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Puget Sound Advice Needed

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River Harley
Navigator

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132 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/29/2004 : 00:21:47

Anyone with experience cruising Puget Sound? I'm planning a cruise from Olympia, Wa. to the San Juan's. I'm wondering what I can expect for travel time each way. I've not made the trip before and need to know how many days it will take each way from Olympia to the San Juans and back to Olympia. Someone told me 2 days each way - that sounds a little optimistic to me. I have eleven days to spend on the trip.

River Harley

Edited by - on

Grego5
1st Mate

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USA
73 Posts

Response Posted - 03/29/2004 : 15:02:54

I'm not too familiar with it (a real novice, I've had my boat 4 months) but had planned on cruising from Port Orchard to Victoria and had alloted 3 days each way. Any extra time would be play time. If you want let me know when you plan to be in the area and we can get togather at Blake Island and cruise togather a bit (if the timing fits and you are willing).

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2004 : 14:31:42

It's been over 20 yrs now, but it took me 2 days from Everett by
way of Swinomish/Anacortes in an O'day 22. From Olympia adds a
lotta miles. Dunno why the locals aren't replying to you. I'm down
in SF area now. Figure your D=ST and you should get in the ballgame.

Edited by - on

barmstro
1st Mate

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34 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2004 : 02:58:39

3 days from Olympia to the San Juans sounds ok. But you need to time your travel to take advantage of the currents in the Sound. The farther north you get the stronger the current. You can by a book called TIDELOG at West Marine. It shows the currents up to 3 hours before and after ebb and flood tides. It has charts that show where and how strong they are. My first trip up and I didn't use them and in one case actually sailed backwords. The boat was going 4.5 knots but the current ran the other way at 6 knots. That was on the way to Doe Island state park.Another time I was motoring with the current but it flowed past the boat faster than the motor could push us and I lost rudder control and had to stear with the motor. This was in a San Juan 21 but the problem would still be the same. Good Luck and have fun

Edited by - on

Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2004 : 09:44:12

The thing you've got you've got to watch for here is rushing through the Sound to the Islands. Puget Sound itself is a wonderful place to cruise, and it would be a shame to spend a solid 3 days sailing/ motoring North just to make it to the Islands. If you want to do the Islands trailer to the Islands. If you can't trailer, point her North out of Olympia and enjoy the trip, be it 3 days to San Juan or 5 in the Sound.

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Tony Dillon
Navigator

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USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2004 : 11:32:42

TIDELOG or any other good tide and current prediction book or software is a must have for your trip. The current throught the Tacoma Narrows easily runs at 5-6 kts so timing there is essential. The current around the islands can be very strong also. I agree with Doug, there is a lot of beautiful country between Olympia and the Islands. We have been sailing around Tacoma for 3 years now and still have a lot to see. If you can find "Gunkholing In the San Juans" or Gunkholing in South Puget Sound" by Jo Bailey & Carl Nyberg there is some great information available in them. Either way the country there is beautiful with lots of things to see and do along the way.

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2004 : 00:32:50

I have sailed and motored that route many times. Its a good 3 days from Olympia. Use the outgoing tide to go through Tacoma Narrows. Once you are through tide isnt as important. Current always flows north in Colvos passage on the west side of Vashion Island. What route would you like to take. You can go up through the Swinomish chanel and into Anachortes but I do not recomend it. Its longer and out of your way unless you want to go to Bellingham. Olympia to Tacoma area 6 hours. Tacoma to Kingston (nice harbor) 6 or 7 hours.
Kingston to Port Townsend 6 to 7 hours. Port Townsend to Friday Harbor 6 to 7 hours. If you do a lot of sailing it will take longer. Im figure the average day will be 35 to 40 miles. If you dont mind long days you can do it faster. If you launch in Bellingham you can be in the islands in a few hours. Same with Anachortes. Stay well wide of Point Wilso the currents there are fast and the volume of the water is huge. Head east and then north. check out this web site for lots of Puget Sound Information www.nwboating.com

