Conference unifix::sailing

    Wow!  Sounds like you were lucky!
    
    It seems the global weather patterns are in serious flux.
    In the short run, it's supposed to have a lot to do with
    the volcano in the Phillipines.  The ash is creating a cooling
    umbrella over a wide band of the northern hemisphere.  In the
    long run, it seems Man's enviromental impact is an increasing
    reality, and there may well be some very unpleasant changes
    in the not-to-distant future.  Here's hoping we will always 
    be able to safely enjoy the world's oceans!
    
    Dean

    Howard, I was in Anacortes all day Saturday on my boat. It blew a
    steady 45 Knots all afternoon. The sound had many whitecaps and
    although our marina is completely surrounded with a breakwater, we were
    moving around in the slip a lot. Didn't stick around all night so don't
    know what the outcome was. I figure the harbormaster would call if all
    was not alright. We survived the 100 MPH winds last winter without any
    damage, so don't expect a call.
    

    Isn't this the area the whole country is moving to for it's livability
    among which is its year-round "temperate" weather?
    

    Heck NO. Seattle is a terrible place. It rains all the time and we have
    fierce wind storms all winter. And in the summer we get three days of
    sun per month. Back east is a much better place to live. Believe me!
    

RE: Seattle

The wind never blows in the summer,  and only blows gales in the winter.

Oh yes,  and the moss is real nasty stuff.  It grows on trees,  houses and 
roofs and there is not much you can do about that.  You have to wash your car
twice a week to keep moss from growing on it,  and better dry your hair good
or you might get a moss infection.

And the slugs:  some are as big as your hand.  Not only will they mow any
garden you plant down,  but their slime trails are dangerous.

I believe you,  Steve,  as I live there once.  Just keep telling everyone
how nasty it is.  

Please.


Phil

    re .4, .5
    
    And here I was all set to move.
    
    :(
    
    
    Keep'm guessing!  ;)

    Having visited there last year I am not ready to move there (mostly
    because I don't want to move into the same town as my mother). It would
    be really cool to sail right into the center of the city, but if it
    snowed someone might drive into your boat. If you think drivers in Ma.
    are bad on the first day of snow check out Seattle a week after a snow
    storm. They have no snow plows in the whole city, they have no snow
    tires in the city either, but I hadn't seen tire chains since I was a
    kid. It is amazing that the city was crippled for two week from 8
    inches of snow. Of course remember that the city is built on slopes
    that are steeper than some intermedeate ski slopes, the snow turns to
    ice and there is not a vehicle in control on the roads. 
    
    	I didn't get to sail much while I was out there, but nosing around
    at a brokerage I spoke to a dealer just to talk. He commented that the
    best boats he sells come from the north east because we haul them every
    winter and do maintainance. 
    
    Geoff

    Hmm.  Bayliners (bottom of the line powerboats) come from the Seattle
    area.    :-)
    
    The guys in our office out there tell me to move out "so I can keep
    my boat in the water all year".
    
    Is there really any usable boating weather in the winter?
    

    Re .8 --
    
    > Is there really any usable boating weather in the winter?
    
    Depends on your definition of usable.  There's wind, there's rain,
    there's cold -- but if you don't mind that, the sailing's great!
    I tend to go out less in the winter than spring, summer, and fall, but
    a good time can indeed be had...if you're someone who'd be crazy enough
    to move out here in the first place.  Trust me; you're probably much
    happier where you are.
    
    + Michael
    

      Puget sound as a place to sail.    One of our Triton Assoc
    members (I think it was Ed Trautwein) spent many happy years
    sailing the area.  (also lived on his 28ft Pearson Triton in
    one of the marinas for a few years)
    
     According to Ed it was as good a sailing gets.   Yup they do get
    winter there and there is fog, but being able to sail at places
    like the San Juan Islands looks real fine to me.
    
     I like where I cruise now (mostly Massachusetts, Buzzards Bay/
    Vineyard sound and some trips to Maine and Rhode Island) but
    Puget Sound is on an even footing with home.
    
     You guys sure it isn't the northern migration thats making
    you fun us outsiders.  :*))
    
    Frank 

    The San Juan Islands and surroundings are *terrific* 
    cruising grounds.   Don't let anyone kid you.  The mountains
    are majestic, the harbors uncrowded, the waters clear and *deep*,
    and the local beers are superb!  I can't really guage the prevailing
    breeze, but it's almost always been blowing when I've been there. 
    Maybe just my good luck.  If I could tele-trasport myself there at 
    will, I'd do so to cruise on a regular basis.  

    I chartered in the San Juans the last week of July 90 and the weather
    was absolutely great.  The boat was a Hunter 33.5 and had forced air
    heat on board which was welcome as it does get cool at night.
    
    I also managed to get to Seattle this past summer.   I didn't charter
    this time but the weather was just fine.  I arrived on 4th july and
    stayed for a week.  I have friends that I visited while I was there and
    they said the weather was really rainy right up to the time I got
    there.
    
    There was a time when I wanted to move there but now that I've seen the
    place I would recommend just visiting.  Do it in July august timeframe
    and You might get lucky with the weather, I did.
    
    Lee