Tag Archives: permit resources

by | June 15, 2014 · 8:30 am

Shake Down Voyage: Summer’s First Night on the Blue Pearl

By Teri Williams

Friday is spent outfitting our sailboat with fresh bedding, rugs, dishes and other items for the new season. I call it a season only due to the lack of time on the boat through fall and winter. No matter rain, sleet or snow, we usually have time each month. This past year we were required to do a vessel survey and the boat was in need of many upgrades and fixes. No problem if your first mate is McGuiver! Just need TIME.

teri williams on the blue pearl

Awaiting guests on the Blue Pearl.

Jay re-wired, re-plumbed and re-worked everything in getting ready for the survey. Our sailboat passed with only a few things put on the to-do list. The survey did more than get us outfitted – it required the boat to have a name. On April 20, as Jay and I were soaking in the hot tub, contemplating life, the boat came up. I am a huge fan of Johnny Depp and the Black Pearl adventures. Hmmm…female pirate…blue hull. Suddenly the name “Blue Pearl” came up and was adopted. This meant a christening was to take place.

A Few Mates

all-aboard

All aboard for the christening!

My plan was to stay on the boat at the dock in Bay Head Marina on Friday night. This gave us a chance to invite a few mates aboard. Beth Baker (Sew Like the Wind) came to admire her work with the installation of my new upholstery – all new pads and covers throughout the boat. Mike Powell (Cruising Concepts) came aboard to review cupboards. Permit Resources and Cruising Concepts have done some horse-trading and the Blue Pearl needed some teak work to accommodate the needs of the galley cook.

You will read my comment “we could be anywhere, and not far from home” many times through out my musings about life on the water. After champagne and discussions about changes to be made on the boat, we headed to Octavia’s Bistro in the Orcas Hotel. Friday night is Pub Night, includes tasty specials, local live music, a fine Makers Mark Manhattan cocktail, and toe tapping Orcas fun! Octavia’s tequila clams are the best in the County.

octavias

Ready to walk back to the marina from Octavia’s on a summer eve.

It was a fine early summer evening to walk back to the boat and nestle in for the night. With bags everywhere and plenty of plans for the next day of organizing, we found the coffee pot and propane for the morning and settled down into our new bed. Awwwww the life of a pirate…

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by | July 21, 2012 · 11:53 pm

Boat Rides and Mooring Buoys

Posted by Teri

I love my job. I get to visit beautiful sites around Orcas Island — some of them from the water!

Today I was working on permitting a mooring buoy for my clients who own an island getaway in Eastsound. An eelgrass survey is required for submittal to all the state and federal agencies.

Chris Betcher at Jen Jay Diving

Kurt Schwalbe helps Chris Betcher of Jen Jay Diving prepare for eelgrass survey

On these projects, I call on Chris Betcher at Jen Jay Diving in Deer Harbor. Chris and his wife Tracy are the best to work with. Their depth of knowledge, relationships with state and federal agencies and professionalism is respected and held in high regard by all who have the opportunity to work with them.

I always learn something as well.

Eelgrass survey on Orcas Island

Kurt keeps watch while Chris dives

Eelgrass surveys and mooring buoy installations can only be performed at certain times of the year. The window is June 1-October 1 for surveys, July 15- Jan 15 for installation.

Jen Jay Diving Boat on Orcas Island

Jen Jay diving boat is well equipped

Chris Betcher of Jen Jay Diving examines mooring buoy on Orcas Island

Chris examines mooring buoy

The boat met me at the County public dock in Eastsound and we headed south to the site. On their way to Eastsound to pick me up, Chris and his sidekick on the boat, Kurt  Schwalbe saw something big swimming in the area larger than a seal. I had my eyes peeled for a whale even though it is highly unlikely one would venture this far into Eastsound Bay.  Just so you know, nothing surfaced. BUT the sun was out and the water was calm — it was a perfect day.

The boat is equipped with all the gadgets one would need to locate a property, mark GPS coordinates, find the depth and know the tides. In addition to the tools, lines, buckets, dive gear, binoculars, charts and floats, there is a comradery and communication that comes with confidence and years of working together.

First, the topo of the seabed is considered to find a level area and a depth is needed for the type of boat to be moored. Then we view the water from the boat looking for signs of eelgrass (Zostera marina). Once we have a location, a temporary float is set into the water to mark our spot. Chris then begins to put his gear on, with help from Kurt.

Chris swims a radius of 25 feet plus the length of the boat. He uses two measuring tapes to create his underwater grid. This day, the water was clear and visibility was out to 75 feet. Chris recounts his underwater findings to Kurt, who takes notes, and they promise to turn over the report in two weeks.

When the eelgrass survey is complete, I submit the mooring buoy permit application to San Juan County, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It sometimes takes as long as six months for all the agencies to approve this type of permit — all the more reason to make sure the permit is filed correctly so there are no delays.

Once I have the permit in hand, I’ll call Chris back for installation of the buoy. My clients’ island getaway will have a convenient spot to moor their boat, and I’ve helped another client sail through the permit process, enjoying it all the way.

Looking to enjoy the simple life on beautiful Orcas Island?
Contact T Williams Realty – we’ll help you find your way home.

 

 

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