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2004 : 12:09:00

Doug is right about the south sound. There are some very nice places to sail to that are almost empty even in the summer. McMiken Island is one favorite of mine. Jarrel Cove another is almost as far down and west as you can go. Fair harbor is half way between the previous two and is also a good spot to spend time. Longbranch is another favorite spot for a cruise and place to stop when waiting for the tide to change before proceding past the tiny Pit Island and on to Penrose Point State park. Oro bay on Anderson Island would be no problem for a Catalina and has a good view of the mountains to the east. There are lots of other destinations to but these are my personal picks. On the north side of the narrows there are more, Gig Harbor an old fishing comunity with its famous Tides Tavern. Dockton on Vashon Island or further north Polsbo and Bremerton. Polsbo is a Nowegian town and decked out as such. I could rite a book on the many places and there history but then that has already been done.
Im wondering how much time you have to make the trip. Seeing the San Juans is paramount. They are the main jewel in the crown but there is so much else. Where will you be comming from . If you would like any further help please let me know. Check my profile if you would like to contact me. Be sure if you use the E mail to remove the words no spam. You should have a wonderful time.
Just read the last sentense of your post. 11 days. Do not pass GO do not collect 200 dollars go directly to the San Juans via I-5. I would recomend to see the Islands in 11 days launch at Bellingham and do the south sound another year. Its realy to much to see and do in 11 days.

Edited by - Douglas on 04/08/2004 12:30:09

Tony Partain
1st Mate

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USA
93 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2004 : 12:49:00

We are planning a trip in the San Juan's this summer. I would love to hear from someone that has some familiarity with the area. The starting point will be Anacortes and I would prefer to put the boat in the water on a hoist to avoid dipping the trailer in salt water. We plan on sailing to Rosario thru Thatcher Pass. Rosario will be our base and we plan on exploring from there.

This is our first time in the Sound. So what hazards and problems should we be on the look out for along the way? I have a chart of the area and have ordered Tidelog.

As for winds in the first part of July, what direction and speeds can we expect?

Thanks

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2004 : 13:24:43

Tony, I have trailered to Anacortes MANY times and have more information than I can give you in an email. Perhaps we should have a phone call. I am usually home by around 10 PM. Life is really crazy for the next two weeks, but I have LOTS of time after the first of May. I would be glad to give you advice or share my knowledge. I led a small fleet of C25s up there for 8 days last summer. Photos from that trip are on the Fleet 94 website.

If you can wait a bit, I think I can be of assistance. BTW: $30 R/T for a splash at Cap Sante in Anacortes is THE way to go, IMHO...NO salt on trailer that way....

Gary B.
Vice Commodore

360 687 2048

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2004 : 19:48:16

Tony Unless you are booked into the resort you won't want to use Rosario as your base of opperation. The Anchorage is open and re stocking materials are limited.There is a smalish marina but its not cheap. Friday Harbor is the maijor re supply stop and has several grocery stores.

Edited by - Douglas on 04/08/2004 19:49:54

Tony Partain
1st Mate

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USA
93 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2004 : 14:25:23

We are booked at Rosario and plan to use this as our base. Exploring the island from there and taking day trips to other areas as the week progresses. Do you know the general direction if the wind for the area in July?

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2004 : 23:45:32

The San Juans are rather unpredictable. Use this site www.nwboating.com left collum winds

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TimAZ
Deckhand

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USA
4 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2004 : 17:42:09

I would like to give some observations if I may. For the past year now I live in an area of West Seattle called Alki Beach on a hill overlooking the Sound from Alki Point Light to Duwamish Head, that covers views from north Vashon Is, Bainbridge Is. and part of Elliot Bay, to views north past the West Point Light House at Discovery Park. I keep a pretty good watch on the conditions of this part of the north Sound and it offers some great sailing conditions, But at times the wind from the south can make it pretty tricky out there, it has been 1 to 3 foot wind chop with white caps all day long up to 3 to 5 foot this year so far, might make getting back tough. I compare what I am looking at with what NOAA is reporting and most of the time we agree and others not so. As mentioned the Tide Log is quite good.( pay close attention to the currents chart in the back of the book.) I recently brought my 250WB up here from San Diego, difference of night and day. I put my boat in a marina and when I went to sail it- it was stuck in the mud, learned that lesson.I put her back on the trailer. The tide does run from a 12.7 to a -3.8 at times for the Seattle area, keep that in mind when you stop for the night along the way. looking out the window right now it is great sailing out there, about a dozen boats sailing around. As far as getting there and back I agree with previous comment- the San Juan Islands need all your eleven days just to do the area justice, Have you thought about trailering up somewhere closer then putting in? that's the way I plan on doing it and I live up here.I went thru the area in a much larger boat and look forward to doing what you got planned. Let us know how it goes,sounds like you'll be there before I am. Oh, if this summer is gonna be anything like last summer up here, it will be a fantastic experiece. Don't forget to plan on dropping a hook off Alki Beach, it's the place to be during the summer.

TimAZ
Still-Life #208

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