Going sailing!

Nov 21, 2012
587
Yamaha 33 Port Ludlow, WA
I'm taking my 2 adult children out for a sail on Tosca next week. Rough plan is to leave Port Ludlow on Sunday, make our way up the east side of Whidbey, then either through the Swinomish Channel or Deception pass to Lopez Island. Plans are indeterminate after that, other than a stop in Port Townsend for pizza at Waterfront before we're back in Port Ludlow the following Saturday. Always interested in meeting up with other SBO forum members if you're out and about.
 
Dec 25, 2000
5,703
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Recommend a day or two stop at Watmough Bay on the Southeast side of Lopez. Well worth a twenty minute hike to the top of the cliff. Very good anchorage close in to shore in about ten feet of water at mid tide. Bring good hiking shoes. A couple of spots need a short scramble, otherwise a noteworthy effort.
 
Oct 22, 2014
20,995
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Leaving Port Ludlow cruising at about 5.5 knots will take 4.5 hrs with the tides to reach Langley. Running up the Saratoga passage will be roughly another 4 hours to find Deception or to reach La Conner. Timing the passage through the ditch or Deception are the control points of the east side journey.

La Conner has a good marina and nice restaurants. Deception has a couple of great anchorages should the tidal “Force” be against you.

Port of Everett has the welcome mat out with their newly developed guest docks.

Lombardi’s has very tasty Italian food. Scuttlebutt is Pub food to comfort you.
 
Nov 21, 2012
587
Yamaha 33 Port Ludlow, WA
That all sounds great. We're looking for the gamut from steep hikes to pub crawls.
 
Nov 21, 2012
587
Yamaha 33 Port Ludlow, WA
Plans changed (of course) as our departure on Monday 5/24 was greeted by 20+ knots of wind as we crossed Hood Canal and Foulweather Bluff. With the crew new to sailing and me essentially single handing, we called an audible and returned to port. Next day we headed up to Port Townsend and hiked 6.5 miles around Fort Worden, then walked to Uptown and had oysters at Finisterre. Great place, BTW. We headed back to PL the next day and hunkered down for the 30kts of wind forecasted for Thursday, which arrived on schedule. Drove over to Ft Flagler and hiked around for a bit and watched a sailboat bash southbound off the point in a mess of wind vs. current mayhem. I was glad to be on shore.

We headed out again on Friday to the east side of Whidbey and after many tacks up Saratoga Passage, we anchored in Elger Bay. Great holding and protection from the North wind. Got up early on Saturday and anchored off Cama Beach. Dinghied ashore and hiked the trails, which offered great views in glorious sunshine. Time was not on our side though, so we mostly motored back to PL in preparation for an early Sunday departure for home. All in all a grand time.
 

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Dec 25, 2000
5,703
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Elger Bay
Huh! Been by Elger Bay many times over the years, but never anchored there. Must give it a try. Nice trip write-up, though. Seems you had a good time with some great pics.
 
Oct 22, 2014
20,995
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Great write up and pictures. Tucking in to avoid a blow is smart seamanship. Fortunately the Saratoga Passage is wide enough to afford a tacking experience. Been by Elger’s Bay many times. Always questioned the depth. Heard that the sand bar is nice enough that you could careen your boat and scrub barnacles off the bottom at low tide.

Fair winds and bright sunny days for the 2021 sailing season.
 
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