Daysailing Budd Bay, visiting Hope Island and Boston Harbor Marina, and helping a new Potter owner get on the water were the highlights of this weekend trip.
Saturday, June 2, 2007: Launch from Swantown Marina
JoJoma was already rigged at the Swantown Marina boat launch when Jan and I pulled up to begin rigging. About halfway through the process, Dusty and spouse arrive in their new-to-them experienced Potter, recently purchased in California and towed all the way home to Olympia.
Tom and I helped Dusty get rigged. The boat seller had secured shrouds and equipment with plastic ratcheting ties, which we had to cut off to remove. We added a few spare blocks here and there so the boat would be safer. The first mainsail up was an older one with a boltrope, but we soon replaced it with a new mainsail with sail slugs. Tom rigged a downhaul for the jib, and I reached with the boathook to fish for a line that had not been secured when we raised the mast.
A couple of hours later, Dusty’s boat was ready. Tom launched first and cleared the busy ramp. Then came Dusty, but we experienced some delays because the motor would not remain running. Each of us had a go. My contribution was to loosen the air vent on the motor’s gas cap, and that did help, but it turns out the vent was partially plugged. Tom loosened the vent more and that allowed the motor to idle without stalling out.
Away went the two Potters. Jan helped me launch Whisper. I ran the boat to a dock, then moved the truck and trailer to an overnight lot. With a hug and admonishment to be safe, Jan waved goodbye as I pulled away from the marina to find the other two Potters.
We had little wind, so most of the trip was motoring. Ahead, I could see Dusty with all sail up but becalmed, in the channel for the Port of Olympia. I pulled up and we chatted for a few minutes, and soon we were both motoring to deeper water.
I could see Tom in JoJoma well down the bay, but when a few breathes of wind came up, I shut off the motor and raised sail. The breeze was just teasing me, and soon I was becalmed again. While I had tried to sail, Dusty and spouse had continued to motor down the bay.
Sails down and motor started, I cruised to Boston Harbor Marina for a sandwich. I looked for Dusty but didn’t find him.
By this time JoJoma had disappeared, and I was beginning to feel remiss as the trip host for losing both boats! I motored to Hope Island, and circled it clockwise, finding Tom on eastern side of the island with JoJoma pulled up on the sandy beach. With a wave, I headed back for Swantown Marina so I could help Dusty take out.
As I pulled into the marina, I could see Dusty’s van pulling out of the boat launch, boat in tow. Later, I learned they had gone to Boston Harbor Marina and tied up in a slip. I didn’t see their boat, and they didn’t see mine. While I was in the store buying a sandwich, they were apparently sitting outside on the dock, eating their sandwiches. I don’t know how we could have missed each other, but we did.
Finding an empty slip at Swantown Marina, I secured the boat near a yacht club gathering. Imagine my chagrin to find out it was the Shelton Yacht Club. After I identified myself as a Sheltonian, I was introduced around and encouraged to think about joining the club. I spent a quiet night in the slip.
Sunday, June 3, 2007: Takeout at Swantown
Sunday morning with no wind, so I motored north to Hope Island to connect with Tom. He was anchored near the southern shore, and his folding canoe was pulled up on the beach. I dropped anchor nearby in about 10 feet of water, and minutes later Tom appeared on the beach. He paddled out, climbed into Whisper, and we laughed about the three boats losing each other the day before.
Tom let me try his canoe. I found it hard to paddle with a single paddle, but with a kayak-style paddle, it would probably be fine.
We headed to Boston Harbor Marina for (you guessed it) sandwiches, where we met the owner’s mother.
Tom and I motored most of the way back, but as winds increased near the dredged channels, Tom raised sail and started cutting a good line through the water.
Visiting Hope Island was something I had wanted to do, and Boston Harbor Marina is always one of the highlights for me. Most satisfying, though, was the opportunity to help a new Potter owner and learn some new rigging tricks in doing so.
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