09/29 - 10/01 - Stuart Island, San Juan Islands WA
- Thread starter Anita Marie
- Start date
Thanks Pat! Didn't even know about that one.
I just called up there and the guy says no problem leaving the truck and trailer in their lot for as long as we need. I didn't ask about parking cost but the launch fee is cheap and it is actually an easier drive than getting to the water in B'ham. The young man on the phone says that by the time we deal with the traffic going from the freeway to Squalicum we would already be at their place. I sensed a little friendly competition there.
I just called up there and the guy says no problem leaving the truck and trailer in their lot for as long as we need. I didn't ask about parking cost but the launch fee is cheap and it is actually an easier drive than getting to the water in B'ham. The young man on the phone says that by the time we deal with the traffic going from the freeway to Squalicum we would already be at their place. I sensed a little friendly competition there.
starcrafttom
Active member
So at Bellingham, what is long term parking? How many days? We are planning of 4 days.
Blaine harbor. We used this ramp for the Powell river gathering and it worked out nice. you do have to watch the tides. its not a good ramp on a really low tide. ( just checked and its really good tides that weekend. ) Free parking for up to five days but you may want to talk to the harbor master for more then that. We spent one night tied to the visitor dock. Nice bath room and good side tie. Gated and guarded. Just watch your deep around the marina and as you enter and leave the bay. Lots of flats so you want to stay in the marked channels.
Blaine harbor. We used this ramp for the Powell river gathering and it worked out nice. you do have to watch the tides. its not a good ramp on a really low tide. ( just checked and its really good tides that weekend. ) Free parking for up to five days but you may want to talk to the harbor master for more then that. We spent one night tied to the visitor dock. Nice bath room and good side tie. Gated and guarded. Just watch your deep around the marina and as you enter and leave the bay. Lots of flats so you want to stay in the marked channels.
starcrafttom
Active member
Just did the math. Blaine to Stewart is 30.33 and from Bellingham it's 39.63
Only real difference would be weather. Lots of open water with seas on your beam from Blaine.
Only real difference would be weather. Lots of open water with seas on your beam from Blaine.
Thanks, Tom. I looked back over old threads for info about Blaine and found quite a bit - a lot of it from you. Thanks for that, too.
The guy on the phone said 5 days max for Bellingham but we might be able to find a place to park the trailer at another location for longer (one was Hilton something and I forget the other) and park the truck at Squalicum. I have no interest in that.
The guy at Blaine said two weeks parking no problem, I did not ask about longer. Parking is free with $7.50 launch.
Anacortes is $5/day parking and $54 round trip sling launch.
The feeling I got while talking to the two places was that Blaine and B'ham both want the business. Maybe if enough people protest the lack of longer parking at B'ham they will find a way to offer it again. The guy at Blaine said they are really having their problems at the other port. The gravel lot is being turned into a road for a ramp to launch "huge aluminum boats". I think the folks in the marina office at B'ham really wish they could allow the parking.
I still might go to Port Angeles to launch. Blaine has the Strait of Georgia; PA has the Strait of Jaun de Fuca. Which one is least likely to be a problem? I know, I know - I should be more concerned about the Wallas stove giving out this time of year, but sometimes I get a little worried and Lois gets downright scared.
The guy on the phone said 5 days max for Bellingham but we might be able to find a place to park the trailer at another location for longer (one was Hilton something and I forget the other) and park the truck at Squalicum. I have no interest in that.
The guy at Blaine said two weeks parking no problem, I did not ask about longer. Parking is free with $7.50 launch.
Anacortes is $5/day parking and $54 round trip sling launch.
The feeling I got while talking to the two places was that Blaine and B'ham both want the business. Maybe if enough people protest the lack of longer parking at B'ham they will find a way to offer it again. The guy at Blaine said they are really having their problems at the other port. The gravel lot is being turned into a road for a ramp to launch "huge aluminum boats". I think the folks in the marina office at B'ham really wish they could allow the parking.
I still might go to Port Angeles to launch. Blaine has the Strait of Georgia; PA has the Strait of Jaun de Fuca. Which one is least likely to be a problem? I know, I know - I should be more concerned about the Wallas stove giving out this time of year, but sometimes I get a little worried and Lois gets downright scared.
I think I'm still going to launch at Squalicom. 9 miles longer but more protected and scenic. I'll just head towards Friday Harbor and cut up thru the Wasp/Yellow Islands.
I'll be up there on Friday mid-morning and returning on Sunday. Anybody wanna play follow the leader, I'm up for it.
I'll be up there on Friday mid-morning and returning on Sunday. Anybody wanna play follow the leader, I'm up for it.
The weather looks like it should be nice. Have a great time and sure wish I could join, but not working this time.
