Some harbor a fear of transiting Deception Pass in a displacement hull boat. Much of this fear comes from lore about past mishaps that have become more of a fable than fact. Before I made my first transit, I shared this apprehension. Now, however, after many times through here is what I have experienced, a smooth passage with cliffs and greenery to marvel, a passage that cuts many miles off of alternative routes.
Utmost of importance is to transit during slack water where it becomes a nonplus event. Most local tide table books provide a section that covers slack water times at Deception Pass. Be sure to pick one up and become familiar with it. Depending upon tide state on a given day, you have about a 30 minute window to transit during slack water. You can push it, but we try to stay within that window. Currents outside this window build rather quickly and become quite strong (six to eight knots at maximum flow) with powerful eddies and debris about that can overpower your boat's ability to maintain course.
Two very good anchorages provide a respite in preparation for the passage; Bowman Bay on the west side of the Pass and Cornet Bay on the east side. Both place you within minutes of the entrance.
Depending on your route direction, if we stop in Cornet Bay for a route north we will transit on a slack before the flood. That way when we pass through we will pickup a flood north through San Juan or Bellingham Channel. If your route is south it would be more favorable to transit on a slack before the ebb.
A route east through Deception Pass becomes less of an issue, but a slack before the flood will be more favorable for awhile south down towards Strawberry Point. In time the flood will begin to build in Saratoga and offset any favorable current through Deception.
As you plan your future cruises consider Deception Pass as a very safe and scenic moment for those with you on your way to distant points and new experiences. Just be sure to stay inside the slack water window.
Utmost of importance is to transit during slack water where it becomes a nonplus event. Most local tide table books provide a section that covers slack water times at Deception Pass. Be sure to pick one up and become familiar with it. Depending upon tide state on a given day, you have about a 30 minute window to transit during slack water. You can push it, but we try to stay within that window. Currents outside this window build rather quickly and become quite strong (six to eight knots at maximum flow) with powerful eddies and debris about that can overpower your boat's ability to maintain course.
Two very good anchorages provide a respite in preparation for the passage; Bowman Bay on the west side of the Pass and Cornet Bay on the east side. Both place you within minutes of the entrance.
Depending on your route direction, if we stop in Cornet Bay for a route north we will transit on a slack before the flood. That way when we pass through we will pickup a flood north through San Juan or Bellingham Channel. If your route is south it would be more favorable to transit on a slack before the ebb.
A route east through Deception Pass becomes less of an issue, but a slack before the flood will be more favorable for awhile south down towards Strawberry Point. In time the flood will begin to build in Saratoga and offset any favorable current through Deception.
As you plan your future cruises consider Deception Pass as a very safe and scenic moment for those with you on your way to distant points and new experiences. Just be sure to stay inside the slack water window.
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... if one pays attention to whats going on around them, there is a lot of experience one can get, and learn about handling... and have fun doing it.
