Waldron trip conditions

Seas are modeled significant wave height, accurate to about ±30–50%. They leave out tide rips off points and reefs and any swell from Juan de Fuca. Current is along your track: + pushes you, − holds you back; on the buoy row it is the President Channel current. Underway time runs slip to buoy or buoy to slip: it includes 8 minutes from the slip out to the route on the way out, and on the way back the first 5 minutes at 6 kt while the engine warms up (marked warm-up) plus 5 minutes from the route back to the slip. A leg marked slow assumes you throttle back in big seas: head seas over 2 ft, beam over 3 ft, following over 4 ft. Slip and dinghy ratings use sustained wind and gusts (G); the dinghy scale runs to 18 kt for Challenging, also counts the wind chop at the buoy, and counts northerly wind at half strength since the buoy is sheltered from the north. n/a means the wind isn't forecast that far out yet. Use this for planning and check conditions before you leave.