Our First Sailing Adventure to Hope Island

 Our First Sailing Adventure to Hope Island

 

We are both past our mid-century marks and have determined that the next chapter in our storybook of love is SAILING and becoming liveaboard sailors. Our first sailing adventure would be to Hope Island in Skagit State Park.

As 2024 approached, we knew we needed to greet the New Year on the water from our Sceptre 41 Sailboat, Gypsea Explorer. We needed to let the Universe know we were serious about this adventure. Sitting in our salon, fingers tracing our map’s chart lines, we determined that the next chapter in our love storybook was to sail. We wondered where to go. It was winter. It was the Pacific Northwest. It was cold. We were new sailors, and this part of the world was notorious for its stingy attitude with winds.

We knew we could not greet the New Year from our Marina Perch; what message would that send? Gypsea Explorer was meant to do exactly that: be a Gypsea  Explorer. And then our fingers stumbled upon Hope Island–right in our backyard. The name said it all. The word HOPE rolled off our tongues. It felt like an auspicious way to greet the New Year and our New Adventure. It felt perfect.

We hopped on the Skagit State Park website and found information about the island and its facilities. We made a checklist of supplies and provisions, including a bottle of champagne to toast all things HOPE.

Getting ready for boat living. Credit: Heather Jacks

Planning Our First Sailing Adventure

Now that the destination had been set, the fun began: planning for our New Year’s sail. Our short route would give us our first taste of living on a sailboat. The plan? Fun, learning, and most importantly, hope.

Our first stop would be Anacortes. I had won an Instagram photo shoot contest and couldn’t wait to meet the photographer and capture some moody, winter-esque Pacific Northwest pictures. This would be followed by a decadent dinner at Anthony’s at Cap Sante Restaurant and then–to sail.

 

Heather Jacks  Credit: Katie Grant Collective

Given the weather conditions and tides, Chris determined the best route to Hope Island. We were excited to test some of our upgrades, including the Garmin Electronics.

Our Sceptre 41 Sailboat: Gypsea Explorer

 

Our Sceptre 41 sailboat is an excellent vessel. At 41 feet in length, she is spacious and comfortable. She is known to be reliable in all weather conditions, especially in the Pacific Northwest, as she was born there. Her best feature is her Pilothouse design, which is exactly as it sounds. We can steer and navigate the boat from inside–out of the elements. This benefit cannot be overstated.

Our Sailboat, Gypsea Explorer Credit: Heather Jacks

Preparing the boat for Our First Sailing Adventure

Preparing Gypsea for our New Year’s adventure was a process, especially since she still needed love and restoration. Eventually, she would have all the things required for blue water sailing and passages. We checked the rigging (which was replaced later, but at the time, it was serviceable) and made sure the lines and sails were in good condition. The mainsail had UV damage and was torn. We put a ‘band-aid’ on it.

We checked the engine and other mechanical systems. These have been rebuilt and are in great working order now. We have our solar arch and panels but need to install them. We stocked the boat with fresh water (a water maker is on our list of upgrades).

We bought food and other provisions to last us throughout the trip. I love our Mustang Survival Gear life jackets and had recently purchased foul-weather gear. We checked flares and ensured our first aid kit was ready. We also made sure that all our communication devices were in working order and could reach shore in emergencies.

Although this would be a short trip of four days, it is important for me, as a brand new sailor, to develop these habits and checklists and commit them to muscle memory.

Heather Jacks at Hope Island  Credit: Heather Jacks

Sailing to Hope Island – the Journey

On December 28th, 2024,  we set out from La Conner, Washington, around 10:00 a.m. on a slack tide, heading to Anacortes, a short 9.6 nautical miles, which in this part of the world takes approximately an hour and a half. A slack tide means that the water is still not moving at all.

Our slip was in Shelter Bay by default, as no other liveaboard options were available in the area. It was a blessing and a challenge. On the blessing side, Shelter Bay is a nice, well-maintained marina with a fantastic Harbor Master–(Mistress?). It is a short 5-minute drive from La Conner, Washington, a picturesque town that would rival any Charles Dickens Postcard. It is quaint and pristine, overlooking the Salish Sea.

