Sailing to Port Townsend

[Jamie Orr]

It`s early, but I`m wondering if any other forumites are planning to sail from Vancouver island to Port Townsend for the show in September.

I want to arrive by the Thursday before, or earlier. Last year I wandered through the San Juans, other years I`ve taken the direct route from Gonzales Head to Point Wilson. The islands are more interesting if time permits.

I`d be particularly interested in hearing from other small boaters - I`ll be in my Chebacco

Jamie

PS Could also meet up in the islands and sail in company from there.

[David G]

OMG... has anyone ever done that before? You're all gonna DIE!!! Oh, wait... you've done it several times. Nevermind. Look forward to seeing you there. Probably won't bring a boat, and will be begging rides again. I think I owe you dinner - or at least a beer - for that nice tour we took last time.

[pcford]

Do you know if Robert S will be coming up with you?

[James McMullen]

I will likely need to launch/retrieve at Keystone because of my typical time constraints, but if I do get an extra few days of slack and can take a little bit bigger of a cruise it would be fun to meet at Watmough Bay, Lopez I. on Wednesday to sail across with the rest of the usual suspects. All of the boats coming to the show from the Deer Harbor Regatta usually meet there, to make the crossing on Thursday. We had quite a parade as you can see here, from a couple of years ago.

[Jamie Orr]

I will likely need to launch/retrieve at Keystone because of my typical time constraints, but if I do get an extra few days of slack and can take a little bit bigger of a cruise it would be fun to meet at Watmough Bay, Lopez I. on Wednesday to sail across with the rest of the usual suspects. All of the boats coming to the show from the Deer Harbor Regatta usually meet there, to make the crossing on Thursday. We had quite a parade as you can see here, from a couple of years ago.

Yes, I stopped there last year after a stop at Deer Harbor - we had 21 boats and a bayliner anchored there that night.

Let me know how your time looks closer to the show.

Jamie

[johnw]

I suppose I'll have finished Meerkat by then, but I can put it in the back of the truck and take it wherever I want, which sort of takes the drama out of the exercise.

[James McMullen]

Arriving at the show, by water, in your own boat is at least one or two orders of magnitude more soul satisfying than driving all the way there. At the bare minimum I would launch at Port Hadlock or even the Boat Haven.

[BBSebens]

Well now this is a winning idea. It may yet be a bit beyond my skill/comfort level, but someday.

I, for one, will be launching little Matty at Keystone and sailing across. There seems to be a low tide at 14:34, and its small. seems like a good time to make a mad dash across the Inlet.

[Bobcat]

I sailed from Shaw Island to the '79 Show. There wasn't a lot of wind near Port Townsen. The WG Ragland, Neil Young's schooner, motored from Victoria and then set full sail, including jib topsail and fisherman and ever so slowly motored into Port Townsend with everything "flying." I appreciated it: it was a sight to see.

[Yeadon]

Well now this is a winning idea. It may yet be a bit beyond my skill/comfort level, but someday.

I, for one, will be launching little Matty at Keystone and sailing across. There seems to be a low tide at 14:34, and its small. seems like a good time to make a mad dash across the Inlet.

This is a fun crossing. I'm sure you'll have a good story at the end. It's almost easier for me to trailer up to Port Townsend than do Keystone, which from my doorstep to the launch ends up being well over 100 miles. But Sunday afternoon, I'm way too tired to make that drive back home.

Man, I sound like a cranky old man. Maybe I should just launch with you fellas.

[Stephen]

I'll be at the Victoria show and then sailing to Port Townsend. I've not decided yet about Deer Harbour - sounds like a good time. If you see us in the vicinity and you have no wind give us a call for a tow if you'd like.

[Jamie Orr]

I'll be at the Victoria show and then sailing to Port Townsend. I've not decided yet about Deer Harbour - sounds like a good time. If you see us in the vicinity and you have no wind give us a call for a tow if you'd like.

Carlotta has an engine? When did that happen?

I'll be by to say hello in Victoria.

Jamie

[G. Schollmeier]

I have been busy and not around for a while. I plan to be at the show with my canoe and camera Fri and Sat. It will be good to see everyone.

[Lew Barrett]

A regular spot to hang out for the last leg of the trip.

[John How]

So the wife and I won't be sailing in but flying in to Seatac and in getting ready I googled the driving directions WA-16 W is the suggested route with WA-19 N and WA-3 N shown as alternatives. What do you all think. The first route seems like the longest and starts off in the wrong direction. It'll be Thursday afternoon and I have no idea of what traffic might be like.
I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible and am excited about the whole thing. We're staying at the Harborside Inn on Benedict. See ya soon!!

[James McMullen]

My plans have firmed up as well. I will be launching at Keystone to take advantage of the slack current on Thursday morning. I'm expecting to leave the ramp before roughly 9:00 am, earlier if the wind is up.

[PaulGrun]

My plans have firmed up too, unfortunately. The canoe yawl PickPocket has had to withdraw from the festival for this year, dang it. Late breaking work commitments in the form of a new job scotched our plans. Sigh...

[BBSebens]

My plans have firmed up as well. I will be launching at Keystone to take advantage of the slack current on Thursday morning. I'm expecting to leave the ramp before roughly 9:00 am, earlier if the wind is up.

Not wasting any time huh?

[BETTY-B]

So the wife and I won't be sailing in but flying in to Seatac and in getting ready I googled the driving directions WA-16 W is the suggested route with WA-19 N and WA-3 N shown as alternatives. What do you all think. The first route seems like the longest and starts off in the wrong direction. It'll be Thursday afternoon and I have no idea of what traffic might be like.
I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible and am excited about the whole thing. We're staying at the Harborside Inn on Benedict. See ya soon!!

You have to go the wrong direction at first because of that big bit of water in the way. You should look at other driving directions. I believe 16 will only get you to somewhere around Bremerton. Then you have to take 3 to the Hood Canal bridge and 104 to 19 which brings you to PT(19 turns into 20 at the end).

I personally like riding the ferry over driving. Instead of heading south first, head North to downtown Seattle. Get on the Bainbridge or Bremerton ferry and follow the same directions as above. You have to take 305 out to 3 on the Bainbridge route though. The Bainbridge ferry is around 35 mins. Bremerton is around an hour.

[johnw]

My plans have firmed up as well. I will be launching at Keystone to take advantage of the slack current on Thursday morning. I'm expecting to leave the ramp before roughly 9:00 am, earlier if the wind is up.

If I manage to finish Meerkat in time for the festival, what's the accepted protocol? I would imagine I'm too late to register, do I buy a ticket and sail into the beach, or what?

[James McMullen]

Ahh. . Just got back from a two-day out to Clark Island and back with Tim--one last night out before taking her to the show.

John, if you hadn't already registered as an exhibitor at the show, there's almost no chance at all that there will be any room left at the dock, I'm afraid. So certainly bring your boat, launch it at the beach or at the Boat Haven and sail it around in the bay with the schooners, but I don't think you'll be able to get it actually into the show at this late date. But check with the staff at PT--they just might have room for such a little, hand-carry able boat on land.

[johnw]

At this point, I'm not sure I'll finish in time anyway. Maybe I should take my time. I'm thinking I might want to use something lighter for the seat than the piece I've cut, but that would mean waiting until Tuesday to buy the piece. Not sure how obsessed I should be with weight., anyhow.

[neilm]

Ahh. . Just got back from a two-day out to Clark Island and back with Tim--one last night out before taking her to the show.

Any photos?