Three Beached Boats – Far Far Away Saga Continues

August 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Far Far Away and the two other boats that came to refloat her, are now all beached on the shores of Weather Watch Park.
Last night, we watched the Coast Guard and Seattle Fire Department tow the two sailboats (with masts) with the mastless sailboat following behind, and honestly, I was surprised that they left these boats and crew anchored at this spot. With our current low tides, this seems inevitable that the boats would be beached again.

Photo Credit Meegan Corcoran

Last fall, you may remember the derelict motorboat, Gooey, that the authorities secured to a buoy off of Lowman Park, until the person aboard signaled he and his dog needed help as they were taking on water. They wound up being towed to Don Armeni where the boat sank at the dock later that night… there was a lot to this story too. It seems that more derelict boats are showing up along the shores of Beach Drive (and everywhere).

We are just past this morning’s low tide of -2.5 at 9:26 AM and are heading towards a high tide of 10.7 feet at 2:02 PM.

The story continues…

Read all our post about SV Far Far Away.

Filed Under: Boats, Parks Tagged With: , ,

Neighbors and Strangers Try to Help Far Far Away

August 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Scupper and I happened to be passing by Constellation Park today and decided to check in on how the effort to refloat the beached sailboat Far Far Away was going. Plenty of people were gathered to watch the two people try to free the boat as they resourcefully strung line from Far Far Away to the mastless sailboat with a motor.

Someone in the crowd said “let’s help” and then a group of kind people gave it all they had to assist the grateful sailors.


Alas, it seems that the tides were just shy of being enough of what would free this boat this afternoon.

Scupper went back with water and wound up giving it a second try with another group of people who wanted to help.

I’m sure they’ll keep trying as tides will continue to get higher through the 15th of August.

I am very touched by those who paused their day today and came together to offer help.

Next daytime hightide is tomorrow at 4:45 pm.

Read all our post about SV Far Far Away.

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Update on the Grounded Sailboats off of Constellation Park

August 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Get the popcorn out people. The saga continues with SV “Jimothy” joining SV Far Far Away on the south beach of Constellation Park. (Pic of both)

The shallow draft, mastless boat was spotted yesterday motoring northward along the shores of Beach Drive stumbling over a few shoals before anchoring near the other grounded sailboat that’s been drawing crowds of onlookers for over a week now.

Refill that popcorn bowl for how the small sailboat anchored out about 200’ from the grounded boats made its way there. One of the two crew members, being cheered on by 2 dogs on the bow actually towed the sailboat with her small kayak all the way from the 4900 block of Beach Drive. That is approximately 1.25 miles!

The determination of these two boaters to refloat Far Far Away is pretty amazing. Tide levels will undoubtedly be key for this effort & tides are forecasted to increase up to an 11.9 by August 15th. The other obstacle is just how far the boat has been pushed by waves up the beach towards the seawall. Even a king tide might not free its keel from the beach. Maybe just maybe, the rumored owners of Far Far Away will “abandon” their hopes of refloating her and pull the mast & rigging for their shallow draft boat Jimothy which shouldn’t have any problem getting off the beach with a higher tide.

Scupper, reporting for the BDB

PS. I’ll be on assignment for the next few days so I will miss how this all unfolds. Please keep me informed in the comments section!

EDITORS NOTE: Scupper came up with the name “Jimothy” for the mastless sailboat that is now part of this ongoing story. The boat appears to be nameless and without registration.

Read all our post about SV Far Far Away.

Filed Under: Boats, Parks, Scupper Tagged With: , ,

Grounded Sailboat Off of Constellation Park Update

August 7, 2026 by 2 Comments

It appears that the rumored “captain” of Far Far Away has returned to the boat that has been re-beached off the shores of Constellation Park. He and a crew member arrived sometime yesterday with two dogs in a separate sailboat that is towing another boat (sailboat without a mast) and are anchored off around the 4900 block of Beach Drive. The rumored captain and crew heading towards Constellation Park along the shoreline.

The SV Jimmothy as seen on the southside of Harbor West Condos

Our intrepid reporter, Scupper, has this from the field.

The Department of Natural Resources has issued a Notice of Intent to Obtain Custody for the vessel Far Far Away.

Photo Credit: Scupper – Intrepid Reporter for Beach Drive Blog

The boat has been declared as derelict and/or abandoned and per the attached notice, DNR intends to take custody of the vessel on August 24, 2026. The owner is responsible for all related costs.

The gentleman from the parks department who posted the notice mentioned that they are overwhelmed with derelict boats, much the same as the rundown RVs.

The notice was published due to the numerous calls they received.

UPDATE: The “crew” member managed to tow the sailboat that was off 4900-ish block of Beach Drive via a kayak with their two dogs cheering her on for 2 km!

The fleet was reunited on Saturday afternoon.

Read all our post about SV Far Far Away.

Filed Under: Boats, Parks Tagged With: , , ,

Sailboat Grounded Again

August 2, 2026 by 1 Comment

The sailboat that recently grounded near the condos off Beach Drive has landed ashore again off Constellation Park.Sailboat Far Far Away

We’ll see if she’s able to float with the next high tides.

Read all our posts about SV Far Far Away.

Filed Under: Boats, Parks Tagged With: ,

New Mural at Emma Schmitz Viewpoint

May 31, 2025 by Leave a Comment

Have you seen the new mural at Emma Schmitz Viewpoint? Community volunteers plus Lafayette Elementary students created this mural, spearheaded by neighbor Dave Stockert.

