Sunday I got motivated early enough to depart and catch what little flood tide there was in my favor towards Eagle Harbor. With a light breeze, that meant I could enjoy an hour or so's sail across Puget Sound under chilly, grey skies. My schedule was relaxed as usual, but I wanted to drop anchor early enough in the day to spend some time at the Wooden Boat Show there in Winslow.

With the anchor set by late morning, I launched the Grandy skiff (the pic I've posted with the blog is an old one from the Grandy Skiff album in the Photo Gallery) so I could sail in and be properly "attired" for the occasion. After circumnavigating the docks a couple of times looking for a place to tie up, I finally poached a spot at the end of one of the show docks, thinking I might pass as an informal entry. I hope some of the passers-by took the opportunity to admire the dinghy.

I spent a couple of hours wandering around, mostly just taking in the big picture rather than going aboard the boats. Some of the details provided inspiration for projects on Mabrouka, but one boat in particular attracted my attention. I never noted it's name, but it was a cutter-rigged ketch (a similar rig to Mabrouka's) that first drew my eye with an absolutely gorgeous dinghy hanging from its davits. It was very similar to mine, only much more fastidiously finished, with glimmering varnish from stem to stern.

The boat itself was beautiful as well, with yards and yards of finely varnished trim, custom bronze fittings, and pristine teak decks. Down below was luscious, too, with finely buffed woodwork, a wooden cabin sole, counter tops in green marble, and matching green plush upholstery.

It's owner, Michael Effler, makes a business out of renovating classic yachts, and I had a good time chatting with him. He's even done a refit on a pilot house version of a CT41 very similar to Mabrouka. (See the Sea Sensations link in the blog side bar for some pictures.) It would be SO nice to subject Mabrouka to his ministrations, but that'd probably run in the $40-50k price range, and I think I need to spend my daughters' inheritance in smaller chunks than that.

Coincidentally, Wendy Hinman was also chatting with Michael when I was there. Ken Lane had been encouraging me to seek Wendy and her husband, Garth, out for some time as a good resource on Pacific cruising wisdom, and lo and behold, there she stood. They've recently completed a Pacific circumnavigation, which Wendy's documented in her book, Tightwads on the Loose. We didn't talk much right then as I was already imposing on her conversation with Michael, but I intend to later. You can check out her book and her cruising blog via the links in the blog sidebar, "Wendy Hinman, Tightwads on the Loose" and "S/V Valella", respectively.

Besotted with envy for well-kept classic yachts, I retired from the scene and sailed the dinghy around the bay for a hour or so (nice!), then returned to Mabrouka for a quiet evening dinner and some reading.