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Winchester Wasteway Canal, Grant County, Washington

Winchester Wasteway Canal, Lakes and Marshes

Winchester Wasteway Canal (Not to be confused with the Frenchman Hills Wasteway Canal, which is in the same area to the south) system that leads into and through small lakes/ponds and marshes that are teaming with wildlife such as deer, coyotes, otters, beavers, muskrats, and many species of waterfowl and fish. The canal primarily stays in one path the full length finally spilling into the northwest end of the Potholes Reservoirs.

There are only 3 developed public access points on this canal even though one could find some undeveloped access points as well. Be aware wilderness habitat rules via the states website or as posted.

This canal is accessed more than the Frenchman Hills Canal to the south for some strange reason. These two separate canals come within 2 miles of each other but never connect even with small channels.

Winchester canal is a beautiful place to paddle in early summer when the water levels are still up, but when the currents are slower. It's about a 25-mile paddling trip near I-90 interstate highway to the Potholes Reservoir. During spring runoff is the most dangerous time of the year to paddle/boat these canals due to high currents and sweepers. During late summer and later the water level can be very low. Beware of deep mud that can trap up to your knees and deeper. Also bring a 10 pole to help push your way through muddy areas versus trying to walk through, which we do not advise.

We have supplied the access sites here starting at where the canal starts (47°06'08.1"N 119°37'16.1"W, northern most access point), again right by I90 (exit 164) and just below the twin Winchester Wasteway Lakes, heading south, then east passing through some small lakes/ponds (going east) and continuous marsh, Dodson Rd access, through more Marsh and some descending white water and on into Potholes Reservoir.

Depending on what time of year you access the canal indicates how fast the currents will be and how big the rapids will be when getting close to the Potholes Reservoir. Being aware of one's skill level and attention to safety is paramount. Locals advise to be cautious due to potential sweepers and high currents at times. The access point noted below give more details about the potential barriers at various areas of the canal. The rapids are popular with locals but again one should check each rapid before entering it to determine if one should portage around it or if one has the skill to navigate through it. Note that there are two bridges one must be aware of. Depending on water depth you will need to portage around them or pass under them. One bridge is the Dodson Rd bridge and the other is a small pedestrian bridge.

The water can get real shallow and is advised bringing at least a 10 foot/3-meter pole to be able to push your way forward shallow muddy areas. Stepping out of your boat can be very hazardous due to deep mud, which one can get stuck in. If you are alone this can be really dangerous when not being able to get free.

When paddling in the canal or when in some of the small lakes and marsh note that these are wildlife habitat areas and one should stay in your watercraft as accessing the land may not be allowed due to habitat protection, unless portaging around a barrier. Also, a large part of the land around the canal runs through wilderness area but there is also some private property, so this is another reason to stay in your watercraft if noted or posted no trespassing. Due to the canal being a navigable waterway makes it legal to paddle even when passing through private lands, however if the canal is low of water and you are walking in the canal then you are on private land, that is when you are passing through private land. On this note we have not found any trespass issues reported. Again, most of the land is public wilderness area.

This and other canals in the area receive much of their water via the Grand Coulee Dam system to give the local farms the water they need for their crops and to support the wildlife. Most of the water passes through farmland and thus can have farming chemicals in it, thus the reason the canals have the noted word in their titles as wasteways.

ATTENTION watch out for sweepers (trees & brushes) that could sweep you off your watercraft, or worse trap you in the water. Some of these small trees and bushes have dangerously large thorns that can cause serious bodily harm (called Russian Olive Tree). Also, when coming to a fork in the canal, when it doubts go right.

Access Points and Launches

1. S Frontage Rd NW (on south side of I90 and Twin Winchester Wasteway Lakes). This is the furthest developed public access point from the Potholes Reservoir on the canal. On the opposite side of I90, north is Winchester Reservoir. Unfortunately, one cannot pass under the freeway via spillway safely to go between the canal and reservoir. 

There is a gravel parking lot with dirt/gravel/mud launch suitable only for small watercrafts.

