"October Frost" trip report and photos
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Grey. Cool. A light breeze. The conditions as I prepared to pull out of my driveway came as no surprise for a Puget Sound fall day.
With Whisper in tow, I left Shelton at 9 am, arriving in Brownsville just after 10 am. Ubi Ignis Est arrived soon after, and Jim began rigging at the boat launch while I raised the mast and attached the myriad pins, rings, lines and hoses in the parking lot.
The launch ramps are narrow and not particularly steep, made of grooved concrete. A delightfully small deli with a variety of boat supplies and groceries is next to the launch, with microbrews available plus half-gallon "growlers" of beer to go. A welcoming atmosphere was evident the moment I crossed the threshhold, and I returned a bit later for a custom-made sandwich for my lunch.
We were both rigged by 11:30 am. I helped Jim launch, and in true Potter fashion, he returned the favor. The launch fee was two dollars, payable at a station at the head of the ramp. The fee includes 72 hours of parking.
As my Honda outboard idled, I dropped the keel into place and finished rigging the rudder/tiller.
By now Jim had started his outboard but instead of the joyful anticipation I had seen earlier, his face bore a troubled look (photo). No cooling water was exiting his motor. After checking to make sure the intakes weren't clogged and trying the motor a few more times, Jim decided he had to withdraw from the trip. I offered to help him take out but he said I should get going to meet Braveheart on time.
Motoring out of the Brownsville Marina I waved farewall to Jim and turned my attention to where I was going. Braveheart was holding station near the north end of the docks, loafing along in the gentle breeze (photo). Her festive green hull was striking in the muted light of a clouded noon.
As we closed with each other I raised sail and in tandem we set forth for Agate Pass. Braveheart looked grand gliding northward at two to three knots (photo).
Approaching Agate Pass, I rolled up the furler and started the motor, making an easy four to five knots (photo). Braveheart's white sails and green hull formed the perfect accent for early fall colors evident around the nearby cottages and homes (photo).
Exiting the passage we could not see Seattle because of a sea mist on the water and a distinctly overcast sky (photo). But we could see dozens of sailboats, large ones, ghostlike in the mist and illuminated in a brighter area in the vicinity of Elliot Bay.
In Port Madison the south wind shifted to the southeast and freshened. Whisper lowered her shoulder and accelerated, running four to five knots under full sail, occasionally heeling up to ten degrees (photo).
Pooooh. What was that sound? A few moments later, again, pooooh, this time behind the boat. I looked just in time to see a porpoise sliding below the surface in Whisper's wake. Several harbor porpoises crossed between Whisper and Braveheart, more porpoises than I have seen before at one time in Puget Sound. (I did report the sighting to Orca Network.)
As we continued toward Kingston, our changing heading and the slowly shifting wind allowed us to run dead downwind (photo).
We tied up in slips three and four in the Kingston Marina, close to the fuel dock and at the base of the ramp to the transient moorage float (photo). Forty-five minutes later our spouses arrived and our two-sailor trip expanded to a very pleasant four-person dinner out as swapped stories about sailing, growing up, meeting our spouses, and kids and grandkids.
About 6:30 pm we called it quits, kissed our wives goodbye and headed for the boats, just as the first rain shower of the evening started. Both of us retired early. I was warm and snug all night, waking occasionally to hear the rain drumming on the deck. This time the rain prediction was correct.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
I awoke to a steady rain. I hadn't listened to NOAA weather radio since Saturday morning, and the report on Sunday morning was a little more severe with a small craft advisory of 15 to 25-knot winds and seas to four feet predicted. No matter how you measure them, our big-hearted boats are small craft.
Should we go? Or should we call our spouses and ask them to ferry us to our two tow vehicles? We decided to venture forth, with a fallback plan to turn around and return to Kingston if conditions became too rugged. Before leaving the dock we double-reefed our sails.
And rugged were the winds and seas, with the wind on the nose and three and four-foot waves crashing against our bows. Undaunted, we thundered south past Point Jefferson, launching over tall cresting waves and crashing into the troughs four feet below like small whales, throwing white spray to the sides and occasionally over our heads. Spectacular!
