Saturday February 23, 2008,

The morning was the bright and beautiful. A light breeze blew form the north as the Mongrel Pup and I climbed aboard the Cygnet. I quickly put to work making preparations to get underway.  I had spent time earlier in the week attempting to repair the cabin heater, so I had tools and parts strewn all over the salon.  I had spent the next half hour stowing the boat for sea.

Ben called down from the dock and I went up the pier to bring him down.  Leading Ben was the snorting pug Pablo.   Pablo made an array snorting sound that ranged between growls, chokes and barks.  If you did not know that he had serious sinus problems, you might think he was going to attack you.  The only thing that Pablo would attack is his kibbles or a treat.   Ben and the pug made their way down to the Cygnet and stowed his personals.  After a short brief we slipped lines and backed out of the slip.

1030, after a short stop at the poop dock we were heading out the channel.  The winds were light and the sun was shining warm on our faces.  As we cleared the no wake markers we deployed the jib to see what she would do.  Winds being light we made 3 kts good.  Several South Sounders motored passed us as we slowly made our way up Budd Bay.  We enjoyed the sun on a fabulous February day with nothing better to do.   The wind died as we passed the Boston Harbor and we doused the jib and fired up the iron horse. 

 We rounded Hunter Pt and approached the south side of Hope Island.  Two South Sounders hung on the west most buoy.  We slid in behind the boats and shouted our Ahoy.  We inquired to the where a bouts of the flotilla.  We were directed to the west side of the island.  As we passed astern of the two boats, a shout called out “We’re more fun”.  We smiled and waved.

All three floats had boats hanging off of the them and the north most ball held three boats.  We motors slowly past all three floats trying to figure out what we wanted to do. Einney Meany might Moe which sail boat next to will I moor. We ended up tying up to the raft of the three boats.

Soon we were tied up next to a Hunter Legend 35.  I rigged the dinghy and took the pups to the island for a much needed bio break.  On the way back not wanting to be rude for snubbing the other boats that I did not tie up to, I rowed over to the Knot Work.  We made small talk and promise to get them to shore to explore the island.  Later we fulfilled our promise. 

The day was gorgeous and in the end nine boats were on the raft.  We had hooks out on three boats on top of hanging off the state park ball.

One of the great things about the SSSS Cruises are the potluck.  This potluck was not disappointment.  There was everything from post roast to rice pudding. I know that everyone had seconds and some more.  Yes I was a little piggy.  Wine, food and friends, I can think of worst ways to spend your weekend.  Ben and I hung around the Dawn Trader with Captain Jim and told old war stories to late in the evening.  Around midnight we made our way back the Cygnet and found our bunks waiting for us.  I was glad the mongrel pup had crawled under the covers and kept me warm all night.   That night the wind blew hard and I was lulled to sleep by the wind singing in the halyards.  

I was up by 0800.  I fired up the heater and the coffee.  I was just sitting down to write in the log book and the mongrel pup started barking and in concert.  Folks were migrating to the Dawn Trader for coffee and breakfast goodies.  A few minutes later the good crew of the Knot Work were aboard to coffee.

Ben needed to be back in time for an early afternoon obligation.  So at 1000 we needed to brake the raft and head out.  The plan was to take the bow line off the Dawn Trader and slip around the Cygnet’s bow and secure it to the Midnight Blue.  The problem was we forgot the spring lines so the departure was not graceful.  We with some hemming and hawing  we finally broke free and were underway.

We were heading south bound down wind.  As we made our west bound turn I unfurled the jib and killed the motor.  We were making three knots good.  Ben took the helm and I started to prepare to set the main.  Ben was concerned about our heading.  I told him to just head towards the red buoy.  Not thinking I went about the business of putting up the main.  After a bit Ben says to me “Mark…….  Buoy!”  I could not see the buoy because of the Jib.  I ducked down and saw the buoy only a few yard to starboard,  the buoy was down wind.  I have no idea what the why he choose to try to go up wind around the buoy.  I took the wheel and tried to make the collision as minimal as possible.  Ben ran forward to fend off the buoy. We took the hit on the forward starboard quarter.  Ben was successful keeping the buoy from hitting the hull.  I turned the boat hard to starboard to try and round the buoy.  Ben walked the buoy off the stern.  No harm no foul.  After a small tangle with the dinghy we cleared the buoy.  I promise not to let Ben forget the buoy incident.  My fault for not telling Ben on how to approach the buoy.  Never, never assume.