BTW, for anyone traveling on Whidbey Island, there is a huge motorcycle rally of some sort called the Oyster Run on Sunday but there will be tons of MC traffic on the island Sat and Sun. One of the ferry staff - PT to Keystone -- told me they will have between 100 and 150 bikes on some of the trips. Keep an eye out. (Looks like I get to miss that one too.)
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
BTW, for anyone traveling on Whidbey Island, there is a huge motorcycle rally of some sort called the Oyster Run on Sunday but there will be tons of MC traffic on the island Sat and Sun. One of the ferry staff - PT to Keystone -- told me they will have between 100 and 150 bikes on some of the trips. Keep an eye out. (Looks like I get to miss that one too.)
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
starcrafttom
Active member
Mark, we should be headed out about the same time frame. As much as I dont like bellingham late September is not a good time weather wise to use Blaine. it much open water if the wind comes up.
smckean (Tosca)
New member
I will bring firewood on Tosca. I figure I can load a bunch into the dinghy I keep strapped down to the cabin top. I'll have to ferry it over to Cap Sante in the car and load it via cart since the boat is currently hanging on my mooring buoy, but I have other items to load at Cap Sante while getting fuel anyway.Fred":1xve9f17 said:
How about kindling? I have some, but it ain't too dry. Hatchet? Axe?
hardee":mw70jlk9 said:
Harvey, thanks for the heads-up on the Oyster Run. Just realized though, that is this weekend, and the Stuart Island event is the following weekend, correct? I misunderstood and my previous comment about traffic/ launching from Anacortes now deleted.
-Mike
Pat Anderson
New member
Mike, the Strait of Georgia is a pussy cat compared to the Strait of Juan de Fuca! We live in Birch Bay now full time, and it was our vacation home since 1989. Every time we went out, we had to go into the Strait of Georgia. We would choose Blaine over Bellingham every time. Bellingham Bay is a frickin' washing machine! It is a straight shot out to Stuart from Blaine! Piece of cake! But I may be a little bit biased...
Brock, you should be more concerned about me and my river boat. I'm used to the puny little Columbia you know.
I wasn't too worried about the water out of Blaine until Tom chose B'ham to not have to worry about it. There have been one or two things Tom and I have disagreed on over the years but I do have a genuine respect for his knowledge and seamanship.
I wasn't too worried about the water out of Blaine until Tom chose B'ham to not have to worry about it. There have been one or two things Tom and I have disagreed on over the years but I do have a genuine respect for his knowledge and seamanship.
This year I am joining a friend who has chartered a 40ft sailboat out of San Juan Sailing in Bellingham from the 23rd to the 29th. It has been a lot of years since I sold my sailboat and am looking forward to the trip. I hope everyone has a great trip and I will be watching for C-Dorys on the water.
Steve
Steve
starcrafttom
Active member
To be clear it all depends.. got that.
What I mean is that where you launch and retrieve all depends on the weather on that day and what you want from the trip. I will not pick a launch most trips until the day of the trip. I have an A plan and B plan.
So here is an example for this trip. I get up on friday and hear that the wind is 25 knots out of the s to se. Or ssw. These are the worst wind for bellingham . It give's the wind the longest reach and time to build. I would choice Blaine over bellingham on that day but I would choose anacortes over blaine. It provides the most cover and wind shade. If the wind was only 5 miles per hour then blaine for Stewart would be good.
Now if the wind was to change to north west or even west then bellingham or anacortes is the way to go. Any wind over 15mph from the any direction that has north in it makes Blaine a no go no matter where you are going as every where you are going is going to put the wind right on your beam with 50 miles of fetch to build the swell. When we came back from Powell river this summer this was the problem we had. Wind report said 20 out of the W NW. so wanting that wind to my back I headed to the gulf islands the night before crossing in the morning. We woke up and the wind had changed to ne, which now puts the wind on my beam heading back to Blaine. We had to turn back after a few miles because it was unsafe UNTIL( this is the second part of any planning)The tide changed.
I know that I sound like a broken record about this but you should use the wind and tide as your timer for travel and not your watch. Waiting a few hours for the tide to change and allow the swell to lay down will make for a faster and safer trip. So after getting turned back twice we found a place to anchor in a cove and I sunbathed on the roof for two hours then left. Instead of 4 to 6 ft on our beam we had 2 ft on our beam which is far more comfortable and safer.
Have a way to check wind, tide and current ( not the same thing as tide) before your trip and while on the boat. It has never been easier then today to get this information in real time on our phones but I still listen to the weather report on the VHF and know where all the points they are given wind reports for are at. Which ones are effecting me that day.
so were will I launch a week from now? It all depands....
What I mean is that where you launch and retrieve all depends on the weather on that day and what you want from the trip. I will not pick a launch most trips until the day of the trip. I have an A plan and B plan.
