September 2004

September 28 – Left Port Angeles before daylight.  Nice weather but got rough as we rounded Cape Flattery and rough all night.  Two batteries boiled dry and trouble with the Radar so we decided to go into the Columbia River up to Astoria Oregon.

September  26 - Left Shelter Island Marina on the Fraser River in Richmond BC at 8:30 AM bound for San Francisco.  Captain Ben Gray and crew of ocean-going novice Brad Gray and the learned and experienced Dale Gray.   Brad performed like an old sea dog.  Dale commercial fished on the BC coast for 10 years and has 6 years offshore sailing experience in the South Pacific, Australia, Hawaii, etc.  It was very helpful  having his guidance through fog, US Immigration and all aspects of navigation and communication.

            During flood tide in Active Pass our engine quit.  A strong current took us within a few feet of a cliff and were concerned before we got a tow from a passing boat.  After safely getting tied up we found a poor connection to our fuel pump.  We anchored for the night at Sydney Spit and arrived at Port Angeles at noon after the head fan seized and rolled out smoke as breaker didn’t go.  Cleared customs, fueled up with 600 gallons, and looked for US charts without much luck. 

September 2 - Jason Fimrite arrived in Richmond and they went to Sydney for Tex, Grete, Troy, & Bobby-Jo and then cruised the Islands for a week.  In addition they met up with other friends living in the area like Ken Lutes and Rodney Fimrite.