Three Sheets Northwest

Vessel Assist rescues family off Whidbey Island

Admin — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:47:06 +0000

Vessel Assist Captain John Aydelotte and his wife, Trish, rescued a family of four from a powerboat that ran out of fuel west of Whidbey Island during last Friday’s storm. The Aydelottes run a boatyard and marine towing and salvage operation from Cornet Bay on north Whidbey. The following is Captain Aydelotte’s account of what [...]

The Cruising Chronicles: Part 13 (Nanaimo bar nirvana)

Deborah Bach — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:00:18 +0000

For boaters, Nanaimo is known as a stopping-off point and a good place for provisioning, but a visit to the Vancouver Island city wouldn’t be complete without sampling some of the delectable dessert bars it’s known for. The Nanaimo bar has achieved almost cult-like status among Nanaimoans, who mobilized to have it elected Canada’s favorite [...]

The Cruising Chronicles: Part 12 (Home again)

Deborah Bach — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:37:55 +0000

We walked into our townhouse last night and looked around, as if seeing it for the first time. It looked huge. “It seems too big,” Marty said. “It feels decadent.” By American standards, our place — around 1,300 square feet — is a small home, hardly decadent (though it could reasonably be argued that having both a [...]

Thunderbirds off Port Townsend

Marty McOmber — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:37:02 +0000

Heading out of the Port Townsend Boat Haven yesterday, we passed close to boats participating in the Thunderbird Northwest Regional Regatta. Looked like the skippers and crews were having a lot of fun in the moderate breeze. T-birds are a Northwest classic, plying our waters since the late 1950s, when they were designed at the [...]

“DON’T Laugh”

Stuart Scadron-Wattles — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:08:50 +0000

To begin with, we got off to a late start. The Admiral and I cleared the Ballard locks in Selah, our Hunter 36, at 1430– two hours after we had intended– headed north. Then there was the required stop in Edmonds to clear the holding tank and replace the water that (one of the crew) [...]

On Laziness

Scott Wilson — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:37:40 +0000

It’s a truism that there is nothing easy on a boat. There are a hundred reasons for this but I think in the end it usually boils down to the unforgiving nature of, well, nature. True, some of it has to do with compromises inherent in small living spaces, but why are those spaces small? [...]

An exclusive secret society

Bob Salnick — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:26:00 +0000

Sitting around and talking with others on the dock, I am, once in a very great while, able to step outside life and listen to the conversations flowing around me... How to transit Deception Pass. Where to anchor in Friday Harbor. Threading the ne...

BrightWORK: A labor of love

Aaron and Nicole — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:39:00 +0000

One of things that initially attracted us to Hans Christian sailboats was the beautiful woodwork. And indeed, when we purchased Bella Star, her brightwork was in good shape. But all play and no maintenance left Bella Star’s teak longing for some att...

A rusty icon

Marty McOmber — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:39:21 +0000

Okay, I know that the economy is hurting and the state doesn’t have a lot of extra money lying around, but what’s up with letting our ferries look this shabby? We snapped this picture of the Hyak yesterday at Friday Harbor. Just look at the rust covering the sides. It’s embarrassing. Washington state ferries are one of the iconic [...]

Cruising Chronicles: Part 11 (A day of full of twilight)

Marty McOmber — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:32:09 +0000

I rolled out of my bunk, looked at the low, dark clouds outside, and then checked the weather forecast again. I had gone to sleep the previous night thinking of the strong wind warning the Canadian weather office had issued for the greater San Juans and Gulf Islands area. Now they were calling for gale-force [...]