What do you think of this area for sailing in late August? Any travel advice would be appreciated. How much time would you give it?
Thanks!
Mike S.
H26
Portland, Or
Thanks!
Mike S.
H26
Portland, Or
Port Townsend to Port Angeles
- Thread starter mschoap
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Be ready for fog. The Strait always seems to have morning fog that time of year and sometimes it doesn't burn off.
Like so much in the northwest Port Townsend to Port Angeles is beautiful country. You've heard of the Bermuda Triangle? Well, the opposite is the Green Triangle which goes from Port Townsend to Port Angeles to Friday Harbor (which includes Victoria).
The one caution is to watch the currents and the wind at Port Townsend--when they oppose you can have choppy sea.
Port Townsend is a delightful town with wonderful shops and several great restaurants, one breakfast place is probably number one in the country. Two excellent marinas. The north one is right in town.
Port Angeles has several wineries and the people are very friendly. Park you boat and take the ferry over to Victoria for the day. Excellent day trip.
With the wind coming down the strait you would have a beam reach going over to San Juan channel and you could stop at either Fisherman Bay on your right and Friday Harbor on you left. When I think of paradise I think of this area.
Hope you have a great trip. I could spend several weeks in these waters.
The one caution is to watch the currents and the wind at Port Townsend--when they oppose you can have choppy sea.
Port Townsend is a delightful town with wonderful shops and several great restaurants, one breakfast place is probably number one in the country. Two excellent marinas. The north one is right in town.
Port Angeles has several wineries and the people are very friendly. Park you boat and take the ferry over to Victoria for the day. Excellent day trip.
With the wind coming down the strait you would have a beam reach going over to San Juan channel and you could stop at either Fisherman Bay on your right and Friday Harbor on you left. When I think of paradise I think of this area.
Hope you have a great trip. I could spend several weeks in these waters.
Port Townsend eel grass protection zone
In Port Townsend there is an eel grass protection zone where they don't want people to anchor in. There is a map on the Port of Port Townsend *.pdf file:
http://www.portofpt.com/EelGrass.pdf
Here is another link: http://www.jcmrc.org/projects/project-pteelgrass.html
Fog: yes, there will be fog.
Wind: If the inland ever heats up (it's been a fairly cool and wet summer so far but that can change), the afternoon will likely have 35 to 40 knt westerly down the Strait.
So, for planning purposes: In the morning there can be no, or very little wind, and lots of dense fog. Then later in the morning the fog starts to burn off as the sea breeze sets in. In the afternoon the warm inland land mass sucks the cooler ocean air in and voila!, steamy whitecaps. Probably not fun to beat to weather in.
Port Townsend Chart: http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18464.shtml
Strait of Juan de Fuca, Eastern Part:
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18465.shtml
Protection Island: One is not allowed to go ashore there.
John Wayne Marina (Sequim Bay): South of the breakwater it is fairly shoal and then the bottom falls off pretty suddenly. There are local boats on mooring buoys that have figured out the swing radius so anchoring in that area will be a challenge. One may be able to get a slip at the marina or just find another area to anchor.
Chart with Sequim Bay: http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18471.shtml
If you wind up staying over night here, this is a great place to hop across the Strait and go to Victoria.
In Port Townsend there is an eel grass protection zone where they don't want people to anchor in. There is a map on the Port of Port Townsend *.pdf file:
http://www.portofpt.com/EelGrass.pdf
Here is another link: http://www.jcmrc.org/projects/project-pteelgrass.html
Fog: yes, there will be fog.
Wind: If the inland ever heats up (it's been a fairly cool and wet summer so far but that can change), the afternoon will likely have 35 to 40 knt westerly down the Strait.
So, for planning purposes: In the morning there can be no, or very little wind, and lots of dense fog. Then later in the morning the fog starts to burn off as the sea breeze sets in. In the afternoon the warm inland land mass sucks the cooler ocean air in and voila!, steamy whitecaps. Probably not fun to beat to weather in.
Port Townsend Chart: http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18464.shtml
Strait of Juan de Fuca, Eastern Part:
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18465.shtml
Protection Island: One is not allowed to go ashore there.
John Wayne Marina (Sequim Bay): South of the breakwater it is fairly shoal and then the bottom falls off pretty suddenly. There are local boats on mooring buoys that have figured out the swing radius so anchoring in that area will be a challenge. One may be able to get a slip at the marina or just find another area to anchor.
Chart with Sequim Bay: http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18471.shtml
If you wind up staying over night here, this is a great place to hop across the Strait and go to Victoria.
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