...early in the morning... Oops. The Cap'n of S/V Orion drank his crew (me) under the table (Friday night), and wake-up for sailing is in 5 1/2 hours...
UPDATE: 071209 2110 PDT Well, we sailed, only an hour late. Actually put up the Genoa Jib and made 6.5 knots downriver with it passing Rainier and Longview, then the wind changed and it was back to the diesel. About an hour short of destination, the wind started to howl, and got up to 30+ knots a couple of times as we rounded the aptly-named Cape Horn. Can't sail in that, since it is directly in our face, and it makes for one lumpy river, with wind rollers exceeding 4 feet and white water powerwashing the bowsprit and pilothouse every six or seven seconds.
S/V Orion is a sturdy vessel, though, she was built by the Finns to cross the North Sea, so aside from having to re-secure the trawler lamp down in the galley, there was nothing to do but hang on and tough it out.
The snug harbor of Cathlamet was VERY welcome, as were a couple of toots to unwind and then hit the Navigator's quarter-berth at sunset. Nine hours sleep put your old Cap'n fit for duty again, and this time it was a car ride back upriver to the Yacht Club to continue setting up MY boat for this same cruise downriver on Lofoten Girl in a couple of days.
The weather sucked today, with thundershowers dampening the usually-festive mood at Cathlamet, but the forecast for the week ahead looks promising. Ship's feline Ensign Bella was given the prequisites of rank aboard Lofoten Girl, and she now has her own "head", in a private nook where my liquor locker used to be. The liquor locker is now out on deck in a rope locker. The lines from the rope locker are now hung on a rail, giving me a less-yachty and more work-boat look, but Bella will be happy, the First Mate will be happy to not be sweeping up after her litter so much, and I will be happy to not hear about the First Mate having to do that task several times per day. We're such a happy crew!
More on the voyages of Lofoten Girl in the days to come.
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