Cruise of the Ketch Julia

After a four month marathon of full time boatwork, the day has finally arrived. The tanks are full, we are loaded heavy, and hopefully everything we might need is on board.

We've moved out of the apartment, and ditched the vehicles in Portland.

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The boat isn't really done, but we picked the date months ago and its time to go. It's also my birthday.

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The library is on board, the liquor bottles stowed, and enough food for a while.

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The first passage is a whopping 4 miles to Blake Island for a specially stowed dinner. After that, we will see...

Looks great! Have fun!! HB!

Looks shipshape from here. Have a great cruise and Happy Birthday!

Jonathan I was hoping you'd post some trace of your
adventure. Have the grandest of times, and stay connected. We'll keep in touch. Bon voyage!
Chuck and Diana

where ya goin ?

Hard to say exactly.
Or maybe scared to say...

Potential for failure seems very high.

Canada's closed though.

Plan to spend about six weeks in the San Juans and related waters. Then it will be the middle of August and decision time.

Happy Birthday and Fair Winds!

Good on ya, Jon! Maybe the border will be open by mid-August. Following good take-up rates for vaccinations and drastically declining case counts here in BC, many provincial restrictions have eased. Perhaps the federal government will follow suit by then.

Gonna be a fuggin zoo in the San Juans when the yahoos get out.
Until the world comes back...it's tough timing.
I see no steering gear so I was wondering if south or west was on the menu.
Boat looks a treat !

Stop in to B'ham sometime. Julia looks great.

looking forward to following this thread.

Wish you both well.

Fair winds.

Jeff

Thanks all, will try to avoid the yahoos. Self steering is sheet-to-tiller. Couldn't bring myself to install (or pay for) a windvane.

Lots of fog at Port Townsend this morning.

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Good luck, I'll be following along!

Have a good one.

Fair winds Jonathan, the boat looks terrific - I look forward to following your adventures.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by J.Madison

Hard to say exactly.
Or maybe scared to say...

Potential for failure seems very high.

Canada's closed though.

Plan to spend about six weeks in the San Juans and related waters. Then it will be the middle of August and decision time.

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I like the sound of this ! Greater the risk, greater the reward.

Fair winds,
Mark

My ketch steers herself pretty well with sail trim and sometimes a becket on the wheel.

Enjoy

Island life is the good life.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by J.Madison

Island life is the good life.

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A tough job, but somebody's got to do it

well done

Very nice. Looking forward to following along.

Early morning and pre first cup of tea. The first thread I open is yours and glad I did, that is one beautiful boat.
Fair winds and good sailing.

The San Juan Islands were the first place I ever sailed, at age 13 on the schooner Zodiac. I've wanted to spend real time here ever since, but have only ever made it for a few rushed holiday weekends.

It has been everything I hoped for so far.

Perfect breezes every day, cool dry summer weather, stunning anchorages everywhere.

Passing Jones Island

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Stuart Island in the distance.

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Mmmmmm

One more shot of perfect sailing before I head back off grid.

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Happy with your anchor so far?

It's a joy to follow along. Fair winds.

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Originally Posted by AJZimm

Happy with your anchor so far?

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Yes, very.

I dig it in hard and then sleep well. 55 lb rocna, with 330 ft of 3/8" high tensile chain.

It is holding me right against the rocks now, and I feel good about it. Ewing cove, Sucia Island.

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We had a great sail here from West Sound. Set up the self steering and it worked pretty well through varying wind strengths on a broad reach.

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Beautiful.

Thanks for the affirmation on the Rocna. I'm pretty sure that is the anchor I am going to acquire for the boat I am currently building.

Subscribed! Love it up in the San Juans! Haven't been there since the '70s. If your adventure ends up south and you find yourself in the Columbia PM me if you need transport, showers, etc.

The SAN Juan’s are such a great cruising destination at this time of the year enjoy.

Another great run today up the east side of Lummi and back across to Sucia. Flew the reefed main and mizzen with the staysail in a stiff breeze. Fun when going with it at 7 knots.

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Been seeing quite a bit of this guy, which is always cool.

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Topped up the water tanks for the first time. Looks like we've been using about 4 gallons per day for 3 people without being particularly careful. Could probably cut that in half if we stopped rinsing the dishes in fresh water. We've used 15 of our 70 gallons of diesel in 3 weeks, including two long days of motoring to get from Seattle to Friday Harbor in a flat calm. The old Perkins is more efficient than I thought.

The plot thickens ! 4 months of boat work, have "moved out of apartments" , crew is tracking water and fuel usage, and will need to make a decision soon. From you other thread you have that nice piece of land just sitting their waiting for you that doesn't have buildings with maintenance needs. Sounds like an opportunity for a longer voyage. Don't let it slip by :)

Glad you are are having fun !
Mark

Longer voyage? Love the sound of that. Thanks for the great pics.

The dream is alive!

After some strong winds and a few good shakedown "incidents" we've had a week of calms.

Matia Island is stunning, with old growth forest and dramatic shoreline. The anchorage only holds two boats.

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Sunsets at the west end of fossil Bay are perfectly framed by the hills and very secluded even with the busy Sucia harbors nearby.

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That’s the view in my avatar. Lovely!