Sunset in Padilla Bay, our anchorage outside Anacortes.
Summer was over, and Autumn was slowly arriving. The Pacific Northwest had been good to us the past few months. Mostly clear blue skies, stable weather and clean, beautiful green surroundings. In September and October, we stayed mostly in Anacortes and the San Juan Islands working on the boat and hiking around Orcas and San Juan Island. When gales arrived, we simply closed ourselves in the boat and turned on the heater!
Anacortes, Washington: Chores and Fixing the Boat
We had a halyard wrap around the Genoa forestay so we had to contact a Selden rigger to come and evaluate the problem. Note the upper swivel’s top is tilted: needs replacement!View from the top of the mast of Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes, Washington. Halyard has been unwrapped. Scratches on the forestay indicate that a similar problem had probably already happened with the previous wire halyard.Runners along the main road to the marina in Anacortes.Giorgio checking for abnormal electrical current at the windlass and Furlex because of some corrosion in the anchor chain. Preparing to send our laminated Elvstrøm Genoa-Yankee off to our friend John Kretschmer. Elvstrøm is sending us a new one on warranty since we had some premature delamination. Great customer care from Elvstrøm’s Soren Hansen. Thanks Soren!The bay outside Anacortes is full of beautiful crabs! Giorgio set the traps every day.Giorgio enjoying his catch.A smelly family of seals lounging on the Anacortes- Cap Sante dock.SV JAN at anchor in Padilla Bay, Anacortes, Washington. Note the absence of the Genoa.Sunset from Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes, Washington.Anchored in Fidalgo Bay, Anacortes, Washington. Looking north to Mt. Baker: notice the fog settling on the water.
Back to the San Juan Islands!
After our boys left, we went back to enjoy the San Juan islands.
Orcas Island
We spent several days hiking the roads and trails on Orcas Island. Moran State Park near Rosario Resort became one of our favorite places with beautiful Cascade Lake and Mountain Lake.
Moran State Park on Orcas Island. That day we hiked 13 miles- like a 1/2 marathon!Cascade Lake in Moran State Park.Hikers taking a musical break.Rowboat on Cascade Lake.
Fawns having an afternoon snack.
Trail through the lush forest in Moran State Park.What a huge Douglas Fir tree!A lovely waterfall near the trail on Orcas Island. A very long fallen tree blocking the trail. SV JAN again in front of Rosario Resort. Finally back to base after 13 miles hike!The scent of “Macchia Mediterranea” made us feel like we were back in Sardinia!
Macchia Mediterranea in Orcas Island. Enjoying the scent of our favorite fragrance was a wonderful surprise for us to find. It must have been imported by someone, and we found it everywhere in the Rosario Resort flower beds.
Hiking the trail to the Cattle Point lighthouse on San Juan Island.A “friendly” neighborhood sign. Needless to say, we stayed away.
We left the San Juan Islands with a heavy heart but we knew we would return in the Spring. We headed south with fog and limited visibility and had to use the radar several times. After a short stop in the charming town of Port Townsend to check out a rigger at Brion Toss Yacht Riggers, we continued south. We will return to Port Townsend next Spring to have work done on the rig.
PUGET SOUND
We made our way south toward Seattle and stopped in Shilshole Marina on Puget Sound. We had to meet the electrician from S3 Marine so that we could get power from the dock instead of using our generator since our boat had been wired for a European 240 volts / 50 Hz power set up. Then we met Pete McGonagle, the Hallberg Rassy representative from Swiftsure Yachts in Seattle, who accompanied us from Puget Sound through the locks and under the bridges into Lake Union.
Shilshole Marina in Seattle, Washington on Puget Sound.
One of the first jobs was to repair a gas leak in our propane system.
Going through the locks to Seattle: “The Emerald City”
No city can rival the green beauty of Seattle. Even though most days are cast with very grey skies, nothing can compare to a day in Seattle with blue sky, the sun sparkling on the water, lush green trees and distant snow capped peaks. Our home for the next few months would be at the Swiftsure Yacht dock on Lake Union. We were so happy that we found a place to winter in Seattle!
Map of the locks and Ship Canal in to Seattle.