Entering Port Madison we finally had wind coming over the port bow. Braveheart soldiered on under minimal sail while Whisper motored toward Agate Pass just fast enough to maintain steerage (photo). After passing through Agate Pass we hit a few minutes of sunshine, and Braveheart sparkled in the bright, turbulent conditions as we tacked southward (photo).
Although only two boats made the trip, it was a fitting end to a tremendous sailing summer. I look forward to sailing with our Bremerton Potters again.
In the spirit of Jim's Latin boat name, I exclaimed when I returned home, "Mellita, domi adsum!" (Honey, I'm home!)
...Tom, October 16, 2006
"October Frost" to Kingston: original planning page
Brownsville info:
Attendees: Braveheart (P19), Ubi Ignis Est (P19), Whisper (P19).
October 3, 2006: The Port of Brownsville has confirmed their launch and parking facility should be available for us. There is another group using their overnight moorage, but that should not affect our use of the launch and parking lot.
Shilshole info:
Attendees: No boats yet.
Kingston info:
October 4, 2006: The Port of Kingston folks have confirmed that another small group of 10 boats has inquired about their facility, but they believe we'll have plenty of room as they have 49 slips for transient moorage.
Overview...
Saturday, October 14
Folks will launch from one of two locations, depending on which side of Puget Sound they are on, then rendezvous and sail together to Kingston. See the map overview here.
- I-5 folks will launch from the Eddie Vine Boat Launchhere, driving directions here) immediately north of Shilshole Bay Marina. Watch for ships and ferries as you sail across the Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) lanes.
(Google map - Bremerton-side folks will launch from the Port of Brownsville boat launch. Avoid shoals south and north of Agate Pass. Google map and driving directions available here.
We'll meet in the middle, sail to the Port of Kingston marina, and have dinner in Kingston.
Sunday, October 15
The tide is flooding in until about 2 pm, so a mid-morning departure will get you back to your launch point.
Cost
Brownsville: free launch and parking.
Shilshole: $5 to launch, $7 overnight parking.
Moorage: $9 for P15s, $11.40 for P19s. Bring quarters if you want to take a shower.
Shoals
Shoal water exists next to the north and south ends of Agate Pass. Watch the channel markers and use your charts.
If you haven't entered the Kingston Marina before, the entrance is very narrow, and immediately southwest the water shoals sharply.
Currents
During flood tide, current in Agate Pass flows south; ebb tide current flows north.
Rips
Rips can occur north of Appletree Cove, and at the northern end of Agate Pass where it joins Port Madison Bay.
Water
Water is available in Kingston.
Fuel
This trip is 10 to 12 nautical miles long in each direction. Additional fuel (Chevron) is available at the Kingston Marina.
"October Frost" to Kingston
For early frostbiters, it looks like October 14 and 15 (Saturday and Sunday) would give us favorable tides/currents for a relatively short, accessible fall trip to Kingston. Credit for the evocative trip name of "October Frost" goes to Derek!
A lot of information follows, but don't be dismayed. This is a straightforward trip. Folks launching from Brownsville will need to avoid shoals entering and exiting Agate Passage. Folks launching from Shilshole will need to pay attention to Vessel Traffic Services lanes. The entrance to the Kingston marina is narrow with shoal water immediately southwest.
An overview of the route is available here. Note that the distances are shown in statute miles, not nautical miles. To convert, multiply statute miles by 0.8684. This map should not be used for navigation.
Saturday, October 14
Two goals for this trip are (1) keep it short and (2) be inclusive. Weather in October could be a bit less soothing than the weather we enjoyed all summer, so a shorter distance will limit our exposure if it gets cold and wet. (And if it's not, we can sail as long as we want!) Since longer distances tend to favor larger boats, a shorter distance should prove to be more inviting to our band of intrepid P14/15 owners. Kingston is a family-friendly destination, with several eateries and stores suitable for all family members.
Dual launch and rendezvous
The plan is to launch more-or-less simultaneously on the waning flood tide from both sides of Puget Sound (Brownsville and Shilshole Bay), then rendezvous and sail as a group to Kingston.
Westside launch is Brownsville
For folks on the Highway 3 side of Puget Sound, launching from Brownsville (north of Bremerton) would put us about 12 1/2 nautical miles from Kingston. A highlight of this route will be the opportunity to shoot through Agate Pass on Saturday's afternoon ebb tide (after 1 pm). On Sunday, ride the flood tide south through Agate Pass before 2 pm. Agate Pass is like running a miniature Tacoma Narrows, very intimate with the shoreline so near, and very fun. (Some photos of Agate Pass near the bottom of this page. The Department of Ecology aerial shoreline photo shows the Brownsville marina layout including parking lot.)
