Just a quick summary of our first attempt with #375 Sick Chicken. Decided to leave our Honda 2.3 in Bellingham and make the 50 + mile trip last Friday. Took 2 days with light air and adverse currents. Rigged up oars attached to the winches and stood up in the cockpit rowing with one hatch board in place to brace. Monday we ran into the above with 6’ seas and 30 knot winds. Cracked our tiller when we fell on it a little but fortunately had a board we had used before and after carefully sailing out of the Strait’ s ferocious wind and waves managed to get steerage. We were planning on only going to Victoria as my son had a flight he had to make Thursday - we decided with no break in the weather - to try to sail towards Bellingham. Dropped reefed mainsail and used just a furled up 130% jib. Hung on and steered around the breaking waves as we worked up Whitbey Island. Running 5 knots until we finally caught a favored flood. Recap on gps showed 56 miles including rowing out and the 30 min replacing our tiller - average speed 4.9 with a max of 11.7. During the flood tide - we stayed above 9 knots for hours. Unbelievable trip! Our boat came through beautifully - despite launching occasionally and crashing down the backs of waves as well as taking a couple of waves over the bow - we always felt in control and confident in this boat. Coast Guard Duty Captain said he had never seen it worse and in fact shut down the race on Tuesday after Monday’s 3 capsizes and 4 rescues. Disappointed that we didn’t get across but over 100 miles with no motor and severe conditions just reinforces my feeling for M-17 !! This is one tough boat! Next year! John Taussig Sick Chicken #375. M-17 Sent from my iPad
