Real Wind, part 2

We have been able to sail more, partially because there has been some wind, partially because we've gotten stuff fixed and practiced enough so that raising the sails is easier, but mostly the cats really do not like the engine.  On Thursday we got from Walker Island to Tehasillahe Island, sailing about half the way.  On Friday we motored out into the channel and immediately hoisted sail.  Winds were not heavy, but between the wind and the current we were able to make 3-4 knots down river, quiet and comfortable.  Until we get to where the channel turns west and we we can see the Astoria Bay bridge.  Bam! All of a sudden 15-20 knots on the beam.  The boat lists, we hear the crash of cutlery in the galley, we had not prepared for "sailing" like we should have.  We adjust sails and get pointed the right direction, but the wind is on the nose, so we're tacking across the channel between Miller Sands and Rice Island.  Making headway, but it's a bit nerve wracking.  We power up the engine, drop the sails, and motor the last hour in to Tongue Point, where we anchor.

Our boat tends to "dance" at anchor in the wind, swinging back a forth through as much as a 110 degree arc.  This is even with a 44lb CQR anchor and all chain rode.  The winds keep up, the boat swings back and forth, and then the tide changes and our boat sits broadside to the wind waves.  Every now and then a big one would slap the side of the hull and it would sound like a tree trunk hitting the boat.  Not to worry, eventually the wind died down, the tide changed again, and we had a quiet night.  I did set an anchor monitor with one of the electronics, while we did shift from one side of our anchor to the other (I had 100ft out), we did not drag.  We do have a "riding sail" waiting for us in Astoria that should take much of the swing out of anchoring.