Eastside launch is near Shilshole
For folks on the I-5 side of the water, launching from the Eddie Vine boat ramp just north of Shilshole Marina would put you about 9 1/2 nautical miles from Kingston. Driving directions available here. (Disclaimer: I haven't used this ramp!) A Department of Ecology aerial shoreline photo illustrates where the launch is relative to Shilshole Bay Marina.
Boats launched from Shilshole would have to negotiate along and across the VTS lanes in Puget Sound, but if you keep your eyes open and assume those big ships are going a lot faster than you think, you'll have no problems. See the Vessel Traffic Services section below for more information.
Agate Pass currents (month view | graph)
On Saturday, Agate Pass will flood south at up to 3.88 knots. Slack is 1:06 pm and max ebb flow is 2.25 knots at 3:39 pm. Skippers should wait until slack to enter Agate Pass on Saturday.
It's roughly four nautical miles from Brownsville to Agate Pass, so a late morning launch will work well. I'll be aiming for a relaxed 11:00 am launch time.
Agate Pass is a very narrow waterway and I don't recommend trying to sail through it unless wind is perfect and traffic is very light. The safer strategy is to motor through so you will have maximum manuevering flexibility.
Rendezvous in Puget Sound
Boats launched from Brownsville will emerge from Agate Pass after 1:00 pm. Port Madison is a relatively large bay. We'll look due east, or slightly east-northeast, to try to see Potters who launched from Shilshole. If weather is good, we'll rendezvous and sail en masse to Kingston. If weather is less forgiving, head for Kingston and rendezvous at the dock.
Routes are shown in map form here. Note that the distances are shown in statute miles, not nautical miles. To convert to nautical miles, multiple by 0.8684.
Kingston approach and moorage
Approach
Attention all skippers! Watch out for state ferries! Immediately east of the marina breakwater is the Washington State ferry terminal. They move much more quickly than you might think. They monitor VHF channel 14, not 16. Give them lots of room.
The marina entrance is at the left (southwest) end of the breakwater. Warning: the entrance is narrow, with shoal water just beyond the marker (you can see the shallows in this aerial photo and soundings are visible here). Center your boat between the piling marker to the left and a marker just off the end of the breakwater and you'll be fine. Respect the end of the breakwater -- thar be rocks there, matey! If you're not familiar with this entrance, try to follow another boat in. Once inside, turn right toward the fuel dock. Moorage is in finger slips to your right.
Moorage (month view of tides | graph)
Transient moorage is in finger slips on the dock parallel to the breakwater. The smallest berths are the four slips closest to the fuel dock. I'll call the marina before we arrive to confirm assignment of spaces, or you can call them at (360) 297-3545.
If you will arrive after 5 pm, I recommend you call the port well before then to get the code to the bathroom.
There is a pay station for your overnight moorage fee below the port office. Walk up the ramp from the dock, past the pop machine, past the fuel dock, and past the garbage bins. In front of you is the port office. The ground floor houses lavatories, showers and laundry facilities.
Overnight moorage is $0.60 per foot, so moorage will be $9.00 for a P15 and $11.40 for a P19. Bring quarters if you want to take a shower.
If you prefer to anchor, you can in Appletree Cove in 25 to 30 feet of water with a mud bottom, exposed to northerlies and ferry wakes. Recently, I spent a few hours on the hook there and the anchor was well stuck in the mud.
The marina is accessible by car and ferry, so if friends or family want to join you Saturday evening, that's easy to accomplish. The marina parking lot is a pay lot, $4 per 12 hours.
Folks who don't come on this trip can monitor conditions using these links:
Sunday, October 15
The trip plan is simple: return to the place you launched from, refreshed from a weekend of sailing and Potter camaraderie.
Agate Pass currents (month view | graph)
On Sunday, Agate Pass will flood south at up to 3.64 knots with max flow at 9:48 am. Slack is at 2:00 pm. Skippers should catch the tail end of the flood current. If you miss it and enter after the tide turns, you'll have to motor through. Riding the late-morning flood is a better strategy.