If you traverse the whole of the canal, you are looking at about 25-mile trip to the Potholes Reservoir.

Please apply caution in spring runoff or heavy rains, etc. as the current on the canal can be quite strong. I would suggest one study local map via google, etc. to insure one knows the area as it would be easy to get lost (see Google map below). Directions: From Exit 164 off of I90 take S Frontage Rd NW west about 2 miles and one will see the launch gravel parking lot on the southside of the road. If you see the I90 rest area right off this road to the north one has gone too far. Maps: To view a map click on google.com/maps and type in GPS coordinates 47°06'08.1"N 119°37'16.1"W

ACCESSIBILITY: PARKING... Gravel, sand, dirt combo parking lot; PATHS/TRAILS... None; RESTROOMS/FACILITIES/SHADE… None. One could drive west on the road, park along the road and walk into the I90 restrooms, but doing so would not be accessible to the wheelchairs. However, one could get onto I90 to access the accessible restrooms. No designated picnic areas or shaded area at launch site. No trees; DOCKS/LAUNCHES/PLATFORMS… One primitive narrow gravel/dirt/sand/mud launch: DIRECT WATER ACCESS… No access for wheeled mobility devices; TRANSFER SYSTEMS... None; SENSORY... No sensory tactile markers for those with visual and other impairments; CAMPING... No; O.T.H.E.R… Oddities/Barriers: Lots of sand and deep mud during wet times of the year along shoreline; Terrain: Level to about 4% grades; H2O/Water: Water normally murky. Water temperature in the summer can be around 60 to 65 degree. Drinking water not available; Environmental Conditions: High winds and hot summer temperatures; Resources: Food, drinks, and gas in Moses Lake City area.

2. Dodson & Winchester Public Access. This is the second developed public access point progressing south from I90 towards the Potholes Reservoir on the canal. 

There is a simple gravel parking lot with 2 developed yet primitive gravel/sand/dirt/mud launch. One is right next to the parking lot and the other one needs drive out the east side of the parking lot via a short gravel road to the developed launch.

Please apply caution in spring runoff or heavy rains, etc. as the current on the canal can be quite strong. I would suggest one study local map via google, etc. to insure one knows the area as it would be easy to get lost (see Google map below). Directions: From Exit 164 off of I90 take Dodson Rd. S. South past the Audubon Public Trailhead access parking lot until you cross the first bridge and will see the Public Access next to the canal and bridge. Maps: To view a map, click on google.com/maps and type in GPS coordinates 47.053680, -119.554325

Note of interest... Beda Lake public access is just south/down road, with no canal access.

ACCESSIBILITY: PARKING... Gravel, sand, dirt combo parking. One cement accessible parking space for those with vehicle ramp or lift. lot; PATHS/TRAILS... None. Some short primitive single travel sand/mud trails; RESTROOMS/FACILITIES/SHADE… One accessible restroom. No designated picnic areas or shaded area at launch site. No trees; DOCKS/LAUNCHES/PLATFORMS… Two primitive narrow gravel/dirt/sand/mud launch: DIRECT WATER ACCESS… No access for wheeled mobility devices; TRANSFER SYSTEMS... None; SENSORY... No sensory tactile markers for those with visual and other impairments; CAMPING... No; O.T.H.E.R… Oddities/Barriers: Lots of sand and deep mud during wet times of the year along shoreline; Terrain: Level to about 4% grades; H2O/Water: Water normally murky. Water temperature in the summer can be around 60 to 65 degree. Drinking water not available; Environmental Conditions: High winds and hot summer temperatures; Resources: Food, drinks, and gas in Moses Lake City area.

3. Winchester South Public Access. This is the third and final developed public access point progressing south from I90 towards the Potholes Reservoir on the canal. There is a small bridge that crosses the canal for some single-track hiking trails.

There is a simple gravel parking lot with 2 semi developed yet primitive gravel/sand/dirt/mud launch. Basically bank launching. Each access point is on either end of the parking lot, one to the northwest and the other northeast.

