Monday 7th August 2017 Fuel and an overnight stay in Neah Bay, Makah Marina
With both autopilots down and no wind, it was a slow finish with hand steering needed to get to Cape Flattery and on to Neah Bay - often in thick fog.
The good news was carrying the flood tide up to and around Cape Flattery - we made excellent speed past Tatoosh Island, which houses the Cape Flattery light, in calm conditions but with a noticeable current trying first to take us inshore and then towards Duncan Rock and its associated shallows. I managed to keep us well away from those, helped by having been made only too aware of the strong current last time I came by this way - a useful piece of knowledge.
Other highlights of Monday's arrival in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Neah Bay:
Thick fog patches - strong wind dispersing some fog near land - sunny at times - fishing boat appeared unexpectedly close by in the fog
Turned boat in tight circles while getting fenders and lines on both sides - no AP use to make things simple but space enough.
Usual strong S wind in Neah Bay - impossible to tie up to fuel dock downwind - strong ebb current there adding to wind problem - waited and just managed to tie up, with help, on shorter upwind side.
No response from Marina office - so tied up with difficulty to commercial dock - but was then asked to move. Wind still strong so made sure I got help to tie up to new slip - needed it! (Plenty of strong fishermen around!)
Enjoyed 1) short, deep sleep 2) lovely hot shower 3) fillet and onions etc etc...
Planned tomorrow's journey - difficult long passage to Pt Angeles, probably foggy, at least to start with, to fill up with diesel - price far better there but I now have enough spare diesel in tank to push motor hard if needed.
Up at 6am hoping to arrive before dark - a 15-hr journey, hand steering the entire way....
Hope to post photos separately while underway tomorrow...