Rover

The big left turn

18 August 2019 | Underway, past Cape Flattery, Washington Coast
Eric Ahlvin
Written 8/18/19, 2 pm

Since the last blog, we’ve transited down the strait of Juan De Fuca past Neah Bay and made the big left turn. Winds were too light for sailing yesterday afternoon and picked up to about 15 knots right on the nose overnight. Combined with an unfavorable tide, we got down to 3.5 knots over the ground (SOG). We continued motoring as the seas got lumpy. By dawn this morning the wind had died, the chop was gone, we were feeling the swell from the ocean and the ebbing tide was pushing us up to around 7 knots SOG.

The tide was spitting us out the mouth of the Strait and most of the crew was on deck anticipating the big left turn when the cry “Whale Ho!” went up. The sleeping crew rushed on deck in time to see a pod of at least four Orcas, with one big male. They blew a couple of times then sounded and came up far off.

A few minutes later, we made the turn from due west to due south.

-- Sent via OCENSMail satellite email service. www.ocens.com

-- Sent via OCENSMail satellite email service. www.ocens.com
Comments
Vessel Name: Rover
Vessel Make/Model: Valiant 42
Hailing Port: Seattle. WA
Crew: Eric and Linda
About:
We're making a big change to a cruising lifestyle. Eric retired in 2012 after 32 years in R&D (mostly) at HP. Previous passions included flying and bicycling. Linda will retire in 2013 from Oregon State University. She's been active in Zonta, was a Scoutmaster, and is a champion baker. [...]
Extra: Linda was barrel master and Eric participated in the Jackson Street Vintners; a group of friends that made wine from 2000 to 2013
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