Photos compliments of Beach Drive neighbor, Gretchen.

Video from BDB’s sponsor….me! 🙂

Filed Under: Art, Parks

Poisoned Mice found in Mee Kwa Mooks Woods

March 8, 2025 by Leave a Comment

Two separate posts on Facebook warn of poison being spread in the wooded trails of Mee Kwa Mooks park. We have not personally gone to the park to verify, however we feel it’s important to err on the side of caution and share this. Hopefully this person is caught asap. This photo was taken from Facebook.

Filed Under: Crime, Parks, Pets, Safety Tagged With: , , , ,

About those Signs in the Parks

November 27, 2024 by Leave a Comment


Our city would like to hear our opinions about the “Alki Point Healthy Street”.  You can scan the QR code in the photo or use this link.

Filed Under: Parks Tagged With: ,

The Hallberg Memorial Bench

November 3, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Hi Rhonda, I meant to send you this long ago. Here is a bit about the memorial benches and a story Ada wrote. Please use any or all if it fits for the blog. As ever, thanks for all you do. Sincerely, Tia

My folks dear neighbor Ed Marcus arranged for a memorial for Ada and Bob Hallberg; both of them did a lot to build community, preserve our natural spaces and the history of the area.  Their memorial bench sits on Beach Drive at the foot of Jacobsen road and next to another memorial bench for a significant community activist, Suzy King. Ada and Suzy, worked to gather community involvement and support so that together they could preserve the green spaces and unobstructed views of the water that we all can enjoy today as we walk and drive along beach drive. Weather watch park, Mee Kwa mooks and more only exist today because people came together on an issue they agreed upon and they made it happen. The activism by my mother, Ada, Suzy and others made a difference. And their likemindedness override their differences. Ada’s description of “This Peaceful Spot” reminds us of the joy of having public access to the treasured beauty that surrounds us here.

This Peaceful Spot by Ada Hallberg
With my head down, I push along the rocky beach near Alki Lighthouse. A surge of the southwest wind is invigorating. I press my hands into my pocket as I plunge along. Out of the bay crisp caps of white froth appear like beaten egg whites. On the brink of the clear waves they foam against crystal water.
This is the beautiful picture I took for granted in my childhood. In my adulthood, as well – this incomparably beautiful sight, set off by the Olympic Mountains and the forest across the smooth calm of Puget Sound.
I feel the full strength of the wind as I round the Point — or, Constellation Park.
Carefully I cross the clay outcropping that folds, one over the other, even more exposed than they were ten years ago. Then, University of Washington Professor Dixie Lee Ray would often stand on the outcroppings in any kind of weather, lecturing her class on the beach’s biological and geological features:
“The crust of the earth is layered; it can fold up, it can buckle, and sometimes the parts beneath become exposed.” As one of her listeners, I wondered: was she talking about the clay? I had intended to phone her about that.
At 63rd Street I climb from the beach onto some large, black rocks; it is easy to step on one then another, until I get up to the sidewalk. I walk along and the beach is not within my view because the houses and apartments are close together.
After a half dozen blocks of walking on the sidewalk, I squeeze back down to the beach at Andover Street, using an obscured path in an overgrown area past a holly tree and over a pile of chopped wood.
I feel that I have intruded into a private space, although a few years ago the Grad family and Fred Fletcher bought this beach property and assured access for the public.
There used to be a spot on the beach here, somewhere, a bit sheltered in the wind. Ahh, yes, here it is: a quiet pool of water behind this log. Wait a minute! What is this? The body of a dead seagull in great disarray is floating, its neck all askew, its body bloated, its feathers discolored and matted. A rusty can with a partially attached label. At first I start to examine… Ohh, what’s the use!
Deliberately I look away towards the north. In my sight a davenport is sitting on the beach among the sand and rocks. Kelp is wrapping around the arm, some draped across the back; pillows are following off.
Waves dully roll in, now close to shore. There is a lethargy about these waves: the clearness gone from their crests; with slumped shoulders they push in. I turn my back and make my way to the sidewalk. Soon I will be at my destination, Carroll Street and Beach Drive. It is only a mile from where I began my walk at the lighthouse. I look forward to sitting in the small cove at the foot of Carroll Street, across from the Rustica Restaurant.
Finally arriving, I walk down to the small comfortable beach and lie among the logs. This 150 feet of waterfront is still open to the public, and most of us think it always will be; though we may be wrong about that. But for now, I will enjoy this peaceful spot.
Filed Under: Books, Parks, People

Car beached at Cormorant Cove Park

April 17, 2023 by 2 Comments

We were alerted this morning by a Beach Drive neighbor, “Indie Mike”, that a vehicle was on the beach at Cormorant Cove Park.


Another Beach Drive neighbor who was passing by informed me that earlier in the morning, a tow truck was on the scene with fire and rescue to try to remove the car. Their was a huge emergency response around 6:10 am.

The vehicle seems to be lodged on rocks.

Low tide is 3.2 feet at 10:06 am.

When we first heard about this incident, we assumed that perhaps the ramp along the condos was how the car accessed the beach. Apparently, the driver opted for the sidewalk and plowed through the grass.

We don’t know if it was trying to catch the Walla Walla or why someone drove the car through the park. We hope everyone is okay.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Parks, Puget Sound Tagged With: , , ,
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