Routes to Victoria

[ferniemartinez]

Advice please. We are taking Blessings (r-29) for her first trip out of the country this weekend. Blessings is cool, but the crew is a bit nervous. We've tentatively planned our route, but wanted to get the "OK" of the experienced Captains. What is the best route to Victoria from Anacortes going through the San Juans? We want to avoid the Rosarita Strait as much as possible. Recommendations for best place to clear customs on the way in and the way back? Any other suggestions?
Thanks so much! Neophytes Captain Fernando and Mate Sunny

[Karma]

Fernando and Sunny,
I personally would run along the south end of the islands. If the weather should get ugly you can always duck into Cattle Pass and go around the north side of San Juan Island.

Clearing Canadian Customs can be done in Victoria. Just be prepared to answer all of their questions without any hesitation (not quite the way I did). My hesitation resulted in an inspection of Karma. Have your Washington Registration number handy, as well as passport numbers. They will also ask you where you are a citizen of.... this through me for a lope as I had never been asked this question before....

Clearing back into the US I would suggest Friday Harbor.

Have fun!!!!

[Lobo]

We live in Victoria and plan on being here over the weekend -- so give us a call at 250-472-2069 or 250-721-4201. We will be happy to answer your questions and guide you, etc. etc.

Dave & Lynne
"Lobo"

[Auklet]

Fernando and Sunny --- Ask ten skippers for a route and you will get ten routes. We live here in Anacortes and my brother lives in Sidney. Needless to say we travel this route often. Our route is to go out Guemes and right across to Thatcher. This time of year I wouldn't worry about Rosario (At my age I would definitely avoid Rosarita). Sometimes on an extreme ebb Rosario can get lumpy for about two miles in the middle so just slow down. This is caused by four different currents coming together. From Thatcher on, you are in protected water. From here I would go through Harney Channel to Pole Pass. From Deer Harbor go out Spieden Channel to Battleship Rock. (It really looks like one.)

This is where you have to make a decision. There has been a lot of morning fog here lately. If you get here in the afternoon you want to put in at Roche or what I do is go north to Stuart and tie up in Reid Harbor. I don't know when customs closes, better ask Lobo.

From Battleship you can go across to Sidney for customs then head south. Or you can go south from Battleship directly to Discovery and then around to Victoria Harbour for customs. Either way just watch out for big ships, they come by real fast.

Sounds like a great trip. The weather should be perfect. --- Cary

[Kamalani]

You guys are making me envious! Are there launch facilities in Skyline Marina?

[Auklet]

Kamalani --- The answer is yes, but I don't know much about it. We don't have a trailer so I can only tell you what I see. There is a ramp at Washington Park with parking for your rig. Some problems here at minus tides. This is used mostly by fishermen for daily use. Can't tell you much about security but have never heard of any problems. Probably the best launch is the travelift at Cap Sante. Good parking for short term and long term with 24 hour patrols. This is also in town which means walking to good shopping, provisioning, and chandleries. If you have any other questions, just ask and I will try to get you an answer. --- Cary (Auklet)