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I Went Sailing for the First Time in Almost 3 Decades
Port Townsend’s Annual Wooden Boat Festival
The opportunity presented itself during the Port Townsend annual Wooden Boat Festival to go sailing.
The runs a bunch of sailing programs, `including short lessons aboard La Vie En Rose. A 40-foot wooden custom yawl that boasts an open interior and a spacious deck.
Our captain for the trip was Captain Dave, a younger gentleman from Oklahoma, of all places. His first mate was a very young woman, just out of high school.
With six guests aboard a sailing yacht designed for two, it feels a bit like a party on the sea. All of the passengers eventually moved toward the bow, leaving my husband and I to pick the captain’s brain. A kind man, he was willing to answer any questions we had. Even boat-specific questions about our sailboat.
We tacked upwind towards the Strait of Juan de Fuca and turned back towards the marina near the Point Hudson Lighthouse. Jibing a handful of times, we cruised back downwind towards the festival. It was a calm beautiful sail.
Boats of all shapes and sizes were out enjoying the beautiful weather.