cruises

PSCC’s November Cruise/Raft Up is scheduled for November 23/24, the weekend before Thanksgiving, at Bell Harbor Marina in Seattle’s Waterfront.

The Port of Seattle is still suffering from the cyber attack that infected it’s system earlier this summer, thus preventing them from taking reservations. Will and Mike at Bell Harbor Marina suggest if you are planning to bring your vessel for the event to phone them the morning of November 23, 206-462-9567. If your vessel is above average length/width you may want to phone them giving them a “heads up” of your plans.

It’s too early for the Christmas Ships this year but the Seattle Waterfront walkway is now open.

Please join the Puget Sound Cruising Club for our Pumpkin Cruise to Port Madison, October 26th and 27th.

The club has reserved the Port Madison Yacht Club clubhouse which provides a warm indoor venue for Saturday evening.

Those arriving by boat can raft up in Port Madison on Saturday and there will be a potluck party in the yacht club. Directions here. In past years there has been a pumpkin carving contest as well – feel free to bring a pumpkin if you want to continue this tradition.

If arriving by boat please monitor VHF Channel 69 and fly your club burgee.

Join us for the 38th Annual Circumlocution of Bainbridge Island this April 27th and 28th. This is a fun annual tradition that includes prizes for 2nd place, a perseverance award, and hors d’oeuvres contest (Horrors, D’Hoovers) so bring your best appetizer. Race rules, (based on 2023 rules – credit to Steve Hulsizer!) are below. If you’re planning to attend or even just tentative, let us know on the PSCC mailing list.

Race Rules:

PUGET SOUND CRUISING CLUB

THIRTY-EIGHTH CIRCUMLOCUTION

OF BAINBRIDGE ISLAND

The Office of Circumlocution is proud to present

The OPENING DEBATES of the 38th CIRCUMLOCUTION OF BAINBRIDGE ISLAND

at 1000 hours, 27 April, 2024, on a line true west from the West Point lighthouse and east of the VTS lanes. The debates will be argued initially upwind from this line, then the Masters of vessels who have mangled the administration of issues may choose to sail either north or south. Boats heading north must leave the “SF” buoy on the far left as described below in Para 11, before heading to Agate Pass, and shall be prepared to discuss the possible effects of global warming. Boats heading south around Bainbridge Island have no marks and leave no traces. The determination of the most clueless administrators will be made under the power lines just past Keyport Naval Station and Underwater Weapons Research Center.

There will be three Platforms for Debate. 1) Smaller craft and gray double-enders under 38 feet LOA (former Trump Cabinet members who were, will be, or are subpoenaed). 2) Half-fast, in mid-size craft (former administrators hoping to live in obscurity). 3) Larger and/or those who think they are really fast (former Cabinet members who claim the Biden administrators stole their cushy jobs).

The first platform will start at 1000, the second at 1015, and the third at 1030. Boats with more than one hull must wait 15 additional minutes for each additional hull.

The Debates will be monitored by the Florida Governor DeSantis who will dash out Disney World to sound a single long horn blast at each plank laying session except for the multiple hull boats. Protests must be registered in advance the night before with Supreme Court Justice in Waiting Ginni Thomas.

The following are frowned upon and are grounds for public scorn:
Failing to have at least one sail up starting and finishing.
Use of internal combustion engine(s).
Failing to sail the entire course on your bottom in your bottom.
Failing to navigate the entire selected course.
Failing to display a PSCC burgee.

The HIGHEST and MOST VALUED Award will be given for SECOND PLACE. First across will be proclaimed by unanimous consent as Commodore for the 2024-2025 year.

An award will be given for the BEST HORROR D’HOOVER. Judgment will be by secret negotiations in the Raft-up described below.

An award will be given for PERSEVERANCE. To qualify the vessel must cross the Finish Line prior to 0001 hours on 28 April, 2024.

The Nominating Convention will be a Raft-up for all boats north of Lemolo in Liberty Bay. Powerboats with dance floors are encouraged to attend. The Raft-up will be the base of the HORRORS D’HOOVER Contest and the Awards Ceremonies.

As always, good candidates never travel in the middle of the nautical road. Cross the middle of the nautical road quickly. See DBT COMDTINST M16672.2 Rule 10 (c). With regard to Buoy SF, you must stay east of the traffic lane until Buoy SF is past your beam before crossing to the west side. Do not impede or force a WSF ferry or other large or government vessels in Rich Passage (considered a narrow channel) to stop or change course.

As directed by the DBT, in accordance with dicta from the Lesser State of Washington, debaters must stay at least 1000 yards ahead, behind, or abeam of any Southern Resident Orca (SRO). The Commodore for Life, Jack Tar, meows his assent.

