San Juan’s for the winter

[JackConnick]

Question on the marine park docks, I’ve used the mooring balls before and I just call in on my phone, if you tie up to the dock do you have to have cash, Or can you also phone in?

I think its check or cash. Many mooring balls are the same. Honestly, this time of year I don't how much they come around anyway.
Back in the day it was free after Oct 1.

 

[Portage_Bay]

There is almost always a pay box near the head of the dock. I have not tried to call in for dock moorage.

 

[jrd22]

I think it only applies to the buoys, but not sure. We were at one of the Sucia docks a bit ago and paid by cash, didn't see an option to call.

 

[GrandWood]

Thanks guys much appreciated

 

[fractalphreak]

Again you have plenty of time to run up to Prevost and use the St Park dock or sheltered mooring

Don't many of the state parks have the docks removed and taken to Fossil Bay for the winter? Do they leave the Prevost dock out?

 

[JackConnick]

Yes, Stuart has permanent docks. What they pull up is some of the ends of the docks that are floating portions.

 

[GrandWood]

Roche Harbor earlier tonite

 

[Frosty]

Roche Harbor earlier tonite

That looks cozy!

 

[GrandWood]

So once again, the winds didn’t get all that bad last night, looking at Friday harbor recorded winds they had a gust of 41 early this morning, couple in the 30s. Here at Roche harbor, the boat moves a bit every once in a while, but there’s no wind whistling through the boat. No white caps in the bay

 

[JackConnick]

Still early, it'll switch to the SW this afternoon.

 

[luna]

Actually for this first event, it is late. Windy for Friday Harbour, still shows from 4 am until 7 am, sustained winds in the mid 20's with gusts of 46.

NOAA's records from Station FRDW1 show max. winds occurred at 6:48 am, from the South at 16 with gusts of 25.

NDBC - Station FRDW1 Recent Data

National Data Buoy Center - Recent observations from station FRDW1 (48.545N 123.012W) - 9449880 - Friday Harbor, WA.

www.ndbc.noaa.gov

Where did you get the gust of 41 and 30?

 

[GrandWood]

Alright, 1330hrs and boom, rain and wind just rolled in real fast, it’s blowing pretty good, big pines swaying, someone lost there dock cart, blew it right off the dock, tied up and we’re are moving all over. White caps in The bay, watched a small aluminum boat come in just now and his bow was going in every direction back and forth, spray flying.

 

[JackConnick]

Huh, how about that... ;-) One might say I called it...
Stay safe, bet you're glad you tied up. It's honking down here in Seattle, levees failing, all hell is breaking loose.

 

[GrandWood]

Huh, how about that... ;-) One might say I called it...
Stay safe, bet you're glad you tied up. It's honking down here in Seattle, levees failing, all hell is breaking loose.

Yes I am glad we tied up. There’s a sailboat anchored out just off the marina in the wide open and it looks like the ride would be like one of those bucking machines, lol.

 

[GrandWood]

Another big blow tonite, woohoo

 

[SteveK]

Another big blow tonite, woohoo

after all this experience you will be heading up the west coast of Van isle doing the island loop next summer.

 

[GrandWood]

after all this experience you will be heading up the west coast of Van isle doing the island loop next summer.

Nah, I’ll stay on the eastern side for sometime, lol

Wandering all over now with the winds blowing around.

 

[GoneFarrell]

Etch a Sketch with a nav program!

 

[JackConnick]

Where are you anchored?

 

[GrandWood]

Where are you anchored?

We went back to garrison bay, winds started hitting hard @ 0200hrs, or at least that’s when I woke up. It’s 0230 now and we’re holding fast. Watching the anchor alarm and the chart plotter.

 

[GrandWood]

So if your dragging, and the winds are 30knots, and your boat only goes max 6knots what the heck saves ya from hitting shore?

Asking for a friend, lol

 

[Bmarler]

So if your dragging, and the winds are 30knots, and your boat only goes max 6knots what the heck saves ya from hitting shore?

Asking for a friend, lol

The wind blowing 30 presents challenges if you don’t have room to maneuver. That’s why we don’t anchor on a lee shore.
Getting the bow into the wind can be the hard part. I once had to run hard with the wind towards shore to gain enough speed to carry me through the turn so I could get out. Don’t like to do that move.
You’re at a disadvantage with only one engine operational. But you learn how to work it to your advantage on how it turns easier to one direction than the other.

 

[GrandWood]

It’s now 0700hrs, winds settled down around 0500, and the water is flat and glassy now. Recorded winds in Puget sound, mainly Whidbey island, were the highest of the 3 wind events this past week. So we survived the worst of it at anchor. Wasn’t real happy with my decision to move to anchor last night, second guessing myself all night, but I’m stoked now that my ground tackle held up.

 

[JackConnick]

Glad you're ok. Get some sleep. Another wind event tomorrow night. Then gusty until Sunday. Looks like another extreme storm coming about Christmas that may last 4-5 days. Check Windy.com

 

[GrandWood]

Glad you're ok. Get some sleep. Another wind event tomorrow night. Then gusty until Sunday. Looks like another extreme storm coming about Christmas that may last 4-5 days. Check Windy.com

I think winters here are just plain storm after storm it seems

 

[SteveK]

I think winters here are just plain storm after storm it seems

It is this year for sure more than past years. I find overall the weather is fine. Winter is colder of course, but a lot of sunny days with little or no wind as well.
That was how it was before these Atmospheric rivers started.

 

[JackConnick]

I think winters here are just plain storm after storm it seems

Particularly in November and December. Then it calms down in January and gets colder than sh*t. ;-).
They are saying we're going to have a big El Nino this year.

Jack

 

[GrandWood]

It is this year for sure more than past years. I find overall the weather is fine. Winter is colder of course, but a lot of sunny days with little or no wind as well.
That was how it was before these Atmospheric rivers started.

I don’t mind the rain, after many years in desert climates the PNW is refreshing. The country is absolutely beautiful, the sea dotted with islands everywhere, walking around gathering food from shore, crabbing. Past two years have been fantastic, looking forward to Canada this summer.

 

[GrandWood]

Particularly in November and December. Then it calms down in January and gets colder than sh*t. ;-).
They are saying we're going to have a big El Nino this year.

Jack

I know in Poulsbo it got the coldest end of Jan, early Feb, but only lasted for about two weeks. Nothing like the High country of CO, it’s down in the 20s at night now, Xmas new years it will be below zero.

 

[GrandWood]

Winds getting with the program this morning, I now know what you all were saying about taking the dog to shore in a blow. Got soaked from the spray going in, comming back not to bad.