Getting I-68 or Nexus in Everett and Port Townsend

We received this update from RBAW on procuring I-68.

RBAW has received reports that the I-68 form now required for telephonic PIN small boat clearance, is reasonably easy to obtain in both Everett and Port Townsend. This is in addition to the Seattle information reported on the RBAW website. Below are e-mails received from boaters:

BOATER FROM EVERETT -- We just obtained our I-68 registration documents at the Everett Customs office located on the eleventh floor (panoramic view of Navy base and harbor) of the Evertrust Building - 2707 Colby in downtown Everett. Commander Malang told us he is a staff of one at this point; he inspects marine landings about 25 hours a week, and issues documents in their office Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Everett Customs phone number is (425) 259-0246, and an appointment is required to process the permit. They required the applicant's passport or birth certificate, 3 "passport" photos (which they attach to the application), and $16 per person fee. In addition to us buying individual 2005 I-68 registrations, they suggested I purchase the $25 permit so that the boat can reenter in 2005 without visiting a customs station. $57 total for the three permits.

BOATER FROM PORT TOWNSEND -- If you live in the Port Townsend area thought you would like to know that you can get your I-68 in the local Customs office in the Post Office building in Port Townsend. They ask that you call (360-385-3777) for an appointment but other than that. you leave with $57 less in your pocket but can get home without visiting a customs station. Originally we were told we had to go to Port Angeles so this was a real break.

For background information and Official Press Release, visit click on "Dramatic Changes for U.S. Customs Small Boat Clearance"

David Kutz
Recreation Boaters Association of Washington

Note: Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) issued under the old Small Boat Reporting System are no longer valid. You must report in person, pay the fee to be in the I-68 or Nexus/Sentri "trusted traveler program". Only those with I-68 or Nexus can report in to U.S. Customs by phone.

Beneteau Stolen from Anacortes

My boat was stolen last May 4th from Skyline Marina, Division 17, slip D-39, Anacortes, WA. I'm not aware of any boats ever stolen from a slip at Skyline Marina. Locals say this is a first. Lucky me. See attached flyer. Any coverage in your publication could help me recover my 32' Beneteau Jean Louise. Please feel free to call if you want more details. There's more to the story.

Jason Mogilefsky

Here are the details regarding the theft of Jean Louise: Sometime between late Tuesday 5/4 and Friday 5/6, a 1999 Beneteau 32 was stolen from Skyline Marina in Anacortes, Washington.

She has a white hull (#BEY61260H900), green canvas sail cover and dodger. Her name Jean Louise is insribed on the upper aft sides of the hull and her hailing port of Plummer, ID is on the stern.

Please call 1-877-772-6582 or 911 with any information as to her location. A generous reward is being offered in the recovery of this vessel.

Thanks,
Wendy Bents Patterson
Charter Manager
yachts @fidalgo.net
Boat Stolen from Skyline Marina

BREAKING NEWS AT PRESS TIME! BOAT FOUND!
Jean Louise ws found intact and undamaged on Saltspring Island. Quite a story! Many thanks for your help!

Wendy Bents Patterson

This year's Opening Day theme is "Sentimental Journey." Don't you remember our first cruise, Honey?"

"Remember? How can I forget! The dog fell overboard chasing a seagull, we hit that deadhead and dragged it through the water. The baby began to crawl up the mast. We had to put out that fire and, oh yes, we left the fenders down the whole trip. Some sentimental journey, Dear!"

But what fun! It started with a group of friends getting together after work at a local pub during happy hour. We wanted to brainstorm on how to decorate the club's boat for opening day. It began with the idea of the first romantic cruise being a couple's sentimental journey and by the end of happy hour, several drinks later, it had evolved into something a little more sinister and a whole lot funnier. The sentimental journey became remembering all those little (and not so little) disasters that somehow creep into everyone's first cruise.

Pretty soon the entire club got involved with calls going out for props and materials and volunteers to ride on the boat. Linda Tate and Bill High got their creative brilliance going and before we knew it, there we were, bobbing in the staging area right before the Opening Day Parade, all decorated around our theme.