The main went up with no problems.  The wind was trying hard to blow.  After a couple of gusts the Cygnet sprang to life.  We were making 6kt good.  The winds backed off.   Before long we lost the wind all together.  Sail down, motor up.  Before long we found ourselves back at Swantown.  The landing was without incident. 

Ben departed the boat as soon as we landed.  Being one of the first semi-warm days of the late winter, it was a great day for cleaning.  I spent the next three hours cleaning the boat knocking off the green.  It was a joy working on the hull.  The dock were alive with others working on their boats.  After a bit it was time to go home.  The saga continues.

South Sound Sailing Society January Cruise:

Weather: Winds from 3 Knots to gust of 25 Knots, Snow, rain showers and Sun.

Boats and crew in attendance:  The Boat, Cygnet.  Mark Welpman Skipper and Crew of Will Delony. All other boats in the flotilla were lost at sea or AWOL.

The Cygnet slipped lines at 1030 hours, after a quick stop at the poop dock we crossed Channel Markers “2” and “3”.  Having only had the Cygnet a few months Will and I decided that we would just fly the jib and see what she could do.  The weather as all you fair weather sailors know called for Wind, Snow and Rain.  Wind was blowing at 10 to 12 knots as we entered Bay.  

The winds were building as we ran down Budd Inlet.  As we neared Olympia shoals the Cygnet was making 6.2 kts by log and 7 kts by GPS.  There was a Catalina 34/36 flying main and jib with a crew of 6.  She was up wind near Boston Harbor beating her way back to Olympia.  As we breasted Gull Harbor we crossed paths.  We swung the Cygnet around as we passed astern of her and gave chase.  Now for the disclaimer, I am NOT a racer, nor do I really want to be.  But it is fun to see if you can chase down a racer.  We made a clean tack and ran about 200 yards astern of the Catalina.  We quickly started to gain and closed within 100 feet when she tacked.  We quickly made preparations to tack.  Our tack was not nearly as clean as his.  We stalled to 1.5 knots.  Okay we stalled. Will said that he was not used to grinding so much.  I told him to quit whining and keep pulling.

The Catalina walked away from us and had a substantial lead.  Will trimmed the sail and the Cygnet started to make gains.  At this point the wind was gusting to 25 knots.  The Catalina kept rounding into the wind with each gust, allowing us to close.  At one point we were make 8 knots by log on just the jib.  I was fighting the gusts to keep from rounding up.  This put the rail in the water.  Yahoo!  No I don’t want to race, just chase. We ran abreast of her and she tacked and we jibed.  We succeeded in catching the Catalina.  She headed home and we turned back to run for Squaxin Island.

Winds blowing from the south, we ran down wind making 6 knots good.  About thirty minutes later we rounded Tucksel Point on the south point on Squaxin Island.  I hailed for South Sounders on VHF Radio.  All I picked up was snow on the Radio.  Speaking of which, it was really snowing and starting to pile up on deck.   Now I remember at the last club meeting that someone said winter cruises were a great opportunity to sail in bad weather and hang out with other boats.  We rounded the point expecting to see a couple of mast at the rendezvous, and to our dismay, not a boat on a hook anywhere.  So much for that! We circled a bit and figured that no one wanted to sail in the weather.  So we wanted to keep sailing.

We decided that we would make for Jarrell’s Cove.  The front had moved through and the winds became light. The sail to Jarrell’s cove was slow and wet.  We arrived at Jarrell’s cove and put down lines at 1630. We settled in for the night and enjoyed a spaghetti dinner. Card games and hot toddies for all was the order of evening.

Day two:

Morning started for me at 0830.  Walking topside the dock was white with frost.  The tide was extremely high.  Coffee, bacon and eggs, the big boat breakfast.  We lounged around to noon not being in a particular hurry. At 1300 we backed away from the dock and headed out.  The winds were light exiting Pickering Passage heading to Case Inlet.  As we rounded Dougall Point the winds were blowing from the south by southwest at about 10kts. We doused the diesel and flew the jib.  We cruised at 6kts.  The Sail home was not notable other then it being a clear sunny winter day.  We felt the warmth of the sun on our faces all the way home.  I believe this is the day we were supposed to have the day before.  It’s too bad the fleet was sunk in the storm; I know they would have loved the sail home on Sunday.  So fair winds and following seas from the Cygnet.