Day Sailing from Elliot Bay, Seattle

[Blake]

We will be staying on our 26ft sailboat at Elliot Bay Marina in June. We have obligations in the city so will be limited to mostly day sails and one overnighter. We are Montana lake sailers so tides,currents, shipping, and fog will be new additions to the adventure. Any advice on destinations or hazards would be appreciated. Blake Island is already on the agenda.

 

[Mikem]

Your choices from Elliott Bay are numerous. I don't have a chart in front of me so distances are approximate. Blake Island is a great first choice and that is maybe 5 nm. 8nm west of that through Rich Passage is the new Bremerton Marina. You can see carriers in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, walk the new boardwalk in downtown Bremerton and tour the destroyer Turner Joy. Directly across from Bremerton is Port Orchard and the Port Orchard Marina. Fun shops along the waterfront. North of Bremerton about 8nm is the Brownsville Marina. There you will find a small store and deli. North of Brownsville about 5 nm is the Port of Poulsbo and the Poulsbo Marina. Great little town to walk around and a second hand marine store called Longship Marine. Again north of Poulsbo through Agate Pass is the port of Kingston and the Kingston Marina...maybe 12 nm from Poulsbo.

You must be very mindful of the currents through Rich Passage and Agate Pass unless you have a 50hp motor on your Mac. The currents in both passes can reach 7 kts. Get a copy of the Washington State ferry schedules and note the published routes. They are deceptively fast AND BIG. Watch their wake if close aboard. Fog in July should not be an issue.

Have fun. You picked a great month and a very centrally located marina from which to launch your day sails.

 

[Jared1048]

We will be staying on our 26ft sailboat at Elliot Bay Marina in June. We have obligations in the city so will be limited to mostly day sails and one overnighter. We are Montana lake sailers so tides,currents, shipping, and fog will be new additions to the adventure. Any advice on destinations or hazards would be appreciated. Blake Island is already on the agenda.

Eagle Harbor across the channel to the west of you is great (bainbridge island). When approaching be sure to keep the red buoy to your right or else you will run aground. Very simple to navigate if you have a chart.

Kingston if you have enough wind to get you down there. Its north of eagle harbor by about 10 miles.

Port madison is inbetween the two. No major navigational issues to worry about really.

Keep your head on a swivel as the big cargo ships travel at 20 some knots and sneak up on you quick as do the ferries. They usually let you know if your in there way or change course slightly.

 

[Blake]

Thanks

I appreciate the info. Found all those places on a chart that came with the boat. The boat originally came from Seattle, and this will be the first time it has returned to the sea. Thanks again forty's tips.

 

[timvg]

I'm envious. We used to live on our boat in Elliott Bay and miss all of the locations that Mike mentioned above. Great, great area