When on Rd C SE that takes you to the access point, please note you will pass over the Frenchman Hills Wasteway Canal via the bridge and next to this bridge is the access point into this canal. Some may confuse the Frenchman Hills Wasteway public access with the Winchester canal and access. Keep driving to the end of the road where the Winchester Wasteway public access is located.

Please apply caution in spring runoff or heavy rains, etc. as the current on the canal can be quite strong. I would suggest one study local map via google, etc. to insure one knows the area as it would be easy to get lost (see Google map below). Directions: From Exit 164 off of I90 take Dodson Rd. S. South until this road meets Frenchman Hills Rd W. Turn left/east on this road, it will curve right/south and T into HWY 262/O'Sullivan Dam Rd. Turn left/east onto HWY 262/O'Sullivan Rd and drive approximately 1 mile / If coming from the Potholes Reservoir drive a bit over 5 miles. Turn north turn onto Rd C SE. While on Rd C SE you will pass over a bridge that crosses Frenchman Hills Wasteway Canal, there is an access point at this bridge into this canal. Keep driving north, this road will curve to the right/east as it nears the access point into the Winchester Wasteway Canal. Maps: To view a map, click on google.com/maps and type in GPS coordinates 46.994868, -119.425448

ACCESSIBILITY: PARKING... Gravel, sand, dirt combo parking; PATHS/TRAILS... None. Some short primitive single travel sand/mud trails. One canal crossing bridge to access trail; RESTROOMS/FACILITIES/SHADE… One accessible restroom. No designated picnic areas. The are trees that supply some shade; DOCKS/LAUNCHES/PLATFORMS… Two primitive narrow gravel/dirt/sand/mud bank launching: DIRECT WATER ACCESS… No access for wheeled mobility devices; TRANSFER SYSTEMS... None; SENSORY... No sensory tactile markers for those with visual and other impairments; CAMPING... No; O.T.H.E.R… Oddities/Barriers: Lots of sand and deep mud during wet times of the year along shoreline; Terrain: Level to about 4% grades; H2O/Water: Water normally murky. Water temperature in the summer can be around 60 to 65 degree. Drinking water not available; Environmental Conditions: High winds and hot summer temperatures; Resources: Food, drinks, and gas in Potholes City area.

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2025 Christmas Specials

 

This is a great time of year to purchase our many sailing products

One of our most popular offerings is our Learn-To-Sail gift certificates (with or without a toy sailboat to open on Christmas)... Click Here!

The Malbec18 sportboat/keelboat (has cabin) that we manufacture here in the USA. Click Here!

Our new Historical Lake Coeur d'Alene steamboat chart is still being worked on. Planned release will be July 25th at the first annual Lake Coeur d'Alene Carboard Regatta.

We have great prices on Radio-Controlled and Pond Sailboats, Kites such as Stunt, Pocket, and Floater Kites, Sailing Knives, etc. Click Here!

One can also make a donation to the non-profit Access To Outdoors to support marine access work, accessible sailing, and other projects. To donate email accesstooutdoors@gmail.com

Text 208-704-4454

Email sail@funtosail.com

  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Learn the truth about the history of Thanksgiving in this video or read below...

Meet the American who gave the nation our Thanksgiving origin story: Pilgrim Edward Winslow

Young Mayflower passenger shaped image of Pilgrims and offered only contemporary account of first Thanksgiving

This American told us all about the first Thanksgiving — here's his amazing story

Mayflower passenger Edward Winslow was the only Pilgrim to record the settlers' first year in the New World — including an account of the very first Thanksgiving.

By Kerry J. Byrne

It is the first and greatest American adventure story. 

A small band of Christian devotees, persecuted in their homeland, sought refuge in a forbidden wilderness across the vast ocean aboard a leaky ship in the autumn of 1620. 

Against all odds, following near death at sea, amid privation, disease and frightening loss of life, they planted the seeds of a daring new society. 

Within a few generations their descendants brazenly challenged the world monarchial order with the revolutionary statement that "all men are created equal" and fought to establish the first great constitutional republic.

