Mini Cruise suggestions North of Edmonds?

D

drjohn71a

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C Dory Year
2007
C Dory Model
255 Tomcat
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Tom-a-Hawk
With a brief window of 8-9 days over Christmas up to sea trial my new TomCat, I 'd like to explore as far North as safe and practical. Maybe get up to Les' shop on Whidbey? Where do you see all the Orcas up there? Is the December weather stormy? I know it is rainy... 'Would appreciate any advice! John
 
8-9 days is a lot of time for a "mini-cruise". If it were me, I'd consider a loop trip. Edmonds - Swinomish would be an easy first day. From there, I'd head over to the San Juan Islands for a few days - if you come back out of the Swinomish channel going south, you can turn north and go over to visit Les's place. Depending on weather, radar and confidence, you can go through Deception Pass and run up to the San Juans on the outside of Whidbey. If things are bad, you can go N. through the Swinomish channel and run over to the San Juans via Anacortes. After several days of exploring the San Juans, you can (if the weather's bad) return the way you came. If the weather's OK, run down the outside of Whidbey to Port Townsend and spend a night there. The next day you can run down to Port Ludlow and spend a night there. From Port Ludlow, it's just 1-2 hours back to Edmonds. Depending on the time, you could run from Port Ludlow down to Pleasant Harbor (about 30 miles S on the Hood Canal) and then return from there to Edmonds.

There's a ton of choices. I'll probably have a few days off around X-mas, if you want a deck hand for help or even a buddy boat for a portion of the trip, send me a PM.
 
Hey, thanks so much for the local wisdom, Roger. I ordered some maps, but they did not have the San Juans on them in any detail. I have done alot of singlehanded cruising in a sailboat, but that was in warm, Southern, familiar waters, so I can use any help in the project possible.

John
 
Dr. John,

I'd be happy to buddy boat with you in the area. I'm at EQ daily for a latte with the kids, and am usually free to roam. If you can make a guess at the weather at Christmas time you are better than me - and I've lived here forever. Could be sunny and warm, could be rain, and could be heavy snow or fog.

There are so many great places to visit - and Roger has done a good job for starters. I'd bet a brewsky that Pat and Patty would show you around too...

Dusty
 
Dr. John,

You can find Orcas all over the San Juans, but the best place to find them is on the west side of San Juan Island.
Maptech makes a really good map book of the San Juans. It covers the entire area you are interested in. They also have one for the Puget Sound area which is south of the San Juans.
As you get closer to being here let us know and I am sure there will be many who will tag along or meet you for a day or two.

From Edmonds if the weather was right you could head up into the Canadian Southern Gulf Islands. Kate and I have gone to Princess Louisa Inlet and back in five days. That wasn't late Dec however.
 
John, I think you'll find no end to the C-Brats who will advise, host, buddy-boat and generally look out for you in the PNW. Most of us moved here because it is so spectacular and are anxious to show it to newcomers. Just post your time schedule when it's a little closer and you'll have all the help you can stand! Maybe more...Including us.
 
Sounds like the beginning of a December CBGT at EQ to me! Keep us posted on the details, you will no doubt hook up with a few folks here and there! You want the two Maptech Waterproof Chartbooks, one is Puget Sound, the other is the San Juans, each about $50 I think, and they come with a CD now.
 
Thank you all so much for the replies.... I already ordered the Maptech Puget Sound book , but was not certain if the San Juans are reachable that time of the year. Rain and cold don't bother me. I am used to winter boating here in sleet and snow... heavy, long lasting fog could be a hindrance, but my only deadline is the start and end.

Thanks again. I will order the San Juans Maptec thing! I was wondering if that RayTech 6 RNS computer program would allow me to practice navigating down here on my laptop without having the E80. Can you use it without the E80 display?

John
 
I am also figuring that the available speed of the TomCat might let me take advantage of a good weather window here and there that would shorten the travel time a bit. I know the water has lots of logs, lumber, etc., so most travel would be better slow, I guess. John
 
Yup - should slow down to 30 or so. Great visibility out of the TC and maneuvers quickly indeed. We go to the San Juans all winter long - depends on Mr. Weather.

Dusty
 
Keep an eye on KIRO or one of the other seattle tv stations prior to going. Sometimes the superpods come together right in seattle in Elliott Bay right about that time of year. They are pretty amazing when they gather up in Elliott Bay.
 
Everything depends on the weather, fog and high winds being the biggest problems. The San Juans are reachable or not, it depends...

Here is the link to the RayTech Planner. This is the RayTech 6 RNS program, and when installed without a license, it runs in planning mode only. It comes with some basic C-Map and Navionics charts, but better yet, it reads Maptech raster and NOAA vector charts you may have on your hard drive. You can save waypoints and routes to a file that your C80 can import. It gets a big thumbs up from me. This will let you practice navigating in the San Juans (actually anywhere) to your heart's content.


drjohn71a":2eqre60s said:
Thank you all so much for the replies.... I already ordered the Maptech Puget Sound book , but was not certain if the San Juans are reachable that time of the year. Rain and cold don't bother me. I am used to winter boating here in sleet and snow... heavy, long lasting fog could be a hindrance, but my only deadline is the start and end.

Thanks again. I will order the San Juans Maptec thing! I was wondering if that RayTech 6 RNS computer program would allow me to practice navigating down here on my laptop without having the E80. Can you use it without the E80 display?

John
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