June 5, 2020. We left Port Hadlock early to catch the slack current through Port Townsend Channel. We took low slack because we also had to pass under the Hwy. 116 bridge which has a stated clearance of 57 feet. After consulting the book of charts (tells you what all the chart symbols mean), we find that bridge clearances are stated for mean high tide. Chart depths are for mean low tide and it’s easy to figure that out because mean low tide is zero. A minus tide is less. We were in the middle of a three foot minus tide, but where is mean high? We need 50 feet of clearance for the mast, so we thought it was best to go at low tide, even though the channel is only 25 ft. wide and 12 ft. deep! We draw almost 5 ft. So this is dicey. Plus the current changes rapidly and can get up to 4 kts through there. Yikes!
Port Townsend Channel. 
Entering the channel. 
And under the bridge.
Once past the channel, we put up the sails and were able to sail as far as Port Ludlow (about 5 nm) on a beam reach. I love it when we can sail! So quiet!
The entrance to Gamble Bay is another narrow, shallow channel but is mercifully short. This is a lovely bay with trails and such and we plan to stop here again on the way back. We’ve been here for a few days but leaving tomorrow when we have to go back through this channel and under the Hood Canal bridge. This bridge has a clearance of 50 ft. on the east side, zero in the middle, and 38 ft. on the west side. As previously mentioned, we need 50 feet. Not a problem, you say? Well, this bridge has a huge slant. Where is this 50 feet? I can find no info. One would think it would be measured on the short side (i.e. minimum clearance) but I would really hate to smash the top of our mast into it. So, we leave at the bottom of the ebb and hug the shore (the high side). Wish us luck!
Trail at Gamble Bay. 
Sunset at Gamble Bay 
Gamble Bay
The Great Adventures of Alan and Nancy 