Click on pic to enlarge

Portrait illustration of Plymouth Colony leader and Pilgrim Edward Winslow (1595-1655), Massachusetts, 17th century. Winslow had sailed on the Mayflower. This portrait, painted in London, is the only contemporary image we have of a Mayflower Pilgrim. (Photo by Interim Archives/Getty Images).

Most everything we know about their first year in what's now Plymouth, Massachusetts, from a contemporary, boots-on-the-ground, first-person source comes from one man.

His name is Edward Winslow. 

"He's a major figure in the Pilgrim story," Tom Begley, director of collections at Plimoth Patuxet Museums (known until 2020 as Plimoth Plantation).

"He had the foresight to write down their story and share it with others."

Winslow wrote a lengthy letter to a friend back in England that has gone down in history as "Mourt’s Relation."

It is the only account, written as it happened, of the Pilgrims’ first year in Plymouth. It is still in print, available on Amazon or at your local bookstore.

Click on pic to enlarge

A depiction of early settlers of the Plymouth Colony sharing a harvest Thanksgiving meal with members of the local Wampanoag tribe at the Plymouth Plantation, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 1621. (Photo by Frederic Lewis/Archive Photos/Getty Images).

"Mourt's Relation" includes Winslow's brief, undated description of a three-day celebration in the autumn of 1621, after "our harvest being gotten in," during which the English settlers and a much larger group of Wampanoag friends feast on fowl and deer.

It is the first Thanksgiving. 

Winslow’s account is the only version of the origin story of our national holiday written by Somebody Who Was There.

Winslow made many other contributions to the Pilgrim narrative. 

He signed the Mayflower Compact, the first self-governing covenant among New World settlers, as the ship floated in Cape Cod Bay on Nov. 11, 1620.

He was the first Pilgrim to meet Wampanoag chief Ousamequin, better known in history as Massasoit.

Click on pic to enlarge

The signatures on the Mayflower Compact of passengers on board the Mayflower in November 1620. The compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. Included are the signatures of William Brewster, William Bradford, Myles Standish and top left, Edward Winslow.  (Photo by Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

"Winslow informed Massasoit that his people desired to have peace with him and engage in trading," James and Patricia Scott Deetz wrote in their 2000 history, "The Times of Their Lives: Life, Love and Death in Plymouth Colony."

The two men bridged a cross-cultural relationship that benefited both sides for several decades before the outbreak of King Phillip's War in 1675.

Winslow also gives us our only look at the face of an actual Pilgrim.

He sat for a portrait in London in 1651 after returning to England to serve its government under Protestant Parliamentarian Oliver Cromwell following the English Civil War. 

All other Pilgrim paintings and portraits were imagined after their time on Earth.

"History records no nobler venture for faith and freedom than that of this Pilgrim band," reads the tomb on a hill overlooking Plymouth Harbor today.

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A monument overlooking the harbor in Plymouth, Massachusetts, marks the site where the Pilgrims buried their dead the first winter of 1620-21, when nearly half of the 100 settlers died. "In hunger and cold they laid the foundations of a state wherein every man through countless ages should have liberty to worship God in his own way," reads the monument.  (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital).

It's the site where the settlers buried their many dead that first winter in the New World.

Winslow gave future generations our eyewitness account of that noble venture.

A frigid New World

Edward Winslow was born on Oct. 18, 1595 to Edward Sr. and Magdalene (Oliver) Winslow in Droitwich Spa, a town in western England that traces its history to Roman settlement.

Click on pic to enlarge

The Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor, Massachusetts, 1620. Painting by William Halsall, 1882.  (Photo by Barney Burstein/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images).

He moved to Leiden, Holland, in 1617 to live among the English separatist colony that produced the Pilgrims. 

He worked as a printer.

He was just 24 when he departed Plymouth, England aboard the Mayflower with his wife Elizabeth (Barker) and younger brother Gilbert on Sept. 16, 1620. 

After a harrowing trip across the ocean and a month spent exploring Cape Cod, the Pilgrims anchored in Plymouth Harbor in late December. They began the seemingly impossible work of carving a new society out of the frozen earth.

