May 27, 2006
Motorless, Filucy Bay, Key Peninsula Position:
Filucy Bay, key Peninsula
Captain: Christopher M. Baker
Time on Water: 6.5 hours
The day started at the crack of dawn… (0900) After a well deserved rest in our cramped but well managed berth, we started the morning by cleaning up and rechecking our plan to catch the tide just right through the Narrows. The engine trouble we had the night prior was checked and with a few turns of a wrench we hoped the air that was believed to be causing the problem in the fuel line was removed. The engine started up fine and after a few minutes of idling we moved out into the great wide open. The sky was cloudy but no rain was falling. As we motored out toward the passage we had entered from, we determined to raise sail and see what we could get from the Southerly wind that was supposed to have had a change the night prior.
After a few good knots we were on our way out to the narrows. After our first good port tack the engine died. Hmmm… With little change in speed our confidance grew and I made my first command decision as the skipper. No motor, no problem. In fact I was determined to make it the entire way to Filucy bay by using the superior sailing skills that Arie taught me…
Our first concern was getting to the Narrows where the tides would help us through the passage with a little speed. Tacks went smoothly and we were making great time. The boat was soon heading directly toward the bridge with the speed climbing faster and faster. Top speed was 9.5 Knots. The tides definitely helped and the Southerly wind was helping more than hurting progress.
We thought we had a race for a few tacks when a newer sail boat started tacking against us. Before the bridge was overhead, the competition finally caved in and the would be losers dropped sail and turned on their motor.
The next destination was McNeil island. The “Rock” of the Northwest. Staying our distance was difficult because the slight breeze that existed near the prison island pushed toward the shoreline. The only prison escapee was a very large sea lion that almost ate us. Honestly it was pretty big. The thing seemed to come out of nowhere and what we did see was the beast surfacing at about seven feet off our stern. Still, we sailed on, and after a few tacks to keep momentum, the wind finally gave out. Though grudgingly, I accepted defeat and I gave in to Arie’s frequent requests to turn on the engine.
Now with the motor on and rain starting to sprinkle Arie and Barb started to tear down the sails and we slowly pulled into what was supposed to be a secluded inlet that we hoped would be relaxing. THAT DIDN’T WORK OUT TO WELL. Only about 50 ships were docked or anchored in our “secluded inlet.” Some boats were tied together in bunches of ten. It was like a floating trailer park. Motor boats seemed to make up the mass of the bulk occupying “our” nice relaxing spot.
Within about an hour we finally found an area that we could anchor in. Although within the next hour the nearest boat next to us decided we were much to close to his fat boat. He moved, we stayed. Arie felt bad, but not bad enough to move. I agreed. A nice supper of fish and potatoes held us over long enough for us to climb inside the spacious cabin and settle down for a night of “Did we just move? Is that a boat about to hit us?” Day over, but never to be forgotten. Oh, I did the dishes.
