The Rest of the Way to Port Townsend

The Rest of the Way to Port Townsend

Well, after laughing at me and the way the boat spun around Joe started the engine and we motored out of the offending waters. We stayed on a good tack for sometime. We were going fast in sailboat terms, (although since we had no instruments who knows). We continued to beat up wind without making much headway. Because we didn't fuel up before we left we absolutely had to sail part of the way. Yes you heard me, we did not fill the fuel tank and it is small, only 10 gallons. You are starting to understand why I chose the title, right?

The were ships coming up on us and we had to start the motor once again. I was down below reading old charts to figure out where we were and how far we had yet to go. I guessed before we left it was somewhere around 10 miles. Nay, it is more like 30! HOLY COW! Joe, are we going to make it? Sure we will baby. But it is getting dark, we are low on fuel, we are going into the wind and we are still 10 miles out. Are you scared yet? Because I am.

The sun was setting and we had the mainsail up the jib down and the motor running and we were going into the wind still. It was getting dark and we were relying on my knowledge of the landscape to find the port. I don't know what it looks like in the dark. I got out the binoculars and looked at the shore and say I think that's it right there. NO! That was not it, that was Marrowstone Point, we nearly headed for the ground between the lighthouse and a very large house on the shore but the disaster was avoided. The land in the distance came into view and we knew quickly the course needed to change. Joe made the appropriate adjustment and we were headed for the town of Port Townsend. 

Where is the entrance to the marine? It isn't lighted. I think that's it. No it isn't it. Maybe it's there. No not there. The shore, turn. There it is, that way that way. Joe I didn't get the fenders out. It's okay bay the dock has small bumpers we will be fine. 

It is a narrow opening to this marina and we were relying on the lights from businesses in the town to see. Joe got us in and pulled into the first slip available. It was wide and long. There was a boat next to us but they were asleep, until we got there. 

For those of you who are not sailors, getting to the dock is the beginning of work. You need to tie the boat up, put fenders out, get shore power connected, tie and bag the sails. This is a minimum. We don't currently have a head on the boat so we all needed to pee as well, including Albert, the dog.

Well tomorrow we will get our rigging surveyed and decide if this is the boat we will take to sea or not. It is late and I am oh so tired.