JCTownsley.com

I apologize for the delay in a final update. But after a big trip,
the last thing you really feel like is sitting down and writing about
it all! So finally, for all of you, is the last update from the
Dream Catcher trip. Instead of trying to remember everything, I have
decided to just copy it all straight from my boat log…

5/26/05 3:45pm
What a twenty-four hours it has been! Around 11:45pm the wind
picked up to about fifteen knots from the NE. We needed to make up
some time to catch the 4am slack time. I raised the sails at the end
of my watch and stood by in the cockpit to enjoy the sail.
And what great sailing it was. About the same time we started
sailing, we had an incredible moon rise in the west. I stayed in the
cockpit all night with the other watches. Around 1pm the wind picked
up to about 20 knots. Wanting to stay fast and make up some time, I
decided not to reef the sails quite yet but just ease off on the sheets.
The slack we were shooting for was at 3:59am. We were running
late, but after checking in with the Coast Guard, the conditions
still seemed fairly calm. We motored all the way to the South Jetty
in fairly calm conditions (1-3 foot swells), but we could not get
inside with the ebb beginning to strengthen. At 5am I made the call
to head back out to sea. When we turned around we ran into some
nasty waves. The current next to shore had pushed us north and we
were closer to Peacock spit than I wanted to be.
After getting back out to buoy 1 we killed three hours fighting
3 feet wind waves. The wind was now pushing 25 knots.
Because of the strong current next to shore, I decided to angle
us into the main channel from the south. Dodging numerous crab pots,
just south of the main channel we ran into a submerged object. Still
not sure what it was, perhaps a crab pot but we could not see
anything. The engine died of course. Fortunately with the North
East wind we were being blown out to sea, and not towards the South
Jetty. I hailed the Coast Guard immediately with our position,
problem, etc. After asking them to standby, we checked the boat and
engine compartment out. All seemed normal. Started the engine, had
good power and normal motion in gear. At this time the wind was
still blowing, but the swells were non-existent. We decided to motor
across the calm bar. The CG was very helpful like always, checking
in with us every 30 minutes and even stopped by in one of their
inflatable boats.
The second crossing was very uneventful for the potential of the
Columbia Bar. In hindsight, crossing right before an ebb is not a
good idea, unless you have the power to beat the current. We had no
problem on the bar, but could not fight the outgoing current of the
Columbia River.
My job on this trip was one- bring the crew and the boat home
safely. Job accomplished. Two- Give new boat owners and new sailors
a valuable learning experience. I’d like to say I did that too…

This is the last update. Dream Catcher is safe in her slip now. The
bags are unpacked, the salt washed off, and the pictures developed.
So until next time, fair winds, and safe seas…

Josh