Explore Puget Sound South to North Dec 24 to Jan 1

[jstates]

I plan to explore Puget sound starting at Harstine Island, Olympia area - going north Dec 24 or 25 thru New Years. Open Itinerary -based on weather and mood. Ideas about favorite winter spots would be appreciated. Seems that Bell Town is already reserved for Christmas and New years eve and day.

One objective was to scout Marinas, safe harbors, anchorages, other resources - while the crowds are away. It would be fun to meet up /travel with other C-Brats.

Thanks
Jim

[dotnmarty]

You can't beat Everett Marina for ease of access and amenities. And you get to see someNavy ships up pretty close.

[TyBoo]

[Adeline]

Ahoy Jim, This one's for you...

[Pat Anderson]

We tend to anchor, not stay at marinas (except for CBGTs). One exception probably would be the Jerisich Dock at Gig Harbor - 48 hour stay is free, and Gig Harbor is a neat place to walk around. Ditto Poulsbo, except no free overnighter! Starting at Harstine, great anchorages at Quartermaster Harbor between Vashon and Maury Islands and Blakely Harbor on Bainbridge. Blakely is great - well protected, great view of the lights of Seattle and a nice park to boot. Manzanita is a great anchorage on the other side of Bainbridge, but no public shore there. Poulsbo is a fun place too, but no free overnighter! Then it is mostly marinas from Seattle to Everett. At Hood Canal, you definitely want to duck in to the Inner Harbor at Port Ludlow for an overnighter. There are a few more places on Hood Canal that are not too far down, especially Pleasant Harbor, that are great spots to anchor. From there, you will presumably want to get inside Whidbey (unless you really like getting beat up), and other than Langley Boat Harbor, we are not that familiar with places between there and Cornet Bay. We stopped once at Coupeville for the Mussel Festival, but I don't think that is happening in December! Cornet Bay is a definite stop if only to say hello to Les (and Sawdust!) at EQ Marine. Depending on weather, shoot across Rosario to Lopez Pass or Thatcher Pass OR go up the Swinomish Channel. If the latter (meaning, the weather is rough), have lunch or dinner at LaConner and then do yourself a favor and go around the east side of Guemes and over the top of Cypress to head for Peavine Pass rather than the shorter route through Guemes Channel and Rosario to Thatcher Pass - it is shorter but in nasty weather Guemes Channel and Rosario are a bad deal. Once inside the San Juans, no matter how you get there, the possiblities are nearly endless. Our favorite spots - Spencer Spit on Lopez. Garrison Bay (and English Camp) on San Juan. Jones Island. Blind Bay (by Blind Island) on Shaw Island. Prevost and Reid Harbors on Stuart Island. North of Orcas, our all time favorite is Matia Cove on the southeast side of Matia. ANY place at Sucia (!) is great and Active Cove at Patos is good but only if you can pick up a buoy or are very confident in the set of your anchor (they don't call it "Active" Cove for nothing!). You didn't say anything about the Gulf Islands, maybe that is Chapter 2!

[drjohn71a]

Jim on Endurance -

Glad to hear you are planning to cruise at that time. I'm hoping to get everything together for a similar cruise, although I plan on mainly heading North to the San Juans from Edmonds, where my boat is now. I was thinking of trying to run down to Bell Harbor Sat., if I can get all the equipment together in time.

Pat, thanks for all the information on good moorages.

If you see a TomCat going in circles up there, it will prob be me!

John

[Alyssa Jean]

I am going to be looking for an opportunity to do an overnight sometime between Chrismas and New Years. Keep 68 on. I may be heading up to Sucia.

[drjohn71a]

OK, thanks for the heads up, Dave. Do you think Sucia will offer enough protection in the winter??

We'll keep 68 on!

Hope to see some C-Brats, John

[lloyds]

No one mentioned Blake Island, west of seattle. Great place, especially in the winter when the docks are empty.

[drjohn71a]

Where do you go in Sucia Island area?

[jstates]

Thanks for great ideas - will be listening to 68 and perhaps if weather is reasonable will get to the San Juans. I look forward to meeting C-Brats in person -

Jim

[Pat Anderson]

Wow, the weather here today is NOT promising...gale force winds and driving rain. Not cruising weather at all, even for the die-hards. It would be fun to be anchored up in a protected cove, NOT fun getting there or back...

[Anita Marie]

PZZ135-150015-
/O.CON.KSEW.SR.W.0011.000000T0000Z-061215T1400Z/
PUGET SOUND AND HOOD CANAL-
904 AM PST THU DEC 14 2006




...STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...
TODAY...S WIND TO 10 KT...BECOMING SE 25 TO 35 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS...BUILDING TO 4 TO 6 FT. RAIN DEVELOPING.

TONIGHT...S WIND 30 TO 40 KT...BECOMING SW 40 TO 50 KT...THEN EASING LATE. WIND WAVES BUILDING TO 7 TO 9 FT...SUBSIDING. RAIN...TAPERING OFF TO SHOWERS.

FRI...SW WIND 30 TO 40 KT...EXCEPT BECOMING NW 5 TO 15 KT OVER THE N SOUND. WIND EASING OVER THE S SOUND IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 5 TO 7 FT...SUBSIDING. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EXCEPT NW 5 TO 15 KT OVER THE N SOUND. WIND BECOMING VARIABLE TO 10 KT ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA BY MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS...EXCEPT 2 TO 4 FT IN THE S SOUND DURING THE EVENING.

SAT...S WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS.

SUN...N WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING LIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS.

MON...S WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS.


This is some serious weather for Puget Sound. Looks like Saturday may be OK. I still plan on launching at Sand Point around 09:00. I was wondering if anyone else will be launching at Sand Point. Let me know and I will wait around.

Fred

[dotnmarty]

Fred - I copied your last post over to the Lake Wash. cruise thread. I plan on launching from down at Newport. FYI my cellphone # is 425 301-1238 Marty P

[Alyssa Jean]