I have just returned from a 10 day sailing trip aboard a friend's
Coronado 23, which, while certainly deserving of a recount, is not
the focus of this mail. I'm afraid that this tale is of the sad wreck
of Cyrus' p-15, "Wind Dancer". Bear with me, and I will try to
set the scene.
We had departed Roche Harbor on San Juan island at about 12:00pm,
with our destination set for Doe Bay, a small "alternative" resort on Orcas
island. As the winds built that day, and we once again were being driven
hard under reefed main and lapper, we began to hear reports of gale warnings
for the Straights of Juan De Fuca. Knowing that Doe Bay is an exposed anchorage
not conducive to storm conditions, we proceeded on with trepidation, trying to leave
enough daylight for an escape if the conditions worsened. As we rounded the head
at Obstruction pass and entered into Rosario Straight, the boat was laid over, and
the sea conditions worsened. Thinking that we might find refuge behind Doe Island,
we decided to press on, our destination being only several nm ahead.
Arriving at Doe Bay, we found the anchorage deserted, and the conditions worsening.
Only two forlorn boats were near the resort: A home built plywood sloop, and a
very small looking yellow potter by the name of "Wind Dancer", belonging to
a character named Cyrus that my friend and I had enjoyed a "gam" with on
our previous visit over a year before. The boat was not occupied, and seemed
rather close to the shore. We circled the boat calling for Cyrus, but realized that
he was not aboard. Judging by the way the boat was tossing, it was not hard
to imagine why he was not there.
We attempted to tie off to a dock at Doe Island, but the motion there was
still too much, so we made a twilight dash for Blakley Island Marina,
using every one of the ten horses we had in our iron sail to bring us
through the steep five foot chop. Safe in the marina, the wind built that
night to 45 mph, and we both began to think about that small potter lying
close to the rocks.
The next day we sailed through an incredible 6-8' swell to get back to
Anacordes for our pull-out, and listened to the VHF as distress calls
and reports of foundering boats were issued. Quite a day. Returning to
portland, I shot an email to Cyrus asking him the fate of his boat. This was
his (edited) reply:
-- Cyrus --
Re: We saw your boat, but you weren't there
It dragged anchor and ended up on the rocks. Both sides of the hull have
long torn holes and broken fiberglass. It may be the end of it's life. That
was me and my son you guys were talking to at Doe Bay. I was able to get the
boat back to Bellingham with my son pumping. I know it will cost more to fix
that it is worth.
There is a lot of "what ifs." Up to this point I have always slept on board.
If a storm came up, I did what ever it took to come thru safely. This time
I had my son, Nathaniel, with me. I just thought it would be easier to sleep
ashore at Doe Bay than be on board. I could not get any clear weather
reports at Doe Bay. I knew three days of rain was predicted but nothing was
said about gale warnings. Nathaniel and I were hit by a small squall the day
before with too much sail. Got thru that with no problems. By the time I
realized the strength of the wind after seeing you, it was too late to paddle
safely out to the boat and ride out the storm in it.
Yes, I could use a lot of help. Both sides of the bottom (twin keels ?) have
been ripped out. Could you get in touch with the Potter Club and asked what
can be done to repair the damage. I have not been on web since April and
have long lost their address.
-- End Cyrus --
Now I know that some of you have sailed with Cyrus, as he was a member of
the potter yachters when he lived in northern cal. The fact that the boat was
sea worthy enough to get them back to Bellingham, no short run, says to me
that the boat is repairable, probably by him. The small amount of fiberglass
work I have done proved to me that it is not terribly difficult. I have asked
Cyrus to send me some pictures of the damage, and anyone who might be
able to offer Cyrus some advice on how to deal with the repair is encouraged
to reply to either him or me.
Safe sailing to all,
Derek Jensen
p-15 #694 "El Nino"
Portland, OR