Winter on the New England coast is dark, windy and unforgiving even today, with the benefit of modern clothing, home heating systems, electricity and indoor plumbing.

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Plymouth, Massachusetts, January 22: Ice-covered rocks frame the Mayflower ll at its berth in Plymouth Harbor, frozen in place by ice-covered waters as the wind was blowing over 25 mph over the water, with the temperature in the low teens. The Pilgrims landed in Plymouth in late December 1620, at the start of a typically brutal Massachusetts winter. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images).

Yet the Pilgrims landed in the middle of what's known as The Little Ice Age — a 500-year period of unusually cold weather.

England and Holland are north of Plymouth, but also far more temperate. The Pilgrims had never experienced anything as cold as a New England winter.

Death soon gripped the colony. 

"They were probably suffering from scurvy and pneumonia caused by a lack of shelter in the cold, wet weather," writes Plimoth Patuxet Museums.

"As many as two or three people died each day during their first two months on land."

Only 52 of 102 people survived the first year in Plymouth. The Mayflower sailed back to England with only half its crew alive in April 1621.

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People visit the 1627 Pilgrim Village at Plimoth Plantation where role-players portray Pilgrims seven years after the arrival of the Mayflower. The 17th century replica village was the site of the first Thanksgiving in 1621. Thanksgiving Day was established as a national holiday by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863; it's celebrated on the last Thursday of November. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images).

Elizabeth Winslow was among the first winter’s victims. She died on March 24 at age 27 or 28. Pilgrim Susanna White lost her husband, William, in February.

But new life, activity and hope emerged in the spring.

Edward and Susanna married on May 12, the first wedding in the Plymouth Colony. They began having children the following year. 

The Pilgrims in March met English-speaking Wampanoags Samoset and Squanto, who had learned the language from fishing boat captains seeking cod off the New England coast. Through Squanto, Winslow met chief Ousamequin.

The Pilgrims began planting spring crops with the help of the Natives. They enjoyed an abundant harvest that autumn. The relationship appeared to blossom.

"We have found the Indians very faithful in their covenant of peace with us," reports "Mourt’s Relation."

"We often go with them, and they come to us; some of us have been 50 miles by land in the country with them … We entertain them familiarly in our houses, and they as friendly bestowing their venison on us."

Click on pic to enlarge

Engraving depicting American colonial leader Edward Winslow visiting Massasoit, leader of the Wampanoag Native Americans, circa 1641. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images).

The Natives were also overcoming shocking tragedy, notes Begley. Plague was unknowingly carried upon the ships of European explorers. The people of the Americas had no immunity. 

Up to 90% of the Native population of southern New England, according to expert estimates, was wiped out by disease from 1616 to 1619 — an apocalyptic tragedy. 

The Wampanoags were likely seeking hope and a reason to give thanks for their survival, too, in the autumn of 1621.

The first Thanksgiving

The two sides cemented their friendly relations with a grand feast after the autumn harvest.

Winslow described the first Thanksgiving in just 115 words of an extended sentence.

Click on pic to enlarge

A modern recreation of the first Thanksgiving in the autumn of 1621 at Plimoth Patuxet Museums (formerly Plimoth Plantation) in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Only half the Mayflower passengers, about 50, survived the first winter in Plymouth, while at least 90 Wampanoags attended the feast, according to Pilgrim Edward Winslow. (Courtesy of Kathy Tarantola/Plimoth Patuxet Museums).

Winslow wrote, "Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after have a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the company almost a week, at which time amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain, and others."

The celebrants ate fowl — plentiful in the area — and venison. The "harvest" certainly included corn, among other fruits and vegetables.

We learn of Pilgrims eating turkey — later on — only from William Bradford’s history, "Of Plymouth Plantation." The first governor of Plymouth began writing his history in 1630. 

Hidden away for more than two centuries, Bradford's account was not published until 1856. He does not mention the feast. 

The entire Thanksgiving origin story comes from the one passage in "Mourt's Relation."

