Summer 2013: Cruise (5) - To Gig Harbor

Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Tied to the buoy off of Blake Island, Puget Sound

L and J awake and set the kettle on the stove to start heating the water for coffee. In the meantime, we listen to the weather report (Light wind: SW 10 knots, waves: 1 foot or less; change to light rain in the afternoon). Hmmm ... consult the charts ... a very light zephyr is filling in, just ripping the water, can we sail off the buoy? We check to make sure the mooring line goes through the ring on the buoy and is clear to run through. This way we can release it at any point. We raise the main, then the genoa, and wait. ...
We notice the folks on the wooden sailboat are watching us, too. We wait, judging the wind ... patience ... ok, we release the line, pull it through, help by backing the genoa a little and we are off. We ghost across the channel between Blake Island and the Kitsap Peninsula, gently tacking to gain headway around the end of Vashon Island. In the meantime, we are watching out for the busy ferries: one coming out of Seattle to Vashon, one from Vashon to Point Southworth (Kitsap Pen.), and one from Pt. Southworth to Seattle). The captains are really kind, however and try to stay out of our way, too. At one point we pick up some real speed (4.5 knots) in a puff of wind. It must have been the last gasp, because we were suddenly becalmed off the Vashon Terminal! The ferry gives a blast of her horn and it becomes clear that we aren't going to clear before the ferry needs to leave. So, sigh, on goes the trusty engine. Anything to get out of the way.

Up to this point, we have been trading tacks with the wooden sloop, each of us trying to get the best out of our boats. But while we start up the engine to head down East Passage to the southeast, they turn back northeast toward Seattle.

Colvos Passage runs up the western side of Vashon Island and is shorter in distance to Gig Harbor than going around the east and south sides of Vashon Island (which is shaped somewhat like a triangle). However, there is so much water getting pushed up and down from the South Puget Sound through the Tacoma Narrows that Colvos Passage either has a northward current running or a bit of slack, no matter what the tide is doing. The East Passage tends to have a more typical current with tide cycle (with perhaps a bit longer south flow). Besides, we were planning on returning via Colvos Passage which would give us a circumnavigation of Vashon Island.

The trip was quite uneventful (seen in the pink on the map); a long motor-sail over a smooth sea.






At one point, L. comes up from below, and grabs the chart. "I think I'll mark where we are. Do you have a location?"
"We are right here," J. says pointing to a Yellow Turning Buoy on the chart (marking the difference between the North and South bound lanes for the shipping).
"How can you tell?" L. asks looking around.
"Because that's the Turning Buoy," J. says laughing.
L. laughs, "Hiding it behind your back, I see."
On we continue to motor ...

We finally approach Robinson Point and the Robinson Point Lighthouse and turn the corner, heading southwest and towards Tacoma. Gig Harbor isn't visible yet.

All day, we have seen almost no activity upon the water. There were some small tin-skiff fishing on a bank off of the northern end of Vashon Island, and one Tug pulling a Barge headed north. But after coming around the corner, we look back and see a container ship in ballast heading our way. NORTHERN STAR passes, reminding us of how huge these ships are. No wonder they can't turn nor stop very fast.

Not too much longer and we are off of Quartermaster Harbor and are watching the ferry go back and forth between the Tacoma and south Vashon Island (Tahlequah) terminals. Having safely passed the ferry, we start looking for the entrance to Gig Harbor. When Vancouver sent Puget with a crew to explore the Sound to the south, Puget was to continue turning right at each harbor, bay, straight, entrance and so leave nothing overturned. The Sound now bears his name, but on the way, they somehow missed the entrance to Gig Harbor. But J. knew about where it was to supposed to be (having sailed in and out of it many years ago with his Dad). Besides, we had the chart.

It was about this time that the predicted rain showed up in a blast. Quick: either reef or drop sails! Let's just drop them as we are close to home and want to power through the entrance anyway. So down they come.

And who should we spy appearing on the old Gig Harbor Ferry Terminal (no longer in use)? But Grampa and Aunt KT!

Aunt KT photo

 They were watching and waiting for our arrival.

Aunt KT photo

Through the entrance we come...

Aunt KT photo

Aunt KT photo

 

Aunt KT photo

... then down the harbor to anchor off the Gig Harbor BoatShop. We like being closer to the more working harbor anyway. Besides, we thought the BoatShop wouldn't mind us using their dock as we came and went. (They didn't - and we tried to keep out of their way, too.) This was ideal for us, as we were also closer to J.'s grandmother's house (a few blocks up the road).

We quickly launched PIPPI for the kids to row ashore. Auntie KT had an evening obligation, but Grampa was there when L. and J. finally stowed and secured the boat.

After J. and L. row ashore, we all visit with Grampa. Then he heads up to J's Grandmother's house (she's needing more care, remember we were nervous because she had not been able to move and been hospitalized for a short time while Grampa was away on a mission trip with others from their church).

With a proud step, we headed down town to El Pueblito to celebrate our arrival.

144.1 nautical miles down (and 5 "sailing" days) in a meandering way.