San juan island cruising

[seamansg]

We spent a week cruising the San Juans in our Capri 22 in July 2010. We had a great time and were pretty much the smallest boat at Spencer Spit and Echo Bay on Sucia. It didn't mean we had any less fun than the others though.

Never actually anchored, we used the state moorings, but I had along 2 claw anchors in case I needed them. 5 kg rated for my boat and a 7.5 kg rated for a larger boat.

The current in Rosario Strait on the way back to Anacortes was running fairly strong so we pretty much motorsailed across at a 30 degree angle. No real problems to speak of for most of the trip. Snagged some kelp on the way out of Friday Harbor, which was briefly exciting (stopped us dead in our tracks), and we got severely waked by a big stinkpot in Guemes Channel on the way back to Anacortes. That would have been lot less annoying if I'd remembered to dog the bow hatch before we left Friday Harbor that morning. I think we took about 5 gallons of water aboard; I was pissed, at myself and the ***hole in the stinkpot.

I'm putting together a group cruise at the end of July. So far it looks like we've got 2 Capri 22's, a Catalina 22 and maybe a Mac 25 interested.

Hi did you guys change the the cruise date? Thought it was going to be in earlly in july.

 

[sinnettc]

Hi did you guys change the the cruise date? Thought it was going to be in earlly in july.

It's still late July/early August. Date hasn't changed, though there was some discussion of pushing it out a week, but no commitment from the person who suggested it.

We have too many grandkid birthdays in late June/early July for the Admiral to allow a trip then. :naughty:

 

[Dave Groshong]

Currents are the biggest problem here; get to know how to calculate the times of Ebb, Flood, Direction of current and velocity. 70% of the summer is motoring, so have a super reliable outboard.

Plan your daily itinerary around the currents, and of course always go with them!

 

[Dave Groshong]

August is the best month! June can still be a bit rainy.

 

[seamansg]

You are aware that folks have sailed there without GPS, right?

A Danforth is a useless anchor unless it is only being used for a stern anchor or for kedging off - it is a one directional anchor. Get a Bruce, Manson Supreme or Rocna. Or use the moorings.

Your boat will do just fine - we had one for many years in the early 80's - super strong.

Try the attachment for some good ideas.

A gps is alittle expensive,and I used a chart for my first 3 years. I hear you can get charts right from your iphone for free.You may want to look into that that way you'll have a phone and a chart.

 

[sinnettc]

Smart phone will work and Navionics is pretty cheap (compared to the PC version). The only problem is that your battery life will be drastically reduced if you don't have a way to power it. Charts, a compass, and a pair of Mark 1 eyeballs will do the job too.

That said, I'll have a Lowrance HDS-5 chart plotter, laptop with OpenCPN, android phone with Navionics and Boat Beacon, and paper charts. The plotter and charts for use under way, the laptop for route planning, and the phone for a backup and periodically checking the AIS when we're crossing Rosario Strait or running down Wasp Passage with a ferry on our tail. I'll probably take my old handheld GPS along as a backup.