Click on pic to enlarge

The first Thanksgiving at Plymouth in 1621, painting from 1914. Private Collection. Artist Brownscombe, Jennie Augusta (1850-1936).  (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images).

Winslow's account indicates that the Wampanoags vastly outnumbered the Pilgrims. Massasoit brought 90 men and, historians assume, perhaps an equal number of women and children.  

There were barely more than 50 English settlers in Plymouth at the time.

Winslow, most prophetically, offers the passage that turns the harvest feast into a celebration of Thanksgiving.

"And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

The Pilgrims had gone from the brink of perishing to an abundance "far from want" in one growing season.

Click on pic to enlarge

Pilgrim Edward Winslow, portrayed by Michael Hall, reads a passage from the Bible with Leah Pearl, 8, of Nantucket, as she visited his home at the Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images).

It must have felt like a miracle. 

"The first Thanksgiving marked the conclusion of a remarkable year," writes historian Nathaniel Philbrick in his gripping 2006 book, "Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War."

"By all rights, none of the Pilgrims should have emerged from the first winter alive."

'God-fearing Pilgrim at heart'

Edward Winslow lived a life of more adventure after settling Plymouth and recording its dramatic story for posterity.

He died at sea in the Caribbean reportedly of yellow fever, on May 7, 1655. 

Oliver Cromwell, the victorious Parliamentarian of the English Civil War, reportedly intended to have Winslow serve as governor of the colony in Jamaica.

Click on pic to enlarge

(Engraved portrait of separatist author Edward Winslow, with his signature, 1651.  (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images).

Before his death, Winslow gifted the American people with the miraculous story of the first Thanksgiving.

The survival of the story is itself something of a miracle.

The local governor confiscated anything of value on board, including the clothing of the passengers, "not leaving some of them a hat to their heads, nor a shoe to their feet," according to an account of the drama in the Public Records Office in London.

He also "sent for all their letters; opened and kept what he pleased." 

He did not please, apparently, of Winslow's account of the first year in Plymouth. It made its way to London and was printed as "Mourt's Relation" in 1622.

Mayflower 400, an organization convened to celebrate the quadricentennial of the Pilgrim journey, paid homage to Winslow in 2020: "He died a God-fearing Pilgrim at heart and with him went a very special set of skills that built friendships, won negotiations and established a new way of life in a new land."

This article was originally posted on Fox News.

Lake Coeur d'Alene Steamboats

Here is a list of the known steamboat wrecks on Lake Coeur d'Alene. It is estimated there were approximately 200 steamboats that graced the waters of the lake from 1880, the first one being the Amelia Wheaton to the last passenger steamer 1920 and the ultimate last steam power boat the Tugboat 1943. Boats varied in size to 20-foot pleasure boats called launches, to tugboats of 30-60 feet, to 120-180 ferries.

We have line drawings of 18 steamboats on our Historical Lake Coeur d'Alene Chart that are Not pictured here due to our effort to protecting our art from online thieves, etc. Our chart is available for sale from us at FunToSAIL.com on our online store and at various shows we attended, and in store only at Jakes Dive Shop in Coeur d'Alene Idaho.

Amelia Wheaton... The first steamboat on Lake Coeur d'Alene, August 1880. 160 feet / 000 Meters long

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- Ajax Tug 60'

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- Bonnie Doon (originally name the Milwaukee) 85'

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- Bonanza Tug 82'x12'

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- Colfax (sister ship Spokane) 100'

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- Cougar II Tug 50'

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- Eagle Tug 50'

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- Flyer 130'

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- Georgie Oakes 160'

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- Harrison 150' (take oakes out of name)

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- Idaho 148'

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- Miss Spokane (twin diesel engines) 120'

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- Seeweewana (originally named Hawley’s Comet. Single diesel engine) 65'

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- Spokane 100’x18’

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- St Joe Tug 85' (longest living steamer)

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- St Maries Tug 75'

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- Rutledge Tug (no known pic) 36'

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Biddie (later rebuilt as Biddie II) passenger steamboat built in the 1930's and decommissioned via accidental fire in May 1942.