It's about eight nautical miles from Kingston to the Agate Pass bridge, so leaving Kingston by mid-morning will put us in Agate Pass well before the tide turns against southbound travelers.
Safety
Regulations and hazards
I recommend reviewing the Coast Pilot for Puget Sound. Ports and hazards for Puget Sound are described in chapter 13, available in PDF format here. I also recommend reviewing chapters 1, 2 and 3, plus the tables in the appendix. Good stuff for those who hunger for detail.
The Northest Potters safety page is always a good resource.
Weather
October is a transition period between late summer/early fall weather patterns and windier, wetter winter weather. Following are excerpts from the Puget Sound Area Heavy Weather Port Guide. For our October Frost trip, skippers need to be prepared for rain, and be willing to reef and/or run to shelter if conditions warrant.
From the Guide:
"The Puget Sound region experiences two primary wind regimes. The most significant occurs in late autumn, winter, and early spring, when southerly winds prevail. Most of the southerly winds occur in advance of approaching low pressure/frontal systems moving eastward across the Pacific Ocean. The winds are experienced as south-southwesterly at the south end of Puget Sound, southerly in the central Sound, and southeasterly in northern Puget Sound. Sustained winds of small craft velocity (20-33 kt) are commonly experienced. Gale velocities (34-47 kt) may occur in advance of the stronger low pressure/frontal systems. Storm force winds are only rarely observed...The second wind regime occurs in late spring, summer, and early autumn when vigorous transient extratropical low pressure systems are uncommon. The prevailing direction in central and southern Puget Sound is still south to southwesterly, but velocities are reduced to an average of seven to eight kt. The prevailing wind at Whidbey Island, at the east end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, is westerly five to seven kt. Nighttime and early morning winds throughout the Puget Sound region are mostly light and variable."
From the Coast Pilot appendix:
| Sep | Oct | Nov | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEMPERATURE (degrees F) | |||
| Mean | 60.7 | 53.8 | 46.8 |
| Mean Daily Max | 68.1 | 59.6 | 51.4 |
| Mean Daily Min | 52.8 | 47.5 | 41.7 |
| Extreme - High | 92 | 82 | 73 |
| Extreme - Low | 36 | 19 | 0 |
| PRECIPITATION (inches) | |||
| Mean | 1.65 | 2.99 | 5.12 |
| Max | 5.62 | 8.04 | 11.20 |
| Min | 0.03 | 0.16 | 0.50 |
| Max in 24 hrs | 1.70 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| Mean # days w/precip | 20 | 25 | 26 |
| VISIBILITY | |||
| Mean # days w/fog | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Vessel Traffic Services
As skippers of small boats we monitor VHF channel 16. Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) operates on VHF channel 14, so we tend to not be aware of the impact VTS has on Puget Sound traffic.
If you are sailing in Puget Sound, I suggest you read through Rule 10: Traffic Separation Schemes. Specific points to remember include:
"A vessel, shall so far as practicable, avoid crossing traffic lanes but if obliged to do so shall cross on a heading as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow."
"A vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the safe passage of a power-driven vessel following a traffic lane."
Lots more on navigation rules at the USCG's Navigation Rules Online site.
Coast Guard Sector Seattle handles Vessel Traffic Services in Puget Sound. Note that the Coast Guard Sector Seattle website recently merged into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Homeport national website.) For more information about VTS in Puget Sound, take a look at the PowerPoint slides offered under the Training heading at the Puget Sound VTS website.
Puget Sound VTS functions like air traffic control, only for commercial/large vessel traffic on the water. They manage:
- 3500 square miles of water.
- A 125 nautical mile international border.
- The third largest U.S. Navy strategic port, plus five waterfront USN facilities.
- More than 20 USN vessel movements each month, and a major military outload port.
- More than 520 passenger ferry transits each day, and 40 of these transits have more than 500 passengers on board.
- 5,000 deep draft vessel movements a year.
- 12 billion gallons of oil moved annually.
- 1.8 million containers passing through Seattle and Tacoma each year.
Pretty impressive stuff...they are serious about what they do.
Links
- Route map
- Eddie Vine boat launch (Shilshole)
- Brownsville boat launch
- Port of Kingston marina
- October currents in Agate Pass
- October tides at Kingston
...Tom