La Conner overflows with good to great wine, which is rivaled only by the food scene. In a word, it is a foodies’ paradise. There are certainly worse places to winter.

Onto the challenges; it is located in a narrow channel, devoid of wind. The going is slow and tedious, as you have to motor to reach the blue pastures of the open ocean. Getting out to sail or living ‘on the hook‘ is at the top of our priority list.

We had booked a slip at Cap Sante Marina, which is a fantastic marina. The location is stellar, across the street from a Safeway Grocery Store that stays open until 1:00 a.m. and a 5-minute walk from West Marine. They have clean, bright bathrooms, showers, and a portable pump out for your head. The rates for guest moorage vary and depend on the season. We were there during the ‘off-season, ‘so it was $1.16 a foot for our Sceptre 41.

I am still learning to dock, and I feel the frustration from my Kiwi as I struggle to remember this new language of sailing, but we haven’t had any catastrophes–so I count that as a win. When I went to plug into shore power, we noticed that the end of the cord was burnt. It had to be repaired or replaced. We made that 5-minute walk several times, eventually ending up with a new shore power cord with a smart plug and converting our damaged one into a spare.

The next couple of days were filled with friends, photoshoots, dinners, and drinks. We love hanging out in Anacortes. It is filled with great food, beer, coffee, art, and all things nautical. After a great weekend, we were excited to head out to Hope Island and ring in the New Year.

Heather & Chris. Credit: Heather Jacks

Sailing to Hope Island

We went to Bowman Bay, a hidden gem in Deception Pass State Park. PRO-TIP: If you are spending some time in this area of the world and visiting more than one park, it is worth checking out a Discover Pass, which is good for a year at all Washington State Parks–at the bargain price of $35.00.

Bowman Bay is big, beautiful, and historic. Until the late 19th century, it was a Samish village, then a military reservation called Reservation Bay, and eventually a salmon hatchery. Today, it is a great outdoor playground with activities for all ages: camping, kayaking, hiking, sandy beaches for lounging–or, in our case, a perfect stop to wait for a slack tide to navigate through Deception Pass.

We anchored here for a couple of hours until the tides were in our favor, and anchoring was–quite frankly a bitch. Our Rode chain was not marked, coupled with my inexperience, and my Kiwi was steaming at the ears.

You might ask what a Rode Chain is and what the marking of said chain means.

Have you heard these commands, “M-a-r-k three! … M-a-r-k three! … Quarter-less three! … Half twain! … Quarter twain! … M-a-r-k twain!’” Here is my simple explanation of Anchor and Rode.

Successful anchoring depends on the scope, which is the ratio of anchor rode-or chain- to water depth. For example, put out 5 feet of anchor Rode for every foot of water depth. That would be a scope of 5-to-1.

When anchoring, the water depth is from the seafloor to the anchor roller or chock at the top of the bow. As a rule of thumb, more is better to allow the boat to swing.

Chris sat at the boat’s bow, directing me with various hand signals. Move the boat forward, back, around, up, down. I was confused–but eventually, our antiquated anchor successfully took hold of the bottom. It was our first time anchoring–and I wouldn’t call it a success, but it wasn’t a failure either.

(By the time you read this, we have an Ultra Anchor and marked chain, and I have become the anchoring queen.) 

We hung out in the Bay for a couple of hours, and then it was time to bring the anchor up and navigate through Deception Pass.

Deception Pass is a challenge, even for experienced sailors. It marks the unofficial arrival to the San Juan Islands. It is created by the gap between the north end of Whidbey Island and the south end of Fidalgo Island, and it is a spectacular place. Bordered by high rock walls on each side and, at certain points, over 180 feet of water, water that can move so fast that it creates some of the strongest and potentially most dangerous currents in Puget Sound.

