05/08 - 05/10 - Friday Harbor, WA

Bellingham is the one you want for Friday Harbor...honest. We'll becoming down from Bellingham, as I'm sure will several others. The launch ramp is great (we will be coming out of Hilton Harbor, where our boat lives in the summer rather than the launch ramp, but it is literally a few hundred yards away), and the parking is free and secure. Bellingham Bay can be a pussy cat or it can be a little snarly - but you are across it in a matter of a few miles. It really is no big deal. Get around the south end of Lummi, it is a an easy cruise to anywhere in the San Juans.
 
Each to his own and all good advice but I like Cornet Bay. But of course, I live on Whidbey Island so it's more convenient for me. I don't mind the nightly parking charge for the ease of using it and it's a nice trip from there.
Bryant
 
Hardee,
I may join you there that weekend. My wife and I went there last Labor Day and really enjoyed ourselves. I'll see if they have any room left.
Bryant
 
localboymark":pxjg0z1s said:
You guys are all awesome. I can see there will be more than a few options for a convoy over and I'm glad no one minds me following a big brother or two. :oops: I've done the Anacoretes route twice and the Deception Pass route once in my brother's sail boat, so I "know" the route. Assuming clear weather, I'd PROBABLY be fine, but there is safety in numbers. :wink: I'll figure it all out once the event draws a little closer.

David, I do plan on buying a VHF radio and my brother will walk me thru the install. I figured for basic peace of mind, weather reports, communicating with harbor masters, other boats and god forbid the CG, I'd need one. And if/when I eventually get an electronics package, should it contain another VHF, what's the harm in two?

As for the CG inspection I am going to get the requirements: fire extinguishers (2), throw cushion, life jackets, basic flare kit etc. I've already made a list of needed items. My brother's got a line on some and I'll get the rest. It's true what they say though: BOAT="break out another thousand". :lol: And last I checked, no money tree in the backyard yet. :?
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Don't forget that West Marine and others offer a new boater's discount for stuff purchased for a boat obtained within the last 3(?) months. Ask for it before you check out and bring documentation of the purchase date of the boat.
 
I have a standard VHF in the boat but my back up is a hand held that I have had very good success with. It's rechargeable and works well over short distances. West Marine or Boats US sells them. Since you are going to convoy over to Firday Harbor you will be close to other boats so you might even buy a hand held first and that will save you from having to install anything and later when you do you can use the hand held as a back up as I do.
Bryant
 
Mark, Bryant is offering very good advice here:

"I have a standard VHF in the boat but my back up is a hand held that I have had very good success with. It's rechargeable and works well over short distances. .....you might even buy a hand held first and that will save you from having to install anything and later when you do you can use the hand held as a back up as I do."
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I would submit that there are many who do the same, and you will not regret having the handheld available. (For monitoring 16 while keeping in touch with a cruising buddy, having communication between a tender and the mother ship, having a handheld to go overboard with should the worst case ever happen, or for talking on low power to a fishing buddy while 16 is on the fixed VHF, or there are probably some other good reasons others can come up with too.) There are several discussions on the site about handheld VHF. Go up to the search and enter "handheld AND vhf" and that will give you a place to start.

Enjoy,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Just got word that we will be working in Forks on that beautiful Friday in May that all of you will be heading to the big day at Friday Harbor. (Sorry, we will be receiving an inspection for national accreditation for the sleep lab there.) It's an all day affair, akin to an IG inspection, and no way to change it now, so we will see you all there :smile , late, if we can make it out the next morning :oops: and share in some of the fun. :thup

Harvey
SleepyC
 
My older brother, Gary, will be joining me for the weekend. He works for the Bremerton Marinas and DaveS (seashift) and Barry (c-cakes) have met him while he was working. He's the experienced sailor so it's great he was able to get off work. It'll give me some confidence and I'm sure he'll have some lessons to learn. We'll be leaving Everett Marina and probably going up thru Deception Pass. My wife is still trying to get off work on Saturday so she can meet up with us via the Anacortes Ferry. Looking forward to it already. 8)

I've taken the advice of many here who either PM'd me or contributed via threads; I'm getting an I-com M34 handheld and a Garmin GPS. They'll hold me over until I can afford some electronics and then they'll be good backups/extras.

Pat I'm interested in your curtain install. Be prepared for a whole bunch of questions. My wife likes the idea of making the boat interior more "homey".
 
Mark (and others attending the Friday Harbor CBGT),

My family and I will be leaving Edmonds Marina early Friday morning if you'd like to cruise up together. We had 5 boats last year in the flotilla, but it appears that our boat is the only repeat from last year's group.

Pingu is a "beer can boat" but she really likes hanging out with C-Dorys. I'm not the most experienced boater, but I have made the trip to the San Juans several times and would enjoy the company and safety of traveling in a group.

PM me if you are interested.

-Carl
 
By all means, come aboard and take a look! There'll be lots to look at on all the different boats, that is the fun part!

localboy":2ka4ru43 said:
Pat I'm interested in your curtain install. Be prepared for a whole bunch of questions. My wife likes the idea of making the boat interior more "homey".
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Two Lucky Fish would like to join the convoy coming up via the Deception Pass route. We're way down in Seattle these days, inside the locks, so I'll have to make a decision about starting out very early Friday morning or coming up to Edmonds or Langley Thursday night.
 
Well it looks like I'll be leaving out of Everett, heading up thru La Conner channel and hitting Anacortes to enter some points in the GPS en route to Friday Harbor. My wife is still unsure if she'll be ble to even make Saturday :( but I'm still lobbying HARD.
 
Mark,

I think everyone should go through the Swinomish Channel past La Conner at least once, but it does add quite a bit of time to the journey. When Rosario Strait is really nasty, it's the preferred path, but hopefully the weather will be nice (Barry has an good track record of organizing these events and having good weather) and the shot through Deception Pass is usually uneventful and quick.

Tim,

Let me know what your plans are. We can meet in Edmonds or Langley.

Steve,

We'd love to go up with you again if you'd like the company and if you're free from work.

-Sarge
AKA: Carl
 
And like I told you before. When you are coming out the channel you are aiming right at our house on Guemes. Let me know when you expect to come through. Allow about 45 minutes to go through the Swinomish as it is a no wake zone for about 4 miles.
 
Anna Leigh":2xv7ljyu said:
And like I told you before. When you are coming out the channel you are aiming right at our house on Guemes. Let me know when you expect to come through. Allow about 45 minutes to go through the Swinomish as it is a no wake zone for about 4 miles.
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Will do. PM sent. This plan is extremely "flexible" as of now. We were just bouncing ideas around and we both agreed the Swinomish Channel would be interesting. I've gone through Deception Pass twice so this was a new route/experience and I can add some waypoints to the GPS. We are also planning to hit some spot, just don't know where yet, overnight on Sunday. Then return to Everett Monday via Deception. I've already done Sucia & Matia twice, so it's time for some place different. I'm open to ideas/recommendations.
 
While this doesn't fit with your current plan of returning via Deception Pass, if you come back through the channel, a great place to stay is the marina in La Conner. It's quiet and the town is cute. I also remember a good bakery w/i walking distance (for breakfast).
 
rogerbum":229o4ao8 said:
While this doesn't fit with your current plan of returning via Deception Pass, if you come back through the channel, a great place to stay is the marina in La Conner. It's quiet and the town is cute. I also remember a good bakery w/i walking distance (for breakfast).
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Thanks, Roger. It is still good info for any future trips. MMMM bakery.....
 
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