The above paragraphs are to be taken seriously, as there are many NVOs (Non Vessel Owners) who oppose mere citizens using public waterways.

Note a new hazard in Rich Passage. In mid-April, 2023, a green and white hippopotamus came out of the woods and mucked about on a sand bar. With its enormous mouth, it is capable of eating small ships. It particularly likes sailboats because they come complete with toothpicks and dental floss. Note that these green and white hippopotamuses have enormous mouths on both ends of the body. Many of these beasts live in the shallow and muddy waters of Eagle Harbor.

The February PSCC cruise will be to Port Orchard marina on February 23+24, with Scott and Donna on SV Celestial as cruise leaders.

The marina has a floating, covered event tent and if I can get a rollcall of how many boats plan on attending, I can reserve slips very close to the tent. If any of you have a portable propane heater that would be great. The marina has some to rent if necessary.

There are several nice restaurants in the cute little town and a foot ferry across to Bremerton with a waterfront park and a really good FREE history museum of the Naval Ship Yard.

Please let me know if you can make it (Scott+Donna’s email available on the PSCC member email list) and include names and boat names and if you would like a reservation near the event.

Let’s fly our burgees!

Photos from the Cruise:

Donna reports: “We had 14 people at the Friday dinner, 20 people at Saturday night, and 14 again at Sunday breakfast potluck. A visit to the free Naval museum in Bremerton was only a $2 ferry ride ($1 for sr citizens).”

The PSCC December cruise is to Blakely Harbor for New Years Eve. The trip is 7.3 NM from Shilshole. Dana on S/V Rubigale is cruise leader and will probably arrive Sat Dec 30 to stake our claim on the anchorage.

The Basics

Arrive December 31 before dark and plan to anchor-raft up with the group. If you have a dinghy with a decent sized motor that could be helpful for getting people into position/dinghying out anchors. I would prefer that we have an anchor out for every 2 boats in the raft in opposite directions to prevent swing and crossing anchors.

• The anchorage is mostly 25-35’ in depth. Low tide is 1:39am Jan 1 at 0.61 ft and a corresponding high at 9:02am at 12.14 ft.
• Plan on hors d’oevres and visiting just before sunset which is 4:29:05pm, then back to your own boat for dinner.
• 7:30p games are available or just mingling if you prefer. I have Cards Against Humanity, Trivial Pursuit, Uno, Phase 10, Mexican Train (dominoes) and Yahtzee for multiplayer and assorted 2 player games as well.
• Midnight- watch Seattle fireworks and toast to 2024!
• On Jan 1 plan on breaking the raft at noon which leaves plenty of time to get home before dark.

Please let Dana know (her email is on the PSCC email list message) if you plan to attend, how many people, your length, and if you can be an anchor boat. Please put out fenders and have lines ready on both sides.

We’ll be monitoring channel 72.

Photos from the successful cruise!:

Our November cruise to Bell Harbor corresponds to the evening the Seattle Christmas Ships with the Dickens Carolers will be on Elliott Bay… and you can join the parade on your boat, or just enjoy them from shore. How perfect is that?!?

Christmas Ships and Carolers:

The Christmas Ships 1st sailing will be 2-3:30 PM from Pier 55.

• They will sail by Bell Harbor between 2-2:30 and 3-3:30. So if you’re already in guest slip, you could just watch them go by from the pier.
• The Dickens Carolers will be performing 2:35-2:55 PM at the Olympic Sculpture Park (0.6 mile from Bell Harbor; easy sail or walk)
• The Christmas Ships 2nd sailing will be 8-9:30 with the same carolers, going to Salty’s at Alki Beach Park (only 1.6 nm from Bell Harbor, but … probably for most of us past cruiser’s midnight)

Bell Harbor:

PSCC has 10 slips reserved for 1 night (November 25). Margaret is the cruise leader (see the pscclist for her contact and to RSVP).

• You MUST CALL BELL HARBOR AND RESERVE ONE OF THE PSCC SLIPS IN YOUR NAME BY THIS SATURDAY the 11th.
  No exceptions; this is a very popular time to be there and they will fill up.
• Bell Harbor contact is Michael Cink, (206) 787-3951, Cink.M@PortSeattle.org

The Plan:

• Make a reservation, send me an email (RSVP required) to let me (Margaret) know:
  1) Name of your boat, # on board, cell phone if you’re coming by boat. If you’re coming by land, that’s great too, please just give me a heads up.
  2) what you’d like to bring to a potluck dinner that evening (optional, but it’s impossible to get a group reservation for dinner that night)
• Arrive when you like on Saturday afternoon
• Anyone wanting to walk together to Olympic Sculpture Park to hear carolers: meet on dock 1:45
• Boats wanting to join/follow the Christmas ships: meet outside the harbor entrance at 2 p.m.
• (Optional) potluck dinner on board/dock 6:30 PM. Please bring your own eating utensils etc.
• Sunday Brunch choices: Café Opla (Vietnamese) across street, Pike Place Market, or on your own
• Depart late Sunday morning.

