Marinas and Anchorages

• Pender Harbor, B.C.
• Bowin Island, B.C.

Randy stopped here on the way down to Vancouver. There's regular ferry service from the mainland, but it's clear that there's a special island attitude here.
• Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C.

There is plenty of moorage for transient stops of a few hours, but for overnight you've got to go further in False Creek. We've used this as a rendezvous spot for folks joining late and leaving early...the railroad station for the train from Seattle is within walking distance.
• Swartz Bay

Actually around the corner from SB, but the charts are on board Cheshire Cat. This is where Cheshire Cat (nee Lucky Lady) was moored when we first saw her. This is a complex bay with several marinas. One has to pay careful attention to markers, and we'd be reluctant to enter or exit this at night until we have lots more experience.
• Sidney, B.C.

We've delivered S/V Sunwood to this marina twice. Once, when we entered from the San Juans, we found clearing customs simple and convenient.
• Victoria, B.C.

The first time we visited Victoria was via Black Ball ferry from Port Angles, WA, on Memorial Day. We were sunning ourselves on the sundeck when Randy spotted a few pretty spinnakers on sailboats off to the side. As he stood up, he discovered several hundred more, due to a downwind start of the Swiftshure race. What a great introduction to the harbor (harbour :-)! Since then, we've visited Victoria several times by boat. It's a friendly place.
• Everett, WA

Although there's now a deepwater port for the Navy, the civilian marinas are tucked in along the XXX river. You've got to pay attention when entering as there's often a strong current pushing you sideways.
• Friday Harbor, WA

San Juan Island is the trendiest of the San Juan Islands. In spite of this, the marina is pretty down to earth (That can't possibly be the right metaphore for a marina!) Randy once helped a larger boat (50 foot sloop) tie up at the U.S. Custom's dock. In conversation he asked where the skipper was from. The reply was "I last lived ashore in Seattle, but this is now my home". Good attitude.
• Anacortes, WA

This is at the north end of the Swinomish Channel, the alternate route from the south. There are several marinas, including a large public marina with travel-lift, chandelry, and plenty of near by restaurants.
• Sunset Marina, Fidalgo Island, WA

Randy and Karin (R&C's daughter) once stopped here on the way home to Seattle. The crossing from the San Juan Islands had been rough, with a hard beat and lots of heel--enough that the cabin deck and bilge was fouled with overflow from the head. The good part of the story is that they were able to tie up where they had ample rinse water and free bilge pumping. One learns to pay attention to pump-out facilties!
• Port Townsend, WA

There are two marinas, one at each end of town. The large commercial/recreational marina at the south end also serves the USCG and US Customs. The snug little marina at the north end of town is the venue of the Wooden Boat Festival and many other events over the year. It's much closer to town, which makes it a more interesting stop.
• Hidden Bay, between Indian and XXX Islands, WA

The entrance is a long narrow passage, especially at load tide, which opens to a large, long, shallow bay. We once stopped here on the way back from Victoria, B.C., while guests aboard S/V Drop Out. The bottom is grassy, so you'll have to work a bit using a Danforth.
• Rosario, Orcas Island, WA

This is a nice stop...moorage gets you access to the swimming pool.
• Fishermans Bay, Lopez Island, WA

Once you get through a twisty entrance, a shallow bay opens up before you. There are two marinas and plenty of good anchorage. One treat is to go ashore to the restaurant at the head of the southernmost marina for dinner or just ice cream.
• Blind Bay, Shaw Island, WA

This is a sweet spot to stay while passing through the San Juans. It's within sight of the Orcas and Shaw Island ferry stops, so it's also a good rendezvous spot if someone is joining the party late or leaving the party early. Off season you're likely to find an empty mooring buoy, but at peak times you're likely to have to anchor.
• Oak Harbor, WA

We really like this place. It's a convenient place to stop when you've gotten out later than you'd like from Shilshole. The docks are in good shape, and it's a nice walk to the town center for dinner. Now that we're better equipped, we're likely to try anchoring out for the evening.
• Langley, WA

Randy came into this harbor after dark. Had he been better equipped, or had he more experience, he might have anchored out. As it was, he hunted down the entrance with a flashlight, and then entered at the South end with a bit of wind blowing out of the North. Fortunately he was able to manoever to a unused slip without banging into anything/anyone else. The next day he warped the boat to a slip which was much more convenient for departure. The next time the anchorage was crowded, but since the marina was full, we did anchor out.
• Edmunds, WA

Sometimes, when you just got go get out on the water, a quick hop like this will do the trick.
• Kingston, WA

This has served not only as a day sail destination, but a overnight destination as well.
• Poulsbo, WA

This is one of our favorite spots. Among other reasons, an early morning visit to the Poulsbo Bakery is the best way to start the day. One of our first visits was on the July 3rd. We weren't able to charter a boat for the 4th, so we decided to check out their alternate fireworks display. We had no idea how good it would be!
• Shilshole Marina, Seattle, WA

Before we moved to Seattle, we wondered if this marina's name was derived from "Shil's Hole" or "Shil Shoal". As far as we can tell, the answer is neither. This is the home port for S/V Sunwood, S/V Dawn Treader, and many other boats we've sailed on.
• Harbor Island Marina, Seattle, WA

This is S/V Cheshire Cat's home port. It's at the south end of Harbor Island, just off the Duwamish Waterway.
• Blake Island, WA

This is a favorite spot, in part because it's a brief hop from our home port, but also because of its setting. There are four sets of mooring buoys and a nice little pocket marina. All the mooring buoys are subject to weather and waves from traffic. The back side is rather steep-to, with strong reversing current. We once had an anchor pull free, and unless we've got exceptional ground gear, we'll always use the buoys. The other three areas appear to be suitable for anchorage. The marina has both traditional docks and a series of pilings between which one ties fore-aft.
• Gig Harbor, WA

Yet another narrow turning passage leads to this harbor. There are several marinas therein, and room to anchor.
• Angel Island, CA

Randy was cruising with his brother on his boat, S/V Lady Illusion, when they stopped here for the night. The most memorable part was when Randy jumped off the deck to the dock. The Columbia Coranado 45 has quite a bit of freeboard, and when he landed on some goose poop, there was no way he could keep his balance. Knowing how stupid the whole situation was, he couldn't help but laugh as he laid out flat on his back in the water in the next slip.
• Pittsburg, CA

Although S/V Lady Illusion draws nearly seven feet, it cruised part way up the Sacramento River. Randy recalls that when they stopped here, it wasn't at all obvious how they'd get back to the dock if we went ashore at night. He vaguely recalls someone having to climb a fence to open the gate for the others.