Well Hello!

Al and I are heading out to sea!

We left Saint Helens Marina early this morning with a toot to the
Marina store. The Columbia continued to run high so we had swift
current all the way to Astoria sometimes making 9 knots!

A quick stop at the Astoria fuel dock then across the Columbia to
Ilwaco for the night.

As this was my first bar crossing AND my first time out in the Pacific
with any boat let alone my own, I was very selective about my timing
and weather. Both lined up well for a mid morning run out of the bar.

We got some local knowledge from a lifetime marine mechanic gone
fisherman moored next to us. His plan was to leave Ilwaco early and
head out to catch some Tuna! Our plan was a bit more modest. Get
across the bar and point Estrella northwest. Our new friend warned us
that the Ilwaco channel can be pretty tight at low tide so watch our
depth sounder.

Weather was cloudy and mild. Estrella has a fully enclosed cockpit.
My hope is that it will help with the trip north on the Pacific light
winds from the southwest and 3 to 4 foot seas we were hoping for an
easy ride (right :-0).

In the morning, with Estrella set up for blue water, we headed out the
channel and over the bar..

The end of Ilwaco channel is Buoy11. To starboard is the Cape
Disappointment jetty. I steered Estrella on a line staying to the
north side of the bar markers. Lots of high speed fishing boats rushed
past us on the ebb-to-flood slack.There were rollers but they were
spread out and only a few feet high.

With bouey 3 in sight and well clear of Peacock Spit, we pointed
Estrella to the northwest and deeper water. The swell was coming at
us from the south west and we got our first taste of swell on the
beam. Was it rolly? yes.

More to come.