This is going to be a great holiday event; come join your PSCC friends!

Cruise Report:

The club had a great cruise to Bell Harbor with Christmas ships and potluck, with 5 boats showing up and over 15 people! A couple photos shared by Margaret:

Please join the Puget Sound Cruising Club for our Pumpkin Cruise to Port Madison, October 28th and 29th.

Those arriving by boat can raft up in Port Madison on Saturday and there will be a potluck party with PMYC and a pumpkin carving contest from 5-7pm. Directions here. Prizes will be awarded for the best pumpkin.

SV Bardo will be cruise leader. Please RSVP to grg2009dvnprt@gmail.com if you plan on joining us for this cruise. Please monitor VHF Channel 69 and fly your club burgee.

Please join us by car or boat Saturday June 24th for this year’s Salmon Bake! As always, this popular event is free for members but RSVPs are requested by June 17th. Please RSVP with the number in your party to pscclist@groups.io to keep count so we can order enough salmon. We’d love to have non-member guests as well! Fee is $10 for non-members (or join the club for $50).

What:

Annual Salmon Bake and potluck. Club volunteers will bring grills and will be grilling salmon. This is a potluck so please bring a side to share. Also consider the following:

• Please RSVP to pscclist@groups.io
• Bring a side dish to share!
• Help set up or tear down.
• Bring a plate, utensils, and drinks if you can (we’ll have some plates and utensils).
• Bring folding chairs and a blanket.

Other activities – Saturday late morning hike to the bluff on the north end of Port Madison and Sunday potluck breakfast for the raft-up. Field games during the potluck.

When:

Saturday June 24th from 3pm to 7pm. Roughly, happy hour is from 4-5pm, salmon grilling 5-6, and cleanup 6-7pm. Some people will arrive before 3pm to help set up.

Where:

Hidden Cove Park on the north end of Bainbridge Island.

By car: Google Maps location for Hidden Cove. Parking available

By Boat: There will be a cruise and raft-up in Port Madison. Arrive Friday evening or Saturday before the grilling. We’ll anchor just south of Treasure Island. Hidden Cove Park is just to the South between the SYC outstation and the Port Madison Yacht Club docks. Fly your burgees and hail the raft on VHF 69.

This will be a joint cruising event with Sloop Tavern Yacht Club (STYC) and Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle (CYC) from May 27 – 29 to go to Mystery Bay State Park on Marrowstone Island. A few years ago, we did this with CYC Seattle. This year we will have three great clubs participating.

Some of the organized activities for this event are:

• Saturday, May 27: evening welcome happy hour
• Sunday, May 28:
  • Mystery Bay Goat farm tour
  • Nordland tractor parade
  • Marrowstone winery tour (transportation help needed)
  • Human powered craft race (tender, paddle board, kayak, canoe –
    almost anything without a sail or a motor is fair game). There may be
    prizes for the race.
  • Potluck BBQ
• Monday, May 29: open / departure day.

All boats can anchor and/or raft up or use a state park buoy. It is also possible to drive over for this event. We are looking for 1-2 vehicles to help with winery transport.

Friday night option Port Ludlow.

Please fly your PSCC burgee. If you are in more than one club, fly all your burgees. Please monitor VHF 69 for the cruise.

Cruise leader for this cruise is SV Bardo. If you have any questions, please contact Greg
via the PSCC contact form. Also, if you plan to go on this cruise, please let me know
via the contact form.

Here are details for next weekend’s 37th annual Circumlocution of Bainbridge Island race and raftup (April 29 – 30).

Race from West Point to Liberty Bay. Choose the northern route or the southern route. After crossing under the finish line (the power lines entering Liberty Bay), we’ll raft up in the Northeast of Liberty Bay. As always the trophy goes to the SECOND PLACE. See this year’s hilarious race rules written by Steve Hulsizer below. Thank you Steve!

Too many barnacles slowing you down? No problem! There’s always the Perseverance Award. The Perseverance Trophy is awarded to the boat that just won’t give up. You might miss the Horrors D’Hoover competition, but at least you persevered!

Finally, after the race, we’ll hold the much anticipated Horrors D’Hoover competition. Yes, bring your best horderves and you’ll be immortalized on the club Horrors D’Hoover Trophy!

Below are some pictures from last year’s cruise and this year’s race rules by Steve:

• Race Rules 2023 (PDF).
  

Raft-up at Poulsbo, April 2022