WINDWARD

his is Echo Bay, off the island of Sucia, near Washington’s Roche Harbor. It is late afternoon and you’re coming into an anchorage. Although this is not a well-known yachting center, it is a picturesque little harbor and the image captures a feeling that many sailors will recognize – the feeling of satisfaction you get from making a successful passage through open waters to a safe and serene harbor.
The boat is a Valiant 40 – Valiant being the make of the yacht and 40 being the size-forty feet long. It’s a craft designed primarily for cruising – it’s referred to as a passage-maker as opposed to one that’s designed for racing around buoys in protected waters.