Zeke and I sat in front of his tiny It was Zeke’s determination that
computer screen after hours at the Ajax we should reef the jib in the remaining
cafe in Port Hadlock, consulting the light rather than be forced to do so in
NOAA website. There was only one the dark, and so he clambered out onto
thing about the weather report that was the foredeck, harnessed and clipped
clear to us both: it was total crap. Ten in. The task was odious, particularly
knots from the east was forecast for the as rigging the foresail for reefing had
strait – sweet if it were true, but a rare been overlooked in our preparations. It
thing that never lasts any length of time. was necessary to tie in sheets at the reef
I had only just returned from a trip out clew, and all the while on a sloppy deck
to the boat, delivering provisions and and being lashed with spray. Kayak
a surf board by rowboat, while the rolled with the reduced sail, so sorting
sky was being pierced in all directions out the cleanup lines while leaning
by lightning and large raindrops fell over the leeward side of the boat was
sporadically. Getting the surfboard an uncomfortable proposition. When it
on deck while alongside and in a was done, Zeke collapsed in the cockpit
gusty breeze was a trick in itself, and and declared that he would not move
I wondered at the wisdom of standing from that spot.
on the deck of a steel boat in the present Kayak was tearing through the
conditions. water and quite happy to carry on,
These were the circumstances though she made little westing, but
under which we pondered departure her crew was quite beat and there was
on a journey that would be made no leaving the helm. We relinquished
entirely against the prevailing winds, Another day at the beach. our hopes of reaching Pillar Pt. that
currents, and waves. Our destination, evening, and settled for a flat piece of
the surfy west coast of Vancouver lighthouse, we were hit by 40 knots of water upon which we could sack out
Island. Between us and our destination, wind. The lee rail was dipping under instead. We found this in the little nook
the Strait of Jaun de Fuca, then at the the surface and spray kicked up by the behind Observation Point, and were
convergence zone of an inland low that bow seethed across the deck. Dusk was satisfied at least to not have to give up
dominated the south sound, and a high approaching. ground and run for Port Angeles.
that hovered nearby offshore. Sooner
or later, there was going to be a lot of
wind, no telling from what direction. Buy $150 worth of any
This would be intimidating were
Gill gear and receive a FREE
we not sailing Kayak, Zeke’s heavy 12
meter steel sloop. He had been talking
pair of Blade sunglasses
up her sailing qualities for some time,
and it had been my hope that we would
encounter a good blow.
Next afternoon found us pointing
up the strait in a favorable southwest
breeze. Zeke was below napping when
I observed an interesting phenomenon
off the port beam. Wispy streaks of
cloud stretched out from the Olympic
Mountains, which had become
obscured. Fifteen minutes later I had
to rouse Zeke from his bunk to shorten
the mainsail as gale-force winds picked
up quickly from the south. With that
accomplished, we hunkered down in
the cockpit and watched as Kayak began
bashing through wind waves. The wind
soon turned westerly and we were
headed to Canada on a port tack. With
all the elements against us, we ducked
behind Race Rocks to take advantage
FREE
of reduced winds and the back eddy
that is present on the flood. However,
fisheriessupply.com (206) 632-4462
$50.00 Value
1900 N. Northlake Way Seattle, WA 98103
when we had pulled up alongside the
48° No r t h , oc t o b e r 2009 Pa g e 37
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