So here is an example for this trip. I get up on friday and hear that the wind is 25 knots out of the s to se. Or ssw. These are the worst wind for bellingham . It give's the wind the longest reach and time to build. I would choice Blaine over bellingham on that day but I would choose anacortes over blaine. It provides the most cover and wind shade. If the wind was only 5 miles per hour then blaine for Stewart would be good.
Now if the wind was to change to north west or even west then bellingham or anacortes is the way to go. Any wind over 15mph from the any direction that has north in it makes Blaine a no go no matter where you are going as every where you are going is going to put the wind right on your beam with 50 miles of fetch to build the swell. When we came back from Powell river this summer this was the problem we had. Wind report said 20 out of the W NW. so wanting that wind to my back I headed to the gulf islands the night before crossing in the morning. We woke up and the wind had changed to ne, which now puts the wind on my beam heading back to Blaine. We had to turn back after a few miles because it was unsafe UNTIL( this is the second part of any planning)The tide changed.
I know that I sound like a broken record about this but you should use the wind and tide as your timer for travel and not your watch. Waiting a few hours for the tide to change and allow the swell to lay down will make for a faster and safer trip. So after getting turned back twice we found a place to anchor in a cove and I sunbathed on the roof for two hours then left. Instead of 4 to 6 ft on our beam we had 2 ft on our beam which is far more comfortable and safer.
Have a way to check wind, tide and current ( not the same thing as tide) before your trip and while on the boat. It has never been easier then today to get this information in real time on our phones but I still listen to the weather report on the VHF and know where all the points they are given wind reports for are at. Which ones are effecting me that day.
so were will I launch a week from now? It all depands....
Ordutch1975
New member
I dont think we will be able to make it. Apparently the shop doing my bottom paint is behind schedule. We won't have our boat back till at the earliest next Friday. UGH!!!
We'll see maybe they will complete it early but I doubt it.
H
We'll see maybe they will complete it early but I doubt it.
H
Salmon Fisher
Member
Right now our plan is to leave Friday morning from Cornet Bay.
A mellow incoming tide into Rosario Strait looks good in the morning, which gives a route through either:
-Lopez Pass, Lopez Sound, Friday Harbor, Jones Island to Stuart
or
-Across Rosario, South Lopez through Cattle Pass, Friday Harbor, Jones Island to Stuart Island.
Pretty safe transit through the islands with minimal fetch of wind except across Rosario with a possible North wind against incoming tide.
As Tom said, morning of, we'll make the final call.
A mellow incoming tide into Rosario Strait looks good in the morning, which gives a route through either:
-Lopez Pass, Lopez Sound, Friday Harbor, Jones Island to Stuart
or
-Across Rosario, South Lopez through Cattle Pass, Friday Harbor, Jones Island to Stuart Island.
Pretty safe transit through the islands with minimal fetch of wind except across Rosario with a possible North wind against incoming tide.
As Tom said, morning of, we'll make the final call.
My plans constantly change anyway, so the actual decision will be made on the spot. Right now it is looking like Oak Harbor will be the starting point, with La Conner as the first stop. I really like going through Deception Pass and have launched a few of my SJ excursions out of Coronet Bay or Oak Harbor in the past.
The way it stands at the moment, we will be going up this Saturday, 9/23, and braving the motorcyclists to go either to Oak Harbor (most likely) or Anacortes. We will decide on a right or left turn when we get there.
If it is Oak Harbor, then we will go Saturday afternoon to La Conner for the night, Sunday night at Doe Island, Monday night at Friday Harbor, Tuesday night on Matia or Sucia, Wednesday night at Deer Harbor, Thursday night at Jones Island, and then Friday morning back to Deer Harbor for a shower then on to Stuart Island for two nights. Of course, any of those places could be swapped for any of several others and a windy Skagit Bay might have us stay right at Oak Harbor the first night.
I understand what you all are saying about conditions and tides and currents and wind direction, and I appreciate the advice very much. We get some interesting stuff going on down here at the mouth of the Columbia pretty regularly so I am aware of what can and cannot be controlled.
Thanks! See you somewhere soon!
The way it stands at the moment, we will be going up this Saturday, 9/23, and braving the motorcyclists to go either to Oak Harbor (most likely) or Anacortes. We will decide on a right or left turn when we get there.
If it is Oak Harbor, then we will go Saturday afternoon to La Conner for the night, Sunday night at Doe Island, Monday night at Friday Harbor, Tuesday night on Matia or Sucia, Wednesday night at Deer Harbor, Thursday night at Jones Island, and then Friday morning back to Deer Harbor for a shower then on to Stuart Island for two nights. Of course, any of those places could be swapped for any of several others and a windy Skagit Bay might have us stay right at Oak Harbor the first night.
I understand what you all are saying about conditions and tides and currents and wind direction, and I appreciate the advice very much. We get some interesting stuff going on down here at the mouth of the Columbia pretty regularly so I am aware of what can and cannot be controlled.
Thanks! See you somewhere soon!