St. Joe Tugboat, last commercial steamboat. Built in 1899 and decommissioned in 1943.

Columbus Day

Columbus Day is October 12th and also on this day I call it Discovery Day as there were the Vikings and others who also landed in North American (Columbus actually landed in Cuba and the Bahamas). Some indigenous people who are my ancestors crossed the land bridge into North America but who knows maybe some actually traveled on boats as some archologists are suggesting this. There are also some stories of religious groups landing in North, Central, and South America. So, there are a lot of possible landings that took place in discovering of North America, and all of the Americas.

My thought is to celebrate the brave skippers, crew, and passengers that were willing to go out on the unknown seas to discover lands that they had no idea where there but with great faith and spirit of adventure were willing to do what others of their day would not do.

Christopher Columbus should be celebrated for his bravery to cross the unknown seas (4 times) with his entrepreneur spirit to open a shipping route for spices, etc. to and from Asia, but ended up instead creating paths to the Americas. Some did think the world was flat so then there was that attitude he had to deal with. He did not believe the world was flat. He also felt he was bringing the good news of the Gospel of Christ to the world via his voyages. He also had to convince royalty to finance his trip and keep the sailors aboard his ships from killing him. He was a brave man that took many risks to open the oceans to trade and exploration. See the video below...

Columbus in particular was the sailor who started the process that one day would end up creating the freest and prospers nation on earth, the United States of America.

So let us celebrate the spirit of Columbus and all brave sailors who did what seemed impossible.

At FunToSAIL we will start producing Adventure Sailors Series to discuss various ancient voyages that likely happened all over the world and related topics. Stay tuned!

  

JAWS 50th Anniversary

Jaws returned to U.S. theaters for one week, from Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, through Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, for its 50th anniversary.

Jaws was released in theaters on June 20th, 1975, is considered the first blockbuster film of the modern area (some say Gone with the Wind or Disney's Snow White were the first and second, but neither is official). Learn more about this film at this link.

I was 12 years old when this film came out, I and my whole family of 6 went to see it. To say I was a bit freaked out by the shark would be an understatement. At the time I was an active sailor on the ocean aboard my Hobie 14 catamaran, out of Westport WA USA and was also a deckhand at the time. I deckhand on a boat called the Permanant Wave (36' long) that very much looked like the boat in the movie, the Orca. So, the movie was quite acclalabul to my life at the time. My two other brothers were deckhands also. My only sister was not into fishing or boating but very much loved the ocean.

My father with a friend wanted to go out on a boat to catch a white shark (these sharks were not protected at the time) aboard a 16-foot boat right after the movie. Our whole family said, "Dad, no way you're going out on that, did you not watch the movie when those idiots went on various small boats, not turning out well for one in particular." My dad had considered it but decided against it also, smart.

My father was a fish taxidermist and just 2 years later after this film was released he mounted a 16 foot 3200 lb Great White Shark that was caught in Grays Harbor, which is the harbor connected to our hometown, Westport WA. It was caught in 1962 via it swimming into a gillnet and had been in a freezer in Seattle the whole time until my father mounted it in 1977. It was a very difficult mount due to the skin being so hard and some freezer burn. But ultimately it turned out great. I will add a bunch of original and mounted pictures shortly to this article.

I have seen sharks out on the ocean and my life was wrapped around in fishing, fish, sailing, the ocean, and all things sharks all my life and certainly this movie woke me up to the big sharks near me while I sailed and fished.

So, on Monday September 1st, 2025, I treated my family to this movie and dinner at 5 Guys in Coeur d'Alene Idaho. 2 of my boys and my daughter loved it, my wife not so much, but she said, she did have fun going to the movie with her family. My youngest son and wife did not go, saying they are not into movies like this, and I get it as I had invited other friends to go, but no takers. I assume they think the movie is gross, but for me it's simply a silly fun movie to watch, it's a classic for sure.

My sister and brothers and I to this day all watch Shark Week at the same time even though we all live some distance away from each other, but we talk about it with each other. We are all very much still into sharks and love the Jaws movie.

