By the time you see this, people will have returned from the Wenatchee ski trip. I hope everyone had a good time. It was my birthday weekend and the wife had plans for me.
It’s been over a week since my insurance adjuster received the surveyor’s report. I still haven’t heard the results. I hope it is good news, as I’ve had Scotch & Soda since August 1996. You get attached to your boat after many years and lots of good times. Cross your fingers for me that the news will be good.
This year should be very exciting for the club with lots of activities planned for people. I hope there’s something that catches your eye and you come out and have some fun. If you have any ideas that you think might be fun, contact a board member or plan it on an open date for people to enjoy.
I look forward to seeing everyone at the dinner meeting next week. It should be back to a normal size crowd for those who don’t like the bigger groups. Hope to see everyone there.
—Ken
IVAR’S Salmon House, 401 NE Northlake Way, Seattle
5:30 pm Meet and Greet – 7:00 pm Dinner in the Banquet Room
Topic: Adventure to Haida Gwaii
Speakers: Jim and Rosi Addington
Known as the Canadian Galápagos for its endemic wildlife, including the ubiquitous Sitka deer visible along the islands’ only main road, this 155-mile-long, torch-shaped archipelago hangs underneath the Alaska panhandle, over 90 nautical miles off British Columbia’s North Coast. (Previously known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, the home of the Haida First Nations reverted back to Haida Gwaii in 2010.)
The Haida culture, the remote location, and the ocean mist drifting through moss-draped cedars all contribute to the islands’ mystical atmosphere, best experienced without expectations or itineraries.
This trip is not something most of us will ever undertake. There are no depths on the charts. Currents are incredibly strong, with tidal predictions virtually non-existent. And your VHF call for help will not be heard – there’s nobody and no entity available to hear or respond. Very few boaters have visited this place, which is a big part of the attraction.
Should you wish to take your boat to this magical Northwest destination, there are some very important things to know. Jim and Rosi Addington, my friends from Everett, made this trip last summer aboard their 53-foot Cheoy Lee Trawler, Sea Venture. You can get a preliminary look at who these people are and see their adventures by viewing their videos on You Tube: (https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Cruising+Sea+Venture).
But, they have no book to sell, no cause to promote. They’re boating enthusiasts, just like us.
I will again send out an Evite invitation to your email address. Please respond to the Evite, including who is coming and what your menu choices are (use the Comments feature of the Evite reply). If you don’t get the Evite, reach me at rogernewb@gmail.com.
MENU
Baked Mesquite Corn Muffins
Entrées:
Chicken Marsala
Or
Ivar’s World-Famous Fish and Chips
Or
Alder Grilled Coho Salmon
Or
Penne Pasta Pomodoro
Includes:
Seasonal Vegetables with the Protein Entrees
Coffee, Decaf, Hot Tea
Special dietary needs can be accommodated; please let me know.
Main course selections are due by 9:00 pm on Friday February 16th. Cancellations must be made by 9:00 pm the same day.
Note that the deadline for reservations is also the deadline for cancelling a previous reservation; otherwise you will be charged for the meal.
Dinner is $35 per person. If you charge your meal, we will add $1 per meal. Please purchase your drinks from the staff in the banquet room. The receipts count towards our room rental minimums.
See everyone there!!!
—Roger Newby, Vice Commodore
SBYC Cruise Event for March 2, and 3, 2018
SBYC boaters are invited to a gathering at Bell Harbor Marina, at the waterfront’s Pier 66, where the neighborhood includes Seattle’s finest restaurants, hotels, shopping, Pike Place Market, Seattle Center and the Space Needle, the Seattle Aquarium, and more. Club members without boats can join us on the boats at the docks for the Friday evening 5:00 pm Happy Hour, or for the Saturday evening 5:00 pm Happy Hour on boats and the 7:00 pm dinner at Anthony’s restaurant.
Please register soon if you have not already registered, as moorage is still available. Remember, boaters who moor at Shilshole get a discount on one night of moorage, so mention this when you reserve your slip.
Bell Harbor Marina is located at the base of Seattle’s waterfront. Walking to downtown Seattle is super easy! An elevator ride takes you to a covered walkway across Alaskan Way and from there are lovely walks—north to the Sculpture Gardens; south to Pike Place Market and Seattle Art Museum; farther south to Pioneer Square and Art Galleries; and east to Seattle downtown.
Any questions, send an email to cruisechair@shilshole-bayyc.org.
—Patricia, Cruise Chair
Do you remember the lunar eclipse in September, 2015? It was a “blood moon” because the sun’s shadow caused the moon to have a rosy hue.
I was anchored in Eagle Harbor of Cypress Island. The wind and current pointed the stern directly at the moon. For three hours, I was captivated by the eerie metamorphosis of the moon. I had the best seat in the San Juan Islands to watch a celestial show.
Oops! I misspoke. Cypress Island is not part of the San Juan Islands! It lies east of Rosario Strait, which is
the official eastern boundary of the San Juan Islands. (See the map to the left – Cypress is colored red.)
But for my money, Cypress Island surpasses many of the destinations in the San Juans. After provisioning in Anacortes, you can sail to Cypress in an hour or two. There are 4,000 acres of public land laced with miles of hiking trails. (There are 1,072 additional acres that are off-limits to the public.) There are three anchorages (with free mooring balls): Cypress Head, Eagle Harbor, and Pelican Beach.
On the other hand, there are no shore amenities on Cypress, which may be a deal-breaker for some boaters. For sail boaters, you’ll want to consult your current table to time your arrival or departure.
To add insult to injury, the composting toilet is a mile hike from the anchorage in Eagle Harbor! At Cypress Head, the hiking trail was so steep that I ran out of granola bars to keep my diabetes in check.
Like so many places, Cypress Island has its pros and cons. When you want to get away from it all, try going to Cypress Island.