Eleven of us crowded onto a 36' sailboat, each with a role to play and a job to do. A little wine, a little food, a little more wine, a lot more food and a whole lot of laughter and we were ready to proceed through the cut to pass before the judges. Would we win our decorated class? By this time, we were having so much fun that it didn't really matter. We were already big time winners. Our 3 minutes of fame were quickly over as we passed by the judges. But the fun was just beginning as we paraded by the other 18 boats in our club on the log boom. All those fellow club members began to cheer and holler! Everyone knew who we belonged to!!

You know boating is fun. It's good to get out on the water, set the throttle or trim the sails and leave the worries behind. It's satisfying teamwork to maneuver for the start of a race. It's great to pull into a harbor and drop anchor to enjoy a peaceful evening. But you know what, let's not forget the great fun of joining with other boaters, laughing over some silly project, working together to make Seattle's Opening Day a great event for the entire community. It was great! What fun!

Oh, the judges? Thanks for asking. We, "Blown Away" and the members of Tyee Yacht Club, walked away with two first place awards! Sponsored Decorated - Past Commodores Trophy and the big one, Best Overall Decorated - Admiral's Grand Sweepstakes Trophy. Yeah, that was kind of fun too!

Bill Willisford,
Rear Commodore of Tyee Yacht Club and along with his wife, Janet, are the proud owners of the winning sail boat, "Blown Away."

Getting Scat off the Beach

Richard: Here's a couple little notes between Laurie Turay and myself, (Bill Stange) about some excitement that took place during the latest Sloop Tavern Race to the Straits (R2S).

Hi there!
I wanted to ask you about the boat that went ashore yesterday. I saw them being pounded in the surf and was very concerned for their safety. I noticed that you went over there - can you fill me in? What happened, are they okay, did the boat sustain a lot of damage? Thank you for going over and offering assistance - I'm sure they were in shock! It must have been frustrating as you couldn't get in very close yourself.

Did you retire from the race? Or go on to Double Bluff? Too bad Mother Nature didn't cooperate this year.

Take care,
Laurie

Hi Laurie!
It was nice to see you in Port Townsend. Sorry for giving you a tough time about your being over early on Saturday, but it was just too funny, because right after I yelled, "Laurie, go for it!!" you turned your boat down towards the starting line and the committee responded with, "Garufa, over early". I'm sure you weren't taking any orders from me, but it sure looked like it!

Anyway, about Scat on the beach: As I sat there anchored in Pro Tanto waiting for the wind and tide to cooperate so I could continue racing, I just couldn't bear to watch Scat, that nice, custom 26 footer get helplessly pounded to bits on the beach. I also couldn't believe how quickly the peaceful beach at Marrowstone Point could suddenly be turned into what seemed like the north shore of Oahu, by a very large freighter wake. After the roar of the surf died down, I kept an eye out for the next freighter wake and motored as close to Scat as I dared (my depth sounder read 4'), and told them to tie a line onto an ice chest if they had one, or a bunch of fenders, or anything that had both flotation and some windage, and toss it out. They complied right away, and because there was a slight southerly offshore breeze, their icebox promptly drifted north where I could just reach it without running aground. I hauled their icebox aboard (drat, no beer!) and told them to attach their end of the line to a halyard, and cleat it tight. Then I secured my end of the line to the stern of Pro Tanto, and told them to "hang on tight and get ready to heel way over!". Then with Pro Tanto's trusty 8 horse diesel at about half throttle, I was able to pull them easily off the beach by the top of their mast! I haven't had a chance yet to talk to the guys on Scat about whether or not they sustained any damage from the brief yet horrific pounding they took in the surf.

After this fifteen minute exercise, I promptly went back and re-anchored, in the same spot, right next to the Rawson 30. Another half hour at anchor brought a little more wind and a lot less current, so it was again time for sails, and off I went. I managed to get to the halfway point at Double Bluff on Sunday, but couldn't make the finish line. That's the same result Pro Tanto had for Saturday, just halfway but no finish. I guess that's OK, because as you know, the committee uses our recorded times at the halfway point to calculate the results, and at the Sloop Tavern Yacht Club two halves really do make a whole!

I hope you had a great time on your boat, even though the light air conditions must have been especially tough for that comfortable and way too easy to sail Freedom 32. One of these years it's going to be Garufa weather!

Take care and see you soon,
Bill Stange
Ranger 29 Pro Tanto
PS: Your start on Sunday was superb!

