2019 Annual Roaming Rondy (ARR) - Chatterbox Falls

[Kimberly Dawn]

I'm excited to present the 2nd Annual Roaming Rondy (ARR) for 2019. This year the marque destination will be Chatterbox Falls in Princess Louisa Inlet, British Columbia. You can participate in one or all ports of call, you just need to notify me of your participation for my headcount to the ports.

The start of our trip will be a relaxed mixer at Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes. It's a great place to put in for trailered boats or an easy destination for Puget Sound boaters. Next is another stop at La Conner... we had such a good time last year!

If you’ve never crossed the border into Canadian waters, Ganges is a very easy-going marina nestled in a delightful little island town. It is a great place to provision coming from the US, and in our case, a stepping stone to crossing the Strait of Georgia. Canadian Customs in Bedwell Harbor is in line with your navigation to Ganges from US waters, and for those of you with NEXUS cards, Ganges is a Trusted Travelers destination marina with Customs check-in.

There are limited accommodations at Backeddy and John Henry marinas, as well as dock space at Chatterbox Falls, which is on a first-come, first-served basis. Backeddy and John Henry marinas have generous cancellation policies, so I urge you to call and make your reservations now to secure moorage and cancel later if necessary. Mention the Roaming Rondy and let me know when you've made reservations for my trip headcount.

I will coordinate a group reservation with Cap Sante, LaConner and Ganges, so I need early notification of your participation for my port headcount. A running list of participants will be time-stamped upon receipt to the email address below.

Please send the following information (Boat Name, Length, Skipper’s Name, Power Requirements, Tie Preference) to:

Bob Giles
roaming.rondy@gmail.com

Here is the 2019 Annual Roaming Rondy float plan:

August 21, 22 - Cap Sante Marina (Anacortes), VHF 66A

August 23, 24 - Port of Skagit Marina (LaConner), VHF 66A

August 25, 26