NorthWet Coast

This Spring I’m racing Wednesday nights in the San Juans on a Beneteau First 35 carbon edition. The wind is fluky here, to say the least. Usually, there are 10 to 12 boats praying for any sort of wind- all throughout the summer. Tonight, they had to call the race off. We were sitting down below, deciding weather or not to crack a beer, watching 32 knots on the anemometer in the harbor. We decided it wouldn’t be fun— even leaving the dock would be a shot show. Then the wind died down. I asked if I could get crew on my E27 two docks over. No takers. Very Small Rocks would be solo. Fifteen minutes later, the tiller was finally staying in the slot between the flagpole and the tow rollers and the main went up. The wind was steady 20 & there were two other boats out. I hoisted the 95 Blade. Both Beneteaus were triplehanded and sailing on their ears. This was the rush I was looking for. It was gorgeous out. The rain had stopped. The sun was shining on only the foothills. My Max was 7.1 SOG in 20+ knots. I was out one hour, but it was the spontaneous thrill of a lifetime. I feel so lucky to have a solo-able boat, in the water- ready to cast off at a moments’ notice. This year will be a good one, for sure. Especially if my wife agrees that it’s much more ship-shape than last year & we do a couple overnighters.

-herff
1973 Ericson 27
Anacortes, Washington