As some of you may know, Zach and I went to sailing school this August.

What we really wanted to to was charter a sailboat and live aboard, but our basic sailing skills weren’t quite up to the task, so we chose a learn and cruise sailing class from San Juan Sailing. It was a great experience – a lot of work, but very rewarding. We finished up the week with three levels of US Sailing Association certification – Basic Keelboat Sailing, Offshore Cruising, and Bareboat Chartering.

We departed Saturday, August 22, from Bellingham. Our boat was the Sundance, a 37′ Jeanneau cutter – a beautiful, late-model, three cabin boat. Our instructor, Captain Leslie Senn, was excellent – very knowledgeable, patient and supportive.

The below was, eventually, our course through the San Juans – and it was beautiful, sunny, warm, and breezy every afternoon. (Although I would have preferred more wind in the mornings – Zach and I both share a distaste for operating a sailboat under motor just because you have a destination to reach.)

Day 1: Bellingham Bay to Sucia Island

We arrived in Bellingham the first day at 11am, ready to take our first test – which we passed. We loaded our gear on our beautiful boat, stored our provisions, and headed out to the sea and sun. We began learning immediately – close handling, maneuvering under motor, sail handling, and learning the points of sail.

At night, there were about fifty other boats anchored in the bay as well. The sailboats all turned on their white anchor light, at mast-top. Combined with a clear sky thick with stars, the glassy water, and the dead quiet, it was spectacular out on the water – I could could have stayed up in the cockpit to drink it in for hours.

Day 2: Sucia Island to Stuart Island

We took the dinghy ashore in the morning for a hike, since it was foggy out in the strait, then raised anchor and headed further west.

We began in earnest to learn more about sailing and boat handling. We started man-overboard drills, practiced more sail handling, and each assumed what would be our rotating daily duties – skipper, navigator, mechanic, deckmate/chef. (I love navigation – makes me an odd duckling, I’m sure. I plan on taking the advanced and even-more-advanced classes.)

We made our way to Stuart Island for the night, found another peaceful spot to drop anchor, just offshore of an osprey’s nest.

Day 3: Stuart Island to San Juan Island/Roche Harbor

Our instructor kept us very busy, from 9am-ish to 9pm-ish, every day. After breakfast we did classroom work, practical drills, ship’s system work, and then set sail. My only down time was early morning, when I’d take a cup of coffee up above deck and enjoy the sunrise on the water – utterly lovely, and food for the soul.

The afternoon of the third day we reserved a slip in Roche Harbor. The initial plan had been to anchor in Garrison Bay so I could do an open water swim, but we had great wind and decided to sail for the afternoon. Still, Roche Harbor was a priority because we wanted real showers. The ship’s head had a tiny handheld shower nozzle on the bathroom sink, with only a main and reserve 20 gallon holding tank, so showers onboard were really not a great option. We all were looking forward to that first long, hot shower on land!

To be continued, with days 4-7, here.

For more pictures, go to my Flickr photoset.

Today the family and I rented a sailboat and took an initial sailing lesson. We’ve always loved boating and being on the water but have long wanted to sail – and got the chance.

It was a lovely day on Liberty Bay and the sun on the water worked its stress relieving magic. I’ll definitely do this again.

This was NOT the boat we rented, but was easily the loveliest boat on the water today – a racing sailboat of some sort.

Zach and Cheri watch the windvane.

Zach the helmsman steers the boat.

Zach watches from the sail deck.

Apparently I was the captain since I signed the rental contract. Who knew?

Happy Independence day!

To celebrate, I went hiking, independently. I drove the MINI up to Cape Flattery and walked the Shi Shi Beach trail.

It was a lovely day in the Puget Sound area, predicted to hit 80+, but on the coast it was 60 – perfect for hiking. Parts of the 4.5 mi trail were deep rainforest, parts were sunny boardwalk, and parts were misty ocean bluff – totally gorgeous.

The first 2 miles of the trail were easy, wide trails and gradual incline. The last ¼ mile, though, was the killer – about 300 vertical feet, scrambling up and down steep switchbacks, and using tangled tree roots like irregular stairsteps. The view at the bottom was worth it, though!

There are more pics on Flickr, which all these images link to, of the day’s scenery.

Even though Maggie the MINI is fun to drive, the drive was a bit long – three hours each way. The last 45, though, was pretty much perpetual S-curve and hairpin turns, as fun to drive in the MINI as a roller coaster ride.

I’m glad I got out and pushed myself!

It was absolutely beautiful today in the Puget Sound area, so late this afternoon the boys and I went down the hill to Liberty Bay and went kayaking.

Mt. Rainier looms over the marina.

Me in my (rented) kayak.

Zach and Ben conferring about something. Zach has his own inflatable kayak; it’s not quite as efficient as a traditional one but boy is it portable!

Ben takes a break and waits for us in front of the Gran Kirk condos. The bottom right one is for sale and I can afford it, but I’ve resisted going to look at it.

The breakwater was inhabited by a very tame colony of seals.

It was a lot of fun – and we’ll definitely try to do it more frequently.

Yesterday my awesome sister and I spent the day wandering the picturesque town of Port Townsend. (This town is where Officer and a Gentleman was filmed, oh so many years ago.)

Port Townsend main street.

Wonderful old buildings.

Even more architecture.

Port Townsend from the water.

One of Port Townsend’s many tall ships.

I’m glad I had great company for the day; it was my first Fathers’ Day with both my father and Bryan now gone, and it would have been my 12th anniversary.

For anniversaries, we used to find and buy a piece of art we both loved. Port Townsend has wonderful art galleries and antique stores, but I didn’t see anything that screamed, “Take me home with you!” (Besides jewelry, which is coals to Newcastle.) And, I guess coming home empty handed is ok, it’s the thought that matters.