hey, I didn't name it!)

The wind started to fill in a tiny bit as I approached Point Fosdick and the entrance to the Tacoma Narrows, so I killed my motor and raised all sail. The tide was flowing north, so with a favorable wind I could make a quick passage. I started to cut the corner in close to the point, hoping for more wind and a boost in current as the water got shallower. A steady stream of gigantic powerboats was making the water so rough that it was hard to keep my sails full though, and I started drifting in closer to the point. As I cursed the noisy stinkpots the wind died completely and I started to spin in circles, completely out of control. The current and waves from the powerboat wakes started to push me in towards shore, and I decided to start my motor and get out of there. I pulled, and I pulled, and nothing. Now I was 20 feet from the rocky shore, and getting rapidly closer. Anxiously I pulled, pulled, and frantically pulled some more. Nothing! When I needed it most it looked like my motor was going to fail me and I was going to end up on the rocks! I could see Sunkissed, a distinctive orange Montgomery 17 rapidly approaching under power, no doubt intending to throw me a tow rope and pull me off the rocks, but with one more massive desperate pull the cursed motor roared to life, and under full throttle I threw the helm hard over and averted disaster, skirting the point by 10 feet at most. Lessons learned? Never approach an unfamiliar point to leeward in light wind under sail with a-hole powerboats buzzing around you every thirty seconds. And thank you for having my back, Sunkissed!

The rest of the trip to Gig Harbor was mostly a blur. I was flooded with adrenaline, and just motored the entire way. The was no chance I was going to risk shutting off the motor again until I was tied to a dock, or to another boat! The entrance to the harbor was quite narrow, and I was happy to be motoring through it, and even happier when Dave and Arnie saw me approaching and offered a spot for me to raft up next to them, which I eagerly accepted.

So happy to be in Gig Harbor!

Approaching the raft-up

Safely rafted up to Dave's boat Naomi, with Arnie opposite.

A small part of the S100 fleet

Once we were all settled everyone jumped in their dinghy and made a beeline for the marina showers, the first shower since leaving for Olympia, five days ago! We almost felt like human beings again as we headed to the BBQ put on by the Gig Harbor Boat Shop. Boatwright Tom Regen gave us a wonderful tour, and there was food and drink for everyone and a chance for all of us to hang out together and swap yarns about the trip. After gorging ourselves, Arnie, Dave and I found a small ice cream shop with the best huckleberry ice cream I had ever had! Well all then jumped in our dinghies and headed back to our respective boats, where I got inspired to row around the bay, while Dave raised the sail in his dinghy and went for an evening cruise. I slept very easy that night, knowing that the next day was an easy one with little chance of getting myself in trouble.