Archipelago

The Flathead Archipelago

 Definition of archipelago
1 : an expanse of water with many scattered islands
2 : a group of islands
3 : something resembling an archipelago 

 A recent change in life means this summer is open to sailing. More sailing opportunity then I've had in the last decade. And I intend to use every single weekend I can. The official start of the sailing year is Junteenth weekend. And it's my intent to explore something I've had very little experience with. The stretch of water I'm calling the Flathead Archipelago. Sometimes called "The Narrows". 

 Flathead Lake is both fed and supplies stretches of the Flathead River. The river flows in from the north and out from the south. And if you move from the main body for the the lake in the north to Polson Bay in the south you'll pass through The Narrows. And if you look at a map and squint a bit you'll find the archipelago. The main bodies of terra firma are the Bull Islands, Little and Big. And to the west you find bays and inlets, tiny islands and other bodies of water and land just ripe to explore And that is what I plan on doing the weekend of Juneteenth.

 Now the reason I bring up the lake is that Flathead lake has a current. It's not much. Maybe one or two knots. And it's definitely not going be noticed in a speed boat under power or a keel boat with any sort of wind. But in a multi-chine plywood boat eleven and a half feet long you'll notice it. When the Typesetter and I circumnavigated the Bull Islands we encountered this current and it stopped us almost in our tracks. It's odd feeling to have a full sail and simply not be able to gain on a landmark.

 The plan is for the annual Finley Point Messabout to take place on Saturday, June 19th at Finley Point State Park.To get to the messabout the plan is take the S/V Kat Boat south from Big Arm State Park and sail across the lake to get to Finley Point. I've done this once before and it was an absolutely epic passage. Long enough to feel like you had really done something but no so long you were bored. We had scattered light squalls all day and in the end were were chased down by a solid black wall from the north. Throw in some equipment issues and good hands and it was a rollicking good time. But now that it's my second rodeo I have a few plans this time around.

 Just to the north west of The Narrows is a bay with protection to the east and west called Cat Bay. It is, as are most bays on Flathead surrounded by houses. The land bordering is private. But it may be just the spot to drop a lunch hook and prepare for the journey through the rest of the archipelago. If we get on the water early enough and the weather is at all decent spending a few hours just gunkholing may be just the thing to start the season. I know I can't wait. 

Cat Bay, Flathead