Port Townsend to Orcas Island

B

bradley

New member
Hello all-

We're thinking about a week in the San Juans this summer, launching from Port Townsend.

Just a couple quick questions as this would be a first for us.

Any idea how long this would take? And would you suggest following Widbey Island to Anacortes and then across, or head straight across to Friday harbor?

There's a lot of water between PT and SJ, should we be as nervious as we are?

thanks- brad
 
The run from port townsend to Friday harbor can be a very pleasant run or a total nightmare. it all depends on the weather. I would keep track of the Heine bank weather buoy for a while. it reports wind and wave height every hour. If the wind is over 15 knots and against the tide the wavelength can be very short and steep. it the wind is with the tide it can be 15 knots and fairly flat. also pay attention to areas of known tidal rips. You can be on a tide rip getting the hell kicked out of you or a hundred yards away on flat water. Most tide rip area are market on the map. i have fished out at Heine bank and the water was like a bath tub. other days I did not even bother leaving the dock. so weather, tide, tide rips all play part in the trip.
 
What Tom said.

Depending on where you're going on Orcas Island and if the conditions are favorable, it would be better to go straight through Cattle Pass/San Juan Channel (which bypasses Friday Harbor). Then depending where you're going, you can continue NW through San Juan Channel or NE through Upright Channel . Watch out for Cattle Pass on the ebb, it can get kinda ugly. If you can catch the flood into Cattle Pass without much wind, that would be the way to go. However, the prevailing wind is usually from the north so keep an eye out for the wind forecasts.

From PT, you wouldn't normally go through Anacortes on the way to Orcas Island.

Harvey (Hardee) and Roger (Dreamer) have good experience coming from down there. Hopefully they'll chime in.
 
Big ships don't bother me much, but my wife gets very concerned. You should be aware of how the VTS operates, and it wouldn't hurt to have either an AIS integrated plotter or an "app" that shows AIS traffic in the area (here's a screen snap of the new Marine Traffic iPhone app):
marinetraffic.png
 
bradley":2edi351j said:
Hello all-

We're thinking about a week in the San Juans this summer, launching from Port Townsend.

Just a couple quick questions as this would be a first for us.

Any idea how long this would take? And would you suggest following Widbey Island to Anacortes and then across, or head straight across to Friday harbor?

There's a lot of water between PT and SJ, should we be as nervious as we are?

thanks- brad
Click to expand...

Much of what Tom said. From PT across to Friday Harbor on a good day is a dream trip. It can be flat as glass, see whales, dolphin and sea lions., or As mentioned, it can beat the snot out of you. IT IS weather dependant. From PT yo will also want the weather from Smith Island, as Heine Bank is a bit out of the way west, but still one of the closest reporting stations. The Tide rips, especially at Point Wilson, just around the corner north from PT are pretty famous. good to stay clear if you can see a wall of white.

If you have access to "Washburn's Tables" (West Marine has them) they are a good source for plotting current times ad strengths. Another source that I use frequently is "BIS Portal" (Boater's Information System) and here is a link to that. Easy free and reliable.

http://bis_portal.apl.washington.edu/bis_portal_app.php

Parking is good at PT, but more secure at John Wayne, Sequim, and the trip across the strait is closer from John Wayne. I would generally plan an early (daybreak minus 30) launch, getting me out of the bay and around the bend at sun up, Then at my 15 knots, it is about a 2 hour crossing, (again current dependant =- Check Washburn's for a current vector if it is running 2.5 plus), going straight north to Cattle Pass. the early hour is due to the generally least wind of the day, although that can be variable. (Check BIS for predicted winds in 3 hour increments through the day).

I have heard that if it is bumpy out, it might be better to run up alongside of Whidby. Have not tried that, but it came from a "Tow boat" captain. TIFWIIW. (Take it for what it is worth).

Winds and current opposition have been discussed. Worth paying very close attention to.

Of course it would be nice to have AIS, or at least a device with an ap for that. Generally the BIG ships are not an issue crossing. The Vessel Traffic Service can assist, and they are worth listening to, (VHF chan 5A or 14), for sure. If you have radar, it should always be on, and if it is foggy, it is your dearest friend. If not, you should not be out there if fog is in the weather report. A GPS only approach can kill you in the fog. The smaller, GO FAST types, including Victoria Clipper, can be a frightful surprise without the radar, even with they are not the biggest blip on the screen.

