Just passed Race Rocks as the clock nears nine in the evening. Wind is decent, but it is on the nose. The decision for the night is to keep motoring until daylight, for a few reasons. I am pretty tired, so motoring will be a bit more relaxing. This is the first time I have sailed with the dinghy up front, and I am concerned it would catch on the sheets if we went on a tack. And although Juan de Fuca is wide on paper, it starts to feel narrow when you have to tack between the Traffic Separation Zone and the shore. Currently I have a knot of current pushing me along, the boat is doing seven to eight, and I am only running 1,800 RPM.

The real last reason, in case the others were not quite enough, is that with the engine on, the cabin is cosy.