Strait Crossing

Strait Crossing, originally uploaded by macatay.We made an exhilarating 35 mile sail today across the Juan de Fuca Strait from Port Angeles to Mosquito Pass on San Juan Island. The wind was brisk, but the point of sail was difficult - the wind just aft of the port quarter. We poled out a partially reefed jib and full main to make it work, and our good speed was boosted to ten knots by an awesome flood current.
We were accompanied part of the way by Evening Star, a wooden ketch out of Astoria, which is beautiful (see photo above) and responsive under sail and outperformed us in the light wind.
We are now anchored in sheltered Garrison Bay on San Juan Island, and have returned to what we call the "chi chi sailboat world". Lots of clean, new boats here. The last time we anchored here Sam was small enough that going to shore with the soccer ball was the most important thing. Now it's all Blues until midnight on the Jazz station from Tacoma, the sunset is spectacular, and we have meatloaf and new potatoes for dinner.