Thanks from the Sloop Tavern Yacht Club

The Sloop Tavern Yacht Club's 4th Annual Race to the Straits was a huge success this year! With 90 boats registered for the regatta, and 88 making it to the starting line we more than doubled the entries from our very first year in 2002.

I don't know that many people in the sailing community realize what hard work goes in to organizing and running a race, let alone one this big. Many of us are content to hop on our boats, head for the starting line, and compete for that first to finish honor. However, a race of this magnitude takes nearly a year to prepare for! On behalf of the Sloop Tavern Yacht Club, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many dedicated volunteers who helped to make the Race to the Straits such a successful event.

These people include:
Neil Bennett, Nigel Barron, Chris Butler, Bob Bonney, Dick Roberts, Carol Pearl, Mary Roberts, Jean Penney, Catherine Picha, Chris Halstead, Jeff Harrison, Steve Bunnell, Sandy Farrell, Everett Sorenson, Elizabeth Stanton, Kirk Utter AND, last, but certainly not least our devoted committee boat captains -- Al Carlin on LOON, and Bob Leighton on SPICE.

We also thank the following businesses for their support and donations to the Race to the Straits: Lidgard Sails, Sail NW, CSR, West Marine, and NW Yachting. I can honestly say that I truly appreciate the community effort that goes in to organizing a fun event such as this one. Everyone has been a pleasure to work with.

We, at the Sloop Tavern Yacht Club owe a great deal of gratitude to Bill Stange, and his Ranger 29, PRO TANTO. On Sunday, May 8th, the Custom 26, SCAT went aground at Marrowstone Point. A passing freighter created a huge surf and we watched in horror as that little boat was picked up and continuously pounded against the shore. As I watched these events unfold, I became very concerned for that boat and the people aboard. We are very proud of Bill and thankful for his efforts in assisting SCAT, and eventually pulling them free. Bill is a great guy and a great sailor, AND obviously, very cool under pressure!

Finally, you can be assured that the STYC is working hard to improve the Race to the Straits, and continue making it one of the premiere sailing events on Puget Sound.

Sincerely,
Laurie Turay
Race to the Straits Chairperson

Passing on a Prayer

In an issue of your magazine at some time in the past was printed an article called "A Prayer for Safe Docking". It was passed on to me by a friend, who only remembered from where it came, but could not provide me with an author and which issue date of your magazine it appeared. I'd like to pass it on to my boating friends with the proper acknowledgement. Could you please give me the author's name?

Thanks,
Ken Fletcher

The author's name is John Vigor and it is from his book "How to Rename Your Boat and 19 Other Useful Ceremonies, Superstitions, Prayers, Rituals and Curses". We had the excerpt in our December 2004 issue. Get your friend a copy of the book, it's a great present.

Diesel Prices from Puget Sound to Campbell River

Dear Captain Richard:

As fuel prices continue to go up we are sure that your readers would like to know that a local yacht leasing company by the name of YachtLease (which also has been advertising in your charter section) posts diesel prices at a variety of locations from Puget sound to Campbell River at www.yachtlease.com/Fuel.php

This must be a very customer focused company.

Gary and Patty Ritzman
"Dharma"
Mercer Island WA

Looking for any information on Francouis or White Swan, built in 1926

My father, John McGinnis Williams, commissioned Norman Wright, boatbuilder in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to build an auxilliary schooner that was completed in 1926. She was named "Francois" and was the largest yacht built in Australia at the time. She was grand and luxurious.

These are her specs in brief (I have photos, full details and plans)

• General Dimensions 70' 0"
• Beam 16' 0"
• Waterline 15' 0"
• Draught of hull 4' 6"

"Gaia" Has Worldly Meaning -- April Boat Name of the Month

"Gaia" was inspired by sentiments such as the following that I believe appeared in 48 North's coverage of the Seattle Yacht Club's OneWorld Challenge for the Americas Cup.

"McCaw and partner Paul Allen wanted the challenge to carry a second message, thus the name OneWorld. "We wanted to bring attention to the environmental cause, not just spend a lot of money to beat the other guys." Throughout the campaign, OneWorld used their notoriety to call attention to many environmental organizations by "partnering" with them and their causes ...and... In their press release, McCaw states, "Water covers 70 percent of the Earth's surface. The oceans literally determine those who bask in blue skies and prosperity and those who will die from famine, flood and hurricane. It affects Africa, America and everywhere in between. It is an issue affecting both rich and poor alike."

