Alaska 2018 Post 1 - Anacortes to Roche Harbor

April 24, 2018

This year we are moving north slowly, taking several days enroute to Vancouver to attend the NW Selene Owner’s Rendezvous in Roche Harbor on San Juan Island.  The slow start is actually good for the trip north through the tidal rapids since high slack water, our preferred transit time for the rapids north of Desolation Sound, will be in the middle of the daylight hours, allowing a smooth passage north, weather dependent.

After last minute shopping for perishables in Anacortes, parking the car for the next three months and filling the water tanks with fresh water, we cast off the lines from Anacortes Marina at 1120.  The skies were hazy and there was a brisk NW wind which covered Spirit in salt spray.  Once into Harney Channel the wind subsided, and the water was glassy.

Spirit took advantage of the ebb tide down Spieden Channel, showing 10.7 knots over the bottom.  Entering Roche Harbor west of Pearl Island, we docked at the Roche Harbor Yacht Club Outstation at slip G-15 at 1450 under now sunny and warm skies, joining several other early arrival Selenes.  Our log shows 27.2 nautical miles since leaving Anacortes Marina.

After washing the salt off Spirit and launching the tender, we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing in the sun, watching 2 more Selene Trawlers arrive, with 2 more anchored in the harbor. 

Roche Harbor has upgraded the AC shore power on G dock to GFCI breakers, and owners are finding that AC wiring on board must be ABYC compliant to avoid tripping the GFCI breakers.  Marina staff is here to help, but often the only solution is to move to a non-GFCI slip elsewhere in the marina, until the wiring issues are resolved.

The Selene Rendezvous is a gathering of Selene owners and prospective owners, along with several vendors who support the fleet.  The owners gather annually and partake of both social activities and a variety of learning seminars.  The rendezvous is organized by owner volunteers, with additional financial support provided by the vendor community.