|
Capt. John's Alaska Adventure - Part 1
The new Safe/Sea Newport has arrived! As you can see in the pictures, our new twin diesel, 35 foot, RIB, is quite a boat. Before she was shipped East to Rhode Island, almost 100 hours of extensive testing of the boat was conducted on the waters of Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, the Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia, the inside passage of British Columbia and most of Southeast Alaska. This series, with the accompanying pictures, will give readers an overview of this exciting shakedown cruise.
The Newport was in the water in Tacoma when Andy Casey and I arrived on March 15th. Our first trial run was out into Commencement Bay on a breezy, sunny, showery spring day. Andy captured pictures of a beautiful full rainbow (black and white just does not do justice to the pictures, so they are not included). With Roger and Mike from Almar aboard, we spent an hour getting a feel for the new boat. The most striking feature was the increase in speed and agility the new 35 foot twin had over the two 33 footers that we already have. In fact, the Newport can cruise at over 35 knots and reach 42+ at the top end. The boat feels solid, but at the same time is light on its feet and very fast. At any rate, we were very happy and excited after our first trial. Late that afternoon, Andy and I were collecting the mountian of gear we had shipped out to Almar for the trip North and heading to West Marine to pick up the gear that we needed to buy locally.
Early the next morning, we were at Walmart at 0700 to stock up on additional supplies for the trip. By 0800, Andy was busy installing all the little things necessary for the successful operation of the Newport. There were a number of items on this boat that were new to the fleet. These include a FlowScan fuel monitoring system, a RayMarine Autopilot and a jumpseat for a second crew member.
By Thursday at noon Andy had completed most of the final installation work, supplies were aboard and we were ready to leave. Our first stop was only a few miles away in Gig Harbor. If any readers are in the Tacoma area, be sure to stop at the "Tides" in Gig Harbor. The "Tides" is a local establishment, well-known for it casual food and Northwest brews. After an excellent lunch, we were off to Langley on Whidbey Island. A view of the the Newport at the dock is shown in the accompanying picture. After a pleasant night at the Boatyard Inn, Andy had a big surprise in store for me the next morning. As we appoached the boat to leave, I saw hot rod flames and a sign saying 740 HP on the side of the cabin (see picture). After my initial shock, I kind of took a liking to the idea. They became quite an attraction to the many Harbormasters and others who were interested in the boat during this trip. They remain on the boat to this day, so you may see them when you pass us by.
After a quick breakfast in the sleepy village of Coupeville, we were off to Cornet Bay at Deception Pass to visit the Aydelottes who represent Vessel Assist in that area. Our stop there included an oil change so that we would be good to go for the remainder of the trip. We only had 10 hours on the engines, but felt sure the new Yanmars would enjoy fresh oil. John Aydelotte had acquired the 10 gallons of oil needed and we had all the fuel and oil filter aboard, thanks to Andy's excellent planning. We have included pictures of John Aydelotte's 44 foottowboat, a retired CG cutter at the dock with the S/S Newport. In addition, there are pictures of the 44, taken by Andy, running through Deception Pass. Deception Pass is another place you do not want to miss when you visit Whidbey Island/Anacortes area.
Next, we were off for lunch and fuel at beautiful LaConner. The fields around LaConner are the source of tulips and daffodiles by the millions. Plan to visit their great tulip festival in April some year. It has been a regular stopping place for Safe/Sea for lunch or overnite on all our trips to the area. The trip from LaConner to Anacortes is short, but involves a huge area of shallows that go dry at low tide. Suddenly, off to our starboard side we sighted a 35 foot wood trawler yacht, high and dry on the flats. Andy and I figured that the crew would just wait for the tide to return and motor away. No such luck, but more on that after dinner.
After tying up to John Aydelotte's Anacortes rescue vessel, we ran final errands, checked the Newport for loose hardware, hoses, chafe, and proceeded to the Anaco Bay Inn to await the arrival of Mike Sandeman. Following his arrival, we proceeded to the Brown Lantern in downtown Anacortes for supper and a few more Northwestern Porters, Stouts and Ales. The Brown Lantern is another must visit, if you are in Anacortes.
During dinner, we learned that the stranded trawler had damaged its rudder and was now a salvage job scheduled for high tide later that evening. While Mike and I returned to the Inn, Andy was off on an adventure with John Aydelotte's crew to observe and, then, help in the recovery. A picture of the damaged bottom is included.
Bright and early on Saturday morning, Mike and I were aboard at Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes and ready to depart for Alaska. At 0700, we were underway with ideal conditions for running the M/V Newport at 36 knots. After brief stops at Waldron Island and Johns Island to say good by to one of Mike's buddies and check the security of Mike's 2nd home in the San Juans, we were soon cruising through the beautiful Gulf Islands of Canada.
By 1000, we had arrived at the fuel dock in Nanaimo, BC for a required customs, port of entry stop. While Mike topped off the fuel with very high priced 'liters' of diesel, I cleared with Canadian Customs by cell phone. Fortunately, we were on our way again in 20 short minutes. The course North to Campbell River and the Discovery Passage is fairly exposed to the prevailing Southeasterly wind and almost 100 nautical miles in length. The Southeasterly had been building during our stop, so that two to three footers greeted us as we worked our way North. It was a gorgeous, sunny, blue sky day as we held the shoreline of Vancouver Island close abeam on our port side. While a little bumpy for the crew, the boat performed beautifully. We put the trim tabs down allowing the deep v forward to cut the seas and never fell below 28 knots even in the roughest sections.
By 1400, we were secure in Campbell River at the Discovery Coast Inn and Marina. All the facitities here were first class and the hotel overlooked the Discovery Passage with all its interesting traffic. This is the main waterway route to Alaska. Tugs, barges, fishing vessels, ferrys and ships are in constant motion heading North and South in this waterway. Some of the slowest moving units are the tugs towing log booms. We would pass them one day, stop for the night and then see them again the next day.
Sunday morning, we arrived at the boat to find the tube covered with snow. On the other hand, it was calm and the forecast looked somewhat promising. Departing at 0730, we figured to head to Port Hardy a little over 100 miles North through Johnstone Strait. North of Port Hardy is the most worrysome crossing of the whole trip. Queen Charlotte Sound is exposed to the full fury of the Pacific Ocean. This is a crossing to be respected. We would wait to judge the best time for crossing for when we arrived in the area.
But before then, we had another, interesting waterway feature to look forward to, the Seymour Narrows. These narrows, which lie about 10 miles out of Campbell River, feature vessel sucking whirlpools which are caused by the contours of the shoreline and bottom and a current that reaches 16 knots. For sailboats and trawlers, it is recommended that it be transited at slack water. For the 36 knot Safe/Sea Newport, it is just a fun ride. On the trip South, a month later, we had the current with us and saw 50 knots on the GPS!
The trip up through the Johnstone Straits was very pretty. Mountain peaks surround the narrow, sheltered channel. When we arrived in the Port Hardy area, the weather looked somewhat favorable for the crossing of Queen Charlotte Sound. The wind was increasing again from the Southeast but would be behind us and was not expected to top 20 knots. Besides, it was only 1000 and we were enjoying the day. After another hour, we were approaching the most exposed section of the passage which passes off of Cape Caution. We were getting slammed a bit and needed a break. Just off the the Starboard we spotted the Millar Group several hundred yards away which offered a bit of shelter. Several pictures of the Newport in the Millar Group show the lovely place that it is. Just for perspective, it is just a small bunch of rocks, hardly noticable on the chart.
We will stop here and continue our story of the crossing in August.
|
by Captain John Andrews