Depending on your plans, (where you are staying) a Washington State Parks Moorage pass might be a worthwhile investment. About $75 for a 22, and it pays for Moorage, float or dock and some very nice places.

Hope that is some help, and feel free to contact me (PM) is best if there is anything else I can help with.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

Not every day is like this, but when it is....................

JC_Lately_SleepyC_Flat_Blue_070.thumb.jpg
 
Brad, I'm curious why you would trailer your boat to Port Townsend to launch since your information indicates that you that you live in Seattle. It seems to me that trailering north to Anacortes or Bellingham would be a better option for launching and perhaps a bit less weather dependant.
 
Wow. What a wealth of information. Sounds like I've still got a bunch of research to do. We've been pretty cautious to date, just putting around the sound.

We live outside poulsbo, this is why we were thinking PT for the launch. Kingston is another option. Thanks for the tip about John Wayne in sequim, I hadn't even thought about parking yet :) We've been so focused on the boating aspect...

My goal for the day is to print out the NOAA chart on the plotter and hang it in my office. I figure the more I stare at it the sooner the trip will come.
 
Hi. A couple of thoughts, Admiralty Inlet off of Port Townsend can be quite rough and is also the home of the Point Wilson riptide, an area noted for being very rough. Neither of these will be a problem if the wind/tide conditions are favorable but you would be crossing twice-going and coming. Given how you describe yourself, a launch from John Wayne Marina at Sequim might be better but the Straits of Juan de Fuca themselves can be challenging. Crossing the shipping lanes need not be worrisome at all, just remember that the big ships are going much faster than they appear to be, up to 20kts, and plan to cross behind rather than ahead of them. Often there are none in sight so it is a non-issue. Cross at a sharp angle so you minimize your time in their lanes. You might consider putting your boat on the Kingston Ferry and driving up to either Anacortes or Bellingham. Anacortes has a sling launch at Cap Sante and Bellingham has a ramp. In both cases you make your trip on the water quite a bit shorter. You will have to cross Rosario Strait no matter what but you will be in protected waters much sooner.

Finally, have you considered coming to the Friday Harbor Gathering this weekend. There will be many boats coming from various locations and you would find it easy to join up with someone. Traveling together might take some of the edge off. Just post on the Friday Harbor thread that you would like to buddy up. And even if you leave the boat at home coming to the gathering by ferry from Anacortes would give you the opportunity to meet a lot of people, hear stories, build confidence, and perhaps find someone to boat with.
 
Bradley,

Barry gives good advice. For your first time to the San Juans, Anacortes is a good bet. Just sling it at Cap Sante as Barry said, the parking is very secure, we've done it. Then you have two choices, east through Guemes Channel/Thatcher Pass or north on the east side of Guemes Island and up on top of Guemes and Cypress Islands through Peavine Pass. Either way, it's pretty protected except for Rosario, which can get snotty in bad weather conditions but doable in our boats.

My advice, don't think too much about it. When we were brand new, our first big trip was to Lopez Island from Anacortes and it was a breeze; and lots of fun!

Peter
 
I too would go up to anacortes or bellingham and come across. I have done the port townsend thing several times, once in a 15' boston whaler and it is very weather dependant. And sometimes they bring the big subs around that corner and if it is foggy you don't want to be there. I have gotten more cautious with age.
 
We talked about Anacortes, it's a philosophical thing for me. I can't see driving around and up to anacortes or putting both the car and boat on a ferry just to drive north.

I guess we could even put the boat on the San Juans ferry and never even get it wet :) (sometimes I think that would be Lorah's preference!!!)

I wish we could make it this weekend, we have plans made a year ago for a friends birthday.
 
We always went from Sequim to The San Juans, usually in thru Cattle Pass, although once going outside from Roche Harbor back to Sequim--both in the 22 and 25.
 
Just remember that this weekend is "Trawlerfest" in Anacortes and Cap Sante will be full and parking scarce.

We will probably be leaving from Anacortes Marina around 1000Hrs on Friday if anyone is in the area and wants to buddy-up. You can find us on your smartphone AIS "app" and we will be monitoring 16.
Ch 68 may also be a bit crowded with Shrimping, Ling Cod and Halibut seasons open and a lot of ol' buddies bragging.

Hope Barry's dances kick in soon. We were out there yesterday and got very wet.

M & K
 
Looks like the crossing will be pretty nice at least on the way over:

Today...SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 or 2 ft. Chance of showers.

Tonight...SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 or 2 ft. Chance of showers.

Fri...E wind 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft. chance of showers in the morning.
 
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