I have been boatless for about two years, not easy for someone like me. I have been searching for the
right boat to serve as my home and vacation getaway. So it is with great enthusiasm that I share this
tale of the purchase and delivery of my new boat, Puffin.
I found her in Portland. She is an Islander Freeport ketch, 41 feet on deck, 47 feet OA with a 13 feet 6
inches beam. She has a center cockpit and a raised house. Just what I needed for a live aboard.
But how do I get her home? The truckers wanted between $2,500 t0 $4,000 to haul her.
That pretty much made up my mind, I was going to sail her up.
This made me a little nervous. I had never sailed on the Columbia, never sailed over the dreaded
Columbia Bar, never sailed on the ocean, and it was December. Further, I had never skippered a
41 foot boat.
I convinced a couple of friends, Rob and Elena Sorbo of Seattle, to accompany me down the River to Astoria. Rob hadn’t been sailing in over two years and Elena had been on a sailboat only once before. But they were excited about the cruise.
The first day it poured. We cruised down river to Kalama. Had a nice visit to the Pyramid Ale House
Brewery and stocked up on some of their fine seasonal products.
We got underway the next day at 0800 in a heavy fog. We had to feel our way down river using radar.
The fog lifted after about two hours and it was a beautiful, sunny, December day. It didn’t rain for the rest
of the trip. We passed several tankers heading up river and watched a number of eagles searching for
food. The river was calm.
Then, about five miles from our destination, the wind picked up. Soon we were motoring into a
35 kn. blow, with 8 to 10 foot breakers. Puffin was taking quite a bit of air. We were a little nervous
as we bashed our way to the marina and tied up for the night. We were met by my roommate who took
us back to Olympia. I spent the next day at West Marine outfitting for the next leg of the trip.
I returned Saturday morning with new crew : my roommate Dave Schaffert, who races on
Le Voilier, and his brother-in-law, Paul Arends, an Annapolis grad, former tender of one of the
Annapolis yawls, and a navigation instructor.
We intended to spend the night preparing Puffin to leave in the morning. However, when I called
the Coast Guard at 1800 for a bar report they suggested we leave that night. After careful consideration
we were under way in an hour. It was pitch black, no moon, but thousands of stars.
We had on harnesses, PFD’s, and foul weather gear as we motored out, anticipating a bumpy ride
over one of the world’s most dangerous bars. However, to our delight, it was smooth.
We went out about 13 miles before taking a right. The wind started picking up and the swells
increased to 12 feet with 3 foot breakers, actually mild for early December. Unfortunately it was
enough motion to turn the crew a lovely shade of green. Maybe it was the ultimate meal deal at
Dairy Queen that did them in? Thankfully the skipper had a cast iron gut and manned the helm all
night
We operated under auto pilot and radar the entire night. By dawn the crew was feeling better. The sun came out and the seas calmed. The coastline was spectacular. We hoisted sail and clipped along at 7 kn. We rounded Tatoosh and headed into Neah Bay for the night after 23 hours at sea. We spent a bumpy night tied to an old fishing boat on a dilapidated pier.
Underway about 0730, powering straight into a 25 kn. wind. Very clear and cold. we were delighted when several dolphins decided to keep us company. We reached Port Angles as the sun was setting, 1630. Spent a much smoother night in the marina.
The next day was beautiful and sunny with light winds. It actually got above freezing. Encountered a
Trident sub heading out. Passing Dungeness Spit the wind picked up from the south to 20 kn.
We raised sails and had a roaring good time. Arrived at Blake Island at 1930. Spent a peaceful
night in sight of the Big City.
Motored back to Percivil Landing arriving about 1400. After kissing the ground, I went to Budd Bay for a
beer with Allan Powell and Jack Corzine, the brokers that found me my new home.
Puffin is tied up at Westbay. At least for now. You may see Puffin out for Toliva and as the RC boat for a race or two.
Mark Johnson, Puffin