We met Pete on Friday morning and he assisted us through the lock and under bridges. Our last navigation of the sailing season was to head east from Puget Sound at Shilshole Bay into the Ship Canal, to Salmon Bay through Hiram Chittenden Locks, or Ballard Locks, and into Lake Union, near downtown Seattle. It was a grey day but we had a nice dry morning. The lockmaster gave us the green light to enter the lock, closed the gate behind us while we tied up to the side of the lock. After the lock was filled with water and the boat raised to the level of the Ship Canal continuing east, the lockmaster opened the gate. With a green light, we proceeded into the canal, watching our bow so that the rushing water did not push us around.
We passed through 3 drawbridges and under one very tall bridge. Our mast is around 22 meters, or 75 feet tall. When we arrived near the drawbridge we signaled the bridge tender by horn with 1 long and 1 short blast, and the bridge tender then responded by horn with 2 loud blasts and the subsequent raising of the bridge.
The first bridge we came to was the railroad bridge. After calling the bridge tender on Channel 13 to let them know we wanted to pass through, we watched the huge structure open up for us.Passing through the open Railroad Bridge.
Entering the Hiram Chittenden Lock.
Entering the lock slowly.
Almost in position to tie up.
Tied up, lines secure and ready for the chamber to fill. The heavy sliding metal boards with yellow cleats go up and down with the water level…and the boats.The Chart Plotter showing our location in the lock: our boat is the black ship icon in the middle.The lock filling up: notice the swirling of the water on the surface.The lake’s water level has been reached and we are ready to let the lines go.After exiting the lock carefully, we headed up the Ship Canal through Salmon Bay. The Ballard Bridge- 44 feet above water. One long blast and one short blast let the bridge tender know we wanted to proceed through the bridge. Passing through the Ballard Bridge with our 75-foot mast.Someone having fun on the water!Heading up the Ship Canal. We would easily pass under those wires.Approaching the Fremont Bridge.After we signaled our intention, the 30-foot Fremont Bridge raised up to let us through. The 165-foot Aurora Bridge is in the distance which we passed easily under.Passing under the Fremont Bridge.
Lake Union is the first lake on the Ship Canal where we would spend the winter months. This is where the houseboat from the movie, ‘Sleepless in Seattle‘ is located, only a few docks from our mooring at Swiftsure Yachts. As you can see, we are tucked in and ready for the winter.
Lake Union with the Space Needle. The houseboat where Tom Hanks filmed ‘Sleepless in Seattle’. Just a few docks form our mooring.Backing and squeezing in to our mooring at Swiftsure Yachts.Inching and edging our way very slowly past moored yachts on both sides under the careful supervision of the Swiftsure Yachts crew.Finally backed in to our spot in between the dock and a houseboat.SV JAN finally moored in her winter home.
Walking around Seattle
On our frequent walks on land, we often crossed the Fremont Bridge to reach the Fremont district which has some nice restaurants and shops. It was fun to discover this sculptured Troll who lives under the bridge!
The Troll that lives under the Fremont Bridge.Troll Avenue North!The bridge from land: stopped at the red light while the Fremont bridge goes up for ship traffic.
Going Home to Mississippi
Since SV JAN is safely moored at Swiftsure Yachts on Lake Union in Seattle, Washington, we will be enjoying our ‘home on land’ under the blue skies of the state of Mississippi. Our plan is to return to Seattle in early Spring 2021 and start cruising the Pacific Northwest again!
We are two circumnavigating sailors who are grateful and passionate for the opportunity to visit this fascinating world. Our "home away from home" is a Hallberg Rassy 48 MK II, a fantastic bluewater sailboat.
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3 Comments
What a beautiful adventure ! And the best has yet to come !!
I wish you some good time resting at home, planning the continuation of your adventure.
All the best.
Stefano
The Adventures of SV JAN 
What a beautiful adventure ! And the best has yet to come !!
I wish you some good time resting at home, planning the continuation of your adventure.
All the best.
Stefano
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Thanks Stefano, one day we’ll share few chats in Cagliari.
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I look forward to it. Happy Thanksgiving !”
Stefano
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