In 1965 Atmospheric scientist and author James Lovelock began formulating a theory postulating that "life processes regulate the environmental conditions on earth". He chose "Gaia", the goddess in Greek mythology who "drew the living world forth from chaos", to name this theory. "Gaia Hypothesis", as it is called, was reinforced by the observation that, viewed from outer space, the Earth itself appears as a single living entity, i.e. one world.

So, hoping that I may in some small way contribute to an increase in human awareness of our planet and its place in the Universe, I thought "Gaia" would be a fitting name for an offshore sailboat (we sailed her to Hawaii and back last summer). For the hull graphic, the large dot on the "i" is actually the image of Earth from a photo taken by the Apollo 17 astronauts on Dec. 7, 1972 as they left earth orbit en route to the Moon.

Usually, when asked at the dock or out on the racecourse, "What does Gaia mean?" I just say, "Earth Goddess." Thank you for the opportunity to respond with more detail.

Bob Riggle
S/V Gaia

Inati Bay No Longer Open to the Public

I imagine I'm not the first to inform you about this, but just in case, I thought this would be of interest to 48° North and many of your readers.

It appears as if Inati Bay on Lummi island, which is probably the only decent anchorage in Bellingham Bay, has been closed by it's owners to all use except members of the Bellingham Yacht Club, who has leased the bay for use by all boaters for years, under a pretense of liability (which is ridiculous, since Washington law protects landowners who allow recreational use of their lands). A quick visit to the yacht club's website (www.byc.org) will give the details, which I've also pasted in this email.

David Veale

The word from BYC:
History: Inati Bay was purchased by Lummi Island Land Company prior to Statehood and is one the few particles in Washington State that includes the land rights under the bay itself. The BYC has been leasing Inati Bay from the Lummi Island Land Company since the 1970's as a service to boaters from throughout the region. Unlike some other clubs, the BYC has allowed any boater to use the space, even though there is considerable expense involved in the operation of the site. Although it was a major logging facility in the early 20th century, present logging operations are restricted to a few weeks a year, usually in early spring. For the first years, the site was maintained by BYC Member Hurley Buckner, who had a summer home on nearby Eliza Island. After he retired from this volunteer post, maintenance was undertaken by David Bradley, a BYC Past Commodore, and his wife Penny (Currenea) who sees that the property is kept tidy and accessible. Oversight of the lease, etc., is by a committee of the Bellingham Yacht Club.

Currently: Due to legal and administrative issues the lessees of Inati bay have regrettably been forced to close this anchorage for all boaters and individuals except members of the Bellingham Yacht Club.

Inati Bay has been under the same family's ownership prior to Washington becoming a state. As a result, the private property boundary extends all the way to the bay's mouth, and includes the anchorage, rather than just to the tidal lines as is common with most other Washington bays. This definition of the property raises issues of liability, and rights of use. The risk of wildfire, vandalism, and safety are also contributing factors. Due to these issues, the Bellingham Yacht Club has been asked to implement this restriction. As lessees of Inati Bay for over 30 years, it has fallen to the Bellingham Yacht Club to continue its maintenance of the bay and police its use under these new requirements.

Please accept our appreciation in advance for your adherence to this new, but permanent restriction. As always, we welcome members of reciprocal yacht clubs at our large reciprocal dock in front of the Club a few miles away in Bellingham", said Richard Veach, BYC Commodore. "Unfortunately, in this litigious society where many are trying to utilize waterfront property that is not theirs, and where we must maintain a pattern of control to be sure to protect ourselves and the owners, we have been forced to take this step." For more information, you may contact the Club by email

Richard Veach
Commodore

Yes David, We had quite a few emails and calls regarding the closing of Inati Bay to the public. I'm no sea lawyer so can't comment on the legalities of leasing land for recreational use. Unless someone knows better we have to take them at their word that it's for liabilty reasons that it's not open to the public. Frankly, in this day and age, it's not a surprise -- sad but not a surprise.

And Your Point Is?

That is a great picture on page 76, but, Locomotion is about to round Alki Pt.

Dave & Pat Rogers
Vashon Island

Oops. That is Alki not Pully Point. I guess even with the Shilshole Marina modifications, the area hasn't built up that much. But it would be nice to have the Space Needle in Ballard.