JCTownsley.com

Hello All! Today’s update comes from Port Angeles Washington.
Although we planned originally to make for Neah Bay today, after a
quick discussion Sunday evening with a local marine electronics
mechanic, we stayed around hoping to get our AutoHelm fixed.
Unfortunately it will not come out of standby mode, meaning somebody
must man the helm at all times. Our suspicions were correct. The
mechanic was unable to do anything and eventually it will have to be
sent back to Raymarine.
So after doing some shopping and eating in the morning, we
decided to do some sailing! After all, we are on a sailboat in one of
the most beautiful areas of the world. Starting with very light
winds, we sailed east in the Straight for an hour or so. When the
wind started picking up, eventually topping off around 25 knots, we
just ‘played’ back in forth right outside of Port Angeles. It’s been
a great experience sailing for the first time on a un-stayed carbon-
fiber mast. Sunday evening I went up the 55 ft mast to rig another
line for the radar reflector. Finding a place to hang a radar
reflector can be tricky on a mast without spreaders or shrouds.
Nevertheless, after yesterday’s creativity, and the owner of the boat
going up the mast today to fix a minor problem, we have a reflector
hanging off the starboard side of the mast.
Tomorrow early am we will start out for Neah Bay, a little town
just before you hit the Pacific Ocean. We’ll rest there for the
night, and then begin our cruise down the Pacific Ocean.
That’s all for now!

Fair winds…

Josh