Winter unofficial started here last week. The summer abruptly ended with the first rain in more than three months and hasn't stopped yet. I don't expect to see clear blue for more than a day until April.
(taken besides Sundew after an tiring 5 mile row against a stiff breeze and harbor chop)
But I imagine a couple years from now, it's late summer, the days made of sparkling clear skies after burning off each morning's fog after a chilly night.
I crawl out half out of
my sleeping bag, situp and look out the port window. Through the
dense fog I can make out a heron wading the mud flat where the
Preachers slough meets the Chehalis river. The boat's turned towards
the river with the incoming tide. Yesterday I slowly worked ten miles
down the river tacking under light winds with the ebbing tide. It
reminded me of learning to sail rivers in a nine foot Turnabout my
grandfather had given me more than 40 years ago.
After a coffee egg
breakfast, I tuck the galley box back into the cabin. It takes me
only a minute to set sail by unhooking a couple bungees, pulling two
halyards and loosely setting the sheets. There's just a ghost of
wind. I preposition the oars, work forward to lift anchor, quickly
start to row to the river. It's slow going but with little effort the
boat is moving a couple knots against the current. The exercise and
breakfast help break my chill. The blue heron cries in protest,
unfolds it wings and lifts off the water in a few powerful strokes;
he's heading downriver, I wonder if I'll see him again in a few
minutes.
Today I'll reach Grays
harbor, a wide shallow bay, take some pictures and prepare to dash
the 40 miles up the exposed coast the next day, or stop in one of the
coves along the way. I've been wanting to see Falls Creek from the
water, but entering Goodman creek through the rock pile at the mouth
would need perfect conditions. If the weather doesn’t' look
promising, I'll explore the lower reaches of the Humptulips river and
perhaps try to catch a sea run cutthroat for supper. If the weather
still doesn't look good the next day, I'll sail to the south end of
the bay and explore the Johns River. I'm in no hurry.
What I envision 15 to 16
feet.
A foot or less draft and
sit nearly flat when dried out.
Honest 2 person bed flat
for V-berths with a place to set my wet feet and shoes out of the
rain.
Can make 6 knots in 15
knots winds without white knuckles.
Progress to windward
against four foot seas and 20 knot winds under reefed sails.
My 220 pounds can right
the boat after a capsize-a rare freaky wind or moment
of stupid.
Cockpit for 2 people and a
tackle box, self draining.
No board that splits the
cabin—twin boards, one off center or a leeboards.
Enclosure or cut out for a
2 to 4 four-stroke outboard plus fuel can so it's out of the way.
Space for a couple deep
charge batteries and a 5 amp solar panels.
Can rig from trailer to
sail away in 15 minutes by myself.
A porti potti space in the
cockpit.
Tabernacle mast(s) I can
lift with one arm to pass under bridges.
Best matched designs:
John Welseford's
Pilgrim—tough and nearly has me smitten, won't sit flat.
John Harris/CLC
Pocketship—cute, won't sit flat.
Welseford's Tread
lightly—Close. Perhaps stretched 10%? Raised flat cabin floor? Leeboards?
Selway Fisher's Goshawk &
Heron 15-- heavy but purposeful
John
Pruitt's No Frills 15---worth
mentioning; clever cabin but a bit homely looking; doubt it's weatherly.
Sam Devlin's Nancy's
China—cute, not crazy about dagger board that split the cabin.
Jim Michalak's Oliveoyl--functional but not crazy about slab sided look.
Her her name will be Willet or Selkie.
Jim Michalak's Oliveoyl--functional but not crazy about slab sided look.
Her her name will be Willet or Selkie.
