Time to check on the boat

m/v phoenix at Anacortes Marina

The sun finally broke through at the end of the afternoon and Phoenix looks good after sitting over the winter months. You don’t see the name on our boat because we removed the light boards (where the boat name appears) so we can bring the light boards home to apply a fresh coat or two of varnish.

Living in Central Oregon and managing a boat moored in Anacortes is a challenge in the winter. We try to make a few trips to Anacortes Marina during the winter months to run the boat’s systems and check to be sure all is okay. This year we haven’t been able to get away as often as we’d like, but this week we had a good weather window and headed for Anacortes.

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Seattle Boat Show and “Life of Pi”

ocean near hawaii

Watching the film “Life of Pi” made us remember experiences we had while ocean sailing. Here we are sailing to Hawaii, and looking back over our stern you can see the breaking waves and sea foam blown by the wind. At least it was a favorable wind behind us!

The 2013 Seattle Boat Show is in progress! This year, it runs from January 25 to February 3. We’d love to be going, but it looks like we’ll miss it again this year. Travel in and out of Central Oregon in the winter can be “iffy” due to inclement weather in the surrounding mountains. This week the weather forecast calls for the possibility of some winter storms. Between the uncertain weather forecast and some commitments we have in Bend, we decided it’s best not to try to fit in a trip to Seattle.

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End of Season Wrap-up

Cap Sante Marina September

Cap Sante Boat Haven glows on a sunny, calm late September day.

After our September cruising, we stayed on board Phoenix in Anacortes Marina to finish the annual exterior maintenance of waxing and polishing, and get the boat ready to sit over the winter. This year we were lucky to have the long stretch of dry weather continue through the rest of September and into October. Quite unusual for this time of year, and we were grateful that we didn’t have to dodge wet weather for our outside projects!

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September 17 – Double Island to Anacortes

sunrise at double island

The early morning sun cast a rosy glow on the clouds and created a nice reflection in the calm water at our anchorage at Double Island in West Sound, Orcas Island.

We woke up to another calm morning with a rosy sunrise. We’ve certainly had wonderful weather for this short cruise! Can’t remember another September when we’ve had such a long string of dry, warm days. Love it!

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September 16 – Port Browning to Double Island

port browning sunrise

It was calm overnight and in the early morning at our Port Browning anchorage. The light of the early morning sun reflected in the calm water and made for a glorious sunrise.

After a calm night at anchor in Port Browning, we woke this morning to another wonderful sunrise. We decided it would be a good day to return to the U.S., and spend a couple more days in the San Juans before we had to be back in Anacortes.

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