⛵ Weekend Cruise: Sucia, Friday Harbor & a Starter Scare (June 13–15, 2025)

We set out aboard Nootka for a quick but eventful weekend — anchored in Sucia, ran down to Friday Harbor for the farmers market and a pint, and made it back with a great sail, good company, and a little engine-side drama. This one had everything: tide magic, family celebration, and one of our best upwind sails in a while.

🌬️ Friday afternoon: Beating to Sucia

We left Semiahmoo Friday afternnon at slack tide and had an incredible sail upwind into 12–15 knots. Nootka found her groove — charging along on a close reach with the rail down, steady breeze, and smooth seas. Easily the highlight of the trip.

Sometimes it just clicks — the motion, the light, the sound of water under the hull. This was that. The intrepid crew was in full relaxation mode!

We picked up a mooring ball in Echo Bay as the sun started to dip and settled in for a quiet night.

⏰ Saturday Morning: Early Departure & Tidal Win

We slipped the mooring at 7:30 a.m., getting underway while the crew slept below. Our tide timing was on point: we rode the ebb south to San Juan Island, carving through water in the early light.

We came around the corner out of echo bay to 18-20 knots of wind but it was right on the nose and was forecast to die down. With the crew asleep belowe we chose to just motor down toward Friday Harbor — A good choice as the wind soon died off and we rode the tide for a quick trip down.

🧺 Markets & Pints in Friday Harbor

We tied up to the guest dock after the crew deftly caught us with a breeze off the dock and wandered through the farmers market. We hit up San Juan Island Brewery for a celebratory beer. The vibe was summer-in-the-islands perfect.

It was all to mark Kenzie and Caleb’s third year at Western — proud of them both, and grateful to spend this time together on the water.

🧭 Afternoon Return — and a Bit of Chaos

We left the dock mid-afternoon and caught the flood northbound, just as planned. The wind filled in enough for us to try a mellow downwind sail, easing our way back toward Sucia.

But alas downind was not in the cards today… we gave up and proceeded to take down sails and start the engine but, turn the key and…

Nothing!

No click, no turnover — just adrift in light breeze, with a harbor in the rearview and no power.

It was a quick scramble, but we jumped the starter solenoid directly and Nootka fired right up. Crisis averted — with only minor elevated heart rates.

🌅 Back to Sucia & Home

We made it back to Echo Bay before sunset, anchored, and enjoyed a calm night — much quieter than the afternoon’s action. Sunday brought a nice walk out to Ewing cove for some beach coming slow, easy ride back to Semiahmoo under clear skies and light wind.