Four times per day, the massive waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca (to the west) and those of Saratoga Passage (to the east) surge through the narrow opening of Deception Pass. Two million cubic feet of water rush through the pass at peak flow per second.

One cubic foot of seawater weighs about 64 pounds. So, at peak flow, more than 127 million pounds of seawater, or nearly 64,000 tons, flow through Deception Pass per second. To put those numbers in perspective, that is about eight times more water than the average flow of the Columbia River.

And, of course, there is the bridge, which was finished in 1935 by the CCC.

With his aviation background, Chris developed a plan for our passage, including what we would do afterward. We had previously sailed with Captain Kevin of Sail Anacortes, and he had a mantra for everything we did. He wanted us to have a plan, a contingency, and know what to do afterward—that afterward is often missed.

There is slack tide and standing water. Slack tide is when the tidal current is near zero. Standing water is when there is no noticeable change in tide height during low or high water. They are different things, and both are important. In standing water, you may have significant seas, and in slack tide–(in theory), the current should be zero. There is also wind to consider–amongst other things.

No longer anchored, we made our way into Deception Pass. This time, it was peaceful and easy. Our timing was perfect; Mother Nature conspired to keep everything in check, and no other boats were out on the water. Our first sail was coming together perfectly.

Exploring Hope Island in Skagit State Park

Hope Island welcomed us with its untouched beauty and peaceful atmosphere. We grabbed a mooring ball, but not before it grabbed my hook and took it forever to the bottom of the sea. A mooring ball is an anchor built into the water. It is attached to the seabed and provides a stable place to anchor. It is designed to withstand wind, waves, and currents and keep our Gypsea from drifting or running into objects.

The mooring ball has a $15.00 per night fee, which you can pay in a pay box on the island. It is a campground in the ocean.

We anchored, and Chris set about grilling shrimp and a juicy steak on the barbecue. It was a perfect and peaceful evening, as we were the only people–or sailboat–around.

Celebrating New Year’s on Hope Island with our Sceptre 41 Sailboat

As the sun began to set on New Year’s Eve, we sat under a silent canopy of stars to celebrate the arrival of the new year. We shared our hopes and dreams for the New Year, sending intentions to the Universe. We were encapsulated with a sense of gratitude for the experience we had shared.

The night sky was illuminated with a waning moon, reflecting off the calm waters surrounding us. A waning moon means that almost 80% of the moon is illuminated by the sun. It appears as a thin crescent and invites us–or reminds us–that this is a time of surrender, of rest. Now is a time to rest and prepare for the new cycle ahead–to rejuvenate. and fall into the natural flow of life. It was a magical moment, a celebration of new beginnings and the beauty of nature. As the New Year approached, we raised our glasses and made wishes for the year ahead, grateful for the memories we had created on this special day.

The next morning, we were ready to explore Hope Island. We had purchased an amazing dinghy, eventually naming him

Our Highfield dinghy is the Cadillac of dinghys. Since the island was near and the waters were still, I wanted to practice rowing, so we did. This turned out to be a highlight for me. Rowing is amazing.

The island was filled with lush forests, sandy beaches, and an abundance of hiking trails. We hiked to the other side of the island as the sun was peeking over the horizon. We discovered hidden coves and panoramic viewpoints. It was a true escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a chance to connect with nature and appreciate its wonders.

Reflecting on Our First Sail

Our New Year’s sail to Hope Island was not just an adventure but a journey that taught us valuable lessons about preparation, teamwork, and the power of nature. It reminded us of the importance of planning and being well-prepared for any challenges that may arise. It showed us the beauty and tranquility that can be found in the heart of winter and the joy of exploring nature’s hidden gems. It brought us closer as partners and lovers as we navigated the waters together and celebrated the arrival of a new year on a secluded island. The experience left us with a deep appreciation for the art of sailing and the wonders of the natural world. We are so excited to take this sailing journey together. But first, a few more upgrades–and a toast to the New Year.

Until Next Time!

If you dug this story–check out how we began.

Fear Less/Adventure More!

S/V Gypsea Explorer 

Me & The Kiwi

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