Pacific Northwest in August

Oct 24, 2010
2,405
Hunter 30 Everett, WA
Is anyone planning a sail in Puget Sound, San Juan's, Gulf Islands this August. WereWtrying to decide where we'll go. Not much of it is new to us.

Sitting in Friday Harbor this morning. Nice morning.

Ken
 

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Jan 5, 2017
2,390
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
I think we will still be out on the west coast of Vancouver Island in Aug. Not really planning to get home much before the end of Sept. I know it's sometimes hard to find new places to go in the SJ and Gulf Islands but I still manage after 64 years sailing in the area. (or maybe I forget I've been there! )IMGP0137.jpegThis is Lund the other morning. Great weather so far this Spring.
 
Dec 25, 2000
5,932
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Sitting in Friday Harbor this morning.
Hi Ken, is that F dock in the background, which puts you on G dock? Good time to be there; quiet.

Let see, yes we will be out in August but not sure where. Some new place suggestions:
Watmough Bay
Annette Inlet
Skull Island
Clam Bay
Pirates Cove
Buchart Cove
Todd Inlet
Selby Cove
Shoal Bay
Barlow Bay
Vendovi Island
Lasqueti Island
 
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jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,141
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Ken. Still vague on my schedule but August is a possible time I can get up there for 10 days give or take. I'll let you know.
 
Oct 24, 2010
2,405
Hunter 30 Everett, WA
That was G dock. We were on H49 (way out by the end). I just felt lucky to get slips on a long weekend.

Ken
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,141
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
A long weekend with new sails... So tell us how they felt cruising your boat under new sail power.
 
Oct 24, 2010
2,405
Hunter 30 Everett, WA
New sails. Motor sailed a bit going north. Mostly wind on our nose. From deception Pass to San Juan wind was okay for most of it. We had some big chop with wind oposing the current. On the way back we needed wind to make them work. Nothing crossing the Straights. The wind came up too much after we we're tied up at Port Townsend. Now all glass as we are headed home.

Previous day sails we're great.

Ken
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,141
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Nice. I love that run across the Strait to PT. Big water. Swells. Wind from the West. Boat surfing. Just a bit of an issue dousing the sails. Like to sneak into the bay on the south side of Pt Wilson to bring down the sails using the shelter of the headland to smooth the water.
Last time I went into Port Hudson I swear they removed a buoy that served to mark the entrance to thru the break water.
 
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Oct 24, 2010
2,405
Hunter 30 Everett, WA
Okay, we leave Everett for the San Juans August 5th. We need to be in Friday Harbor on August 10th and 19th. Then we plan to head to Canada and back to Everett on the 30th. Any meetup dates or places we should be able to accommodate?
 
Nov 21, 2007
673
Beneteau Oceanis 34 Kingston, WA
After seeing it mentioned a couple of times this summer, we visited Watmough Bay on Sept. 18th from Port Townsend. The weather had been a little uncertain for a couple of mostly 'South' sounders, but after only a slight mistake in the timing of our departure from Port Townsend, we managed to sail on a beautiful day from the Point Partridge buoy all the way up to Watmough Bay in about 7-8 kts of wind using our new code 0. What an awesome three hour sail for us!!!

As for Watmough Bay itself; a great place, compact, amazingly scenic, easy access to a nice gravel beach and a couple of hiking trails. We hiked the trail up to Chadwick Hill, which Washington Trails Assoc. lists as being 470 ft., some of the trail may be a bit difficult depending on your level of agility. We arrived on a Tuesday at about 12:30 - 13:00 and we were the second boat there. By sunset, there were a total of 10 boats anchored or grabbing one of three mooring buoys put there by someone... the following night we were in MUCH larger Reid Harbor on Stuart Island with only 10 boats. Watmough is listed as a favorite of one of Wagonner's contributors, but another guide book author that we like seems to hate the place. We were there on a a very calm day and night and loved it. Thanks for the recommendation!
 

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May 20, 2016
3,015
Catalina 36 MK1 94 Everett, WA
I like Watmough when the wind is right. Especially the ball next to the cliff
5E4B11F7-8CB8-4E33-8156-45AB2DD61A5B.jpeg

Otherwise go into Barlow Bay.
 
Dec 25, 2000
5,932
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Watmough is listed as a favorite of one of Wagonner's contributors, but another guide book author that we like seems to hate the place.
Hmm. Really like Watmough Bay. Been there many times both in a blow and beset by calm. Held well and seldom see many boats anchored. Nice run for us through Deception Pass and across the water in nice weather. Long SW fetch from the Strait that can stir up a lumpy sea in a blow.

Only boat there in a blow during a winter cruise a year or so ago. Later a schooner shows up and drops maybe a hundred yards away. Checked my landmark before turning in and had not moved, but the schooner appeared a bit closer; hard to tell in the dusk. Early the next morning checked my landmark again and no change, but the schooner was right next to me. Getting ready to leave for home port anyway so hoisted anchor and departed.
 
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