Shakedown Cruise

We left the harbor on what was predicted to be a maybe go, maybe stay kind of day on Thursday, March 30 from our slip in the Squalicum marina. As it turned out it would be a glorious day full of sunshine and a light breeze. In short, a perfect spring day for cruising.

Our Key of Sea had only recently had its spring maintenance completed--fresh oil, fuel filters, new coolant, battery fluids checked and a general check up.The engines were prronounced in great shape. With the waste tank cleaned and the fresh water tank fresh and topped off, we started the engines at about 1:00 in the afternoon and pointed the bow to the south for the 2 and a quarter hour cruise to the Cap Sante marina in Anacortes.

Snagboat W.T. Preston on the Anacortes waterfront.

This marina is a favorite of ours. It is well managed, with plenty of slips available at reasonable prices. The shore power system is so easy to plug into, the exact opposite of our home port where skills as an acrobat would be very handy to get yourself plugged in. The biggest attraction at Cap Sante is its proximity to so many services, amenities and attractions. 

View from Cap SantePark

Two major grocery stores are within an easy walk, as are several restaurants. Every kind of boat repair and maintenance service is right there in the harbor. The entire main street of the town, Commercial Street, is only a block walk away. It is lined with restaurants, antique shops--a shoppers delight. Add to that a couple of unique attractions including the historic snagboat, W.T. Preston and a hike up to Cap Sante Park with its amazing view of the marina and in all directions.

We arrived in the marina about 3:15 and edged into our prearranged slip, C28. It was a bit of a rough landing. Two other boaters nearby came running to help get us finally into our spot. We tied up and began settling in. Aside from a couple of other boats, we were really alone on the dock. The rest of those attending the rendezvous wouldn't arrive until the next day.

Our cruise south to Anacortes had been sunny so I'd decided to run things from the flybridge. Unsure of the weather the following day, I decided to close things up up top. I covered the captain's chair with its canvas cover and then pulled the main canvas over the entire bridge to protect it from the wind and rain in the forecast.

We hadn't paid our moorage or power fees so we walked up to the marina office. The reciept included a discount for marina customers at Anthony's so we headed over for lunch. 

Crowd for dinner Saturday

After a great night's sleep we prepared for the boats arriving from our squadron as well as those from Friday Harbor's squadron and from the Bellingham Yacht Club. Boats began trickling in by around noon. By 5:00 most of the boats had arrived and the dock was pretty full. Docktails began down at the party barge at 6 and the evening was spent visiting with friends and making new ones.

Saurday morning dawned with overcast, windy skies and the threat of rain. Most folks seemed to hole up on their boats. Our friends Erik Senuty and Ione Adams were heading into town for a walk and some breakfast and invited us along. We wound up at Adrift, a great restaurant. Then wandered town before heading back to the boats.

Joe and Carol Young performed

Dinner that evening was a chicken BBQ and potluck on the party barge, There was a great spread of goodies from the boaters and the evening was filled with the music of Joe and Carol Young, well-known Bellinghamster musicians, who played music classic rock and folk songs most of which the crowd could sing along with.

Sunday morning we packed up and bugged out earlier than most of the others as we needed to get Leslie back to B'ham for a couple of music department events. We were unsure of the weather for Sunday but it wound up quite lovely for the cruise home. Not much sun but no rain and flat calm seas.