The Circumnavigation of Bull Island

Majestic Flathead as can only be seen from the water.

 The sailing year has been a busy one. And another check of the old bucket list with a  mighty sail around Bull Island on Flathead Lake. The plans for the day were much grander but if we missed the stars we hit the moon. The craft for this grand challenge was my trusty Piccup Pram Lazy Shamrock. Primarily because the Lido is laid up with a bum boom. Nothing a few hose clamps and Guerilla Tape couldn't fix but until the new boom shows up it's moved up to primary boat.
 The plan was to head north out of Finley Point, through the narrows and maybe take a peak at Big Arm Bay from the south. We didn't get anywhere near that far but it was a good thought.
 We arrived early and launched. Finley Point is not set up for sailboats but we rowed out and raised the rig. A brisk breeze blew us towards the narrows and we tacked back and forth with our objective, the narrow passes between the Bull Islands in sight.

They look close don't they?

The Typesetter at the helm.

There were very few boats out this early in the season.

 What we did not know was we were fighting a two knot current from the north. Now Flathead has no tide but we were sadly unaware of the NS current that is a result of the outlet of the lake into a river to the north. So we tacked. Tried to get the angle, tacked again. Had the angle, lost the angle, tacked again. And again. And again. We first aimed at the east channel. No go. So we headed for the west channel. Now there was an outcropping of rocks with a navigation maker on it near the entrance of the narrows. As we tried to make our way north we must have passed it more then half a dozen times. Never getting closer but getting good angles on it.

I have the feeling the seagull was as perplexed as we were.

 Now as things happen landfall for a vary obvious reason was needed. Now one of the things about Flathead is a huge portion of the land surrounding is privately held. Outside of the established campgrounds and fishing accesses it's private land surrounding the lake. We didn't care much and fell off to to the west looking for a good beach. Now one thing the Piccup does well is this type of gunkholing.  After a decent reach we found a beach that fit what we needed. Mainly a place to put the boat. The shore was not maintained and littered with deadfall and other storm debris. But we made a decent landing, got what needed taken care of and posed for pictures.

Our beach of choice.

First real landing we've done.

He's just happy we made it to land.

 Due to a funneling wind into the pass between Big and Little Bull we added a reef and shoved off. After determining the reef was not necessary we shook it out and started the two dozen or so tacks that would head us north to the bottom of the lake proper. The Piccup throughout this showed excellent manners and we managed a decent headway to windward. It was during this time we saw some bald eagles perched on a tree and the resort boat Shadow out for what we figured was a shakedown cruise. It was simply lovely sailing.

This guy was quite noisy. Baldies sure sound different then what you think.

Shadow does not corner. It drifts.

The point of Finley Point.

Returning to the barn.

Due west.

 As we rounded the point the wind all but died. The Typesetter took to the ash spanker and we made good time around the other side of the island and on into Finley Point. I did my part by steering and doing a Facebook Live session while he rowed. Storms were forecast for that evening and as we put the boat away it was obvious we had gotten off the lake in time. And the wind picked up. So after our traditional McDonalds meal we headed home. We had a great time and got a feeling for what the east shore of the lake holds. I will say it's much more hit and miss with the winds from what we have experienced on the western shore. However Finley point is one of only two locations in the state park system where you are allowed to sleep on your boat while docked. So it has that going for it.
 As my myself and the Inland Packet line we have ordered plans for a new boat. A Michalak FatCat2. It ticks the boxes of being cat rigged, decent size, a place to get out of the weather and a gaff rig. Hope is to splash early summer of 2019. But more on that later.