The 100th anniversary of Jaws will be June 20th, 2075, I will be long gone by then unless life extending technology happens soon or Christ returns for his millennium reign, I am counting on the latter.

Pics I took while watching the movie...

Best Sailing Planet and Go Sailing ;)

 

 

Sailboat and Barge Accident

A boating accident that killed 3 girls at a summer sailing camp in Biscayne Bay Florida brings to light the dangers of sailing in a busy channel, particularly on that day with light winds, reducing speed and maneuverability of the sailboat. It appears the 5 girls and a 19-year-old female instructor were in a main navigable channel with little ability to sail at any good rate of speed when they were struck by a tugboat pushing a construction barge. The barge ended on top of the sailboat, a Hobie Getaway (17’ long), with the girls attempting to jump and swim out of the way. 3 of the girls were struck and drowned resulting in their deaths. Very tragic. My thoughts and prayers are with their families. On the side note, all the girls were wearing life jackets.

I live near the Snake River where tugs pushing grain barges are a constant sight. The question has been asked why the tugboat skipper did not stop or avoid the collision. The non boater/land lubber this seems like good questions but for us experienced boaters/skippers its more complex.

Boating rules state that boats with limited draft and maneuverability have rights over boats that are more maneuverable. We all the boat with so called right away as the Stand On Vessel and the boat that does not have right away is Give Way Vessel. In reality both boats need to avoid a collision. And in reality, the small sailboat was the Give Way Vessel. It is likely the tugboat skipper never saw the sailboat due to all the gear and crane on the barge. Big mistake on the tugboat captains' part as you must have a look out on the front of the barge. The sailboat skipper could see the tugboat coming but seemed to not take evasive action well in advance of the accident. It is the skipper's responsibility to be aware of their surroundings and act accordingly to prevent an incident. Some would say the wind was light, which it was, and had no motor, which is correct. The best option would have been to not sail on light days in the channel when busy and to paddle and/or skull the boat out of the way of the tugboat. Channels should be avoided and only crossed when needed. Again, maneuver out of the way well in advance. With an added note, we sailors all know the wind can die without notice, so the sailboat could have had wind and then it died. From the report there is not a note about the wind but in imagens we can tell there is little wind. Also, on very windy days one would not want to capsize in a busy channel resulting in being ran over.

Some might ask what the tugboat captain could have had done. He should have had a lookout or some type of video camera in his cabin showing all in front of the barge. That was his main mistake that likely will cost him legally. What I do not know is if the skipper saw the sailboat but could not maneuver in time. Did he blow his horn, warning the sailboat skipper that might have not been paying attention, or assume the tugboat could maneuver around them (not a correct assumption).

The reality is that the sailboat skipper made a fatal mistake, she was in the wrong and did not take action early enough to avoid getting hit. The tugboat captain had few options due to being restricted to the channel by draft and maneuverability. However, his lack of a lookout is a big problem and breaks a big navigation rule. His main option would have been to slow down at least or put the motors in reverse (if conditions allowed); there really was not much he could do once near the sailboat.

I am not trying to put all the fault on the young female skipper as we all make mistakes but sadly, in this incident, obviously it was a fatal mistake.

My other thought is that this was part of the Maimi Yacht Club sailing program in a busy boat traffic area. Why was there not a support boat looking out for the campers/sailors. And if they had a support boat, why were they not watching sailors in this busy channel. A support boat could have easily moved the sailboat out of the way, out of the channel.

So where is the blame, really it's on all parties… Tugboat captain did not have a lookout and was not blowing his horn, the young skipper did not act soon enough (getting out of the way); And the yacht club did not have proper on the water support. In the end it’s an epic tragedy that could have been avoided, one we all can learn from.

See VIDEO at this link...

https://youtu.be/Ax4x-RZ6aaI?si=g9gKqc6NUw7hjdOm

https://youtu.be/pzfVRdxY5i4?si=E1P6n874g0lGG1LS

This is a continuing investigation

There’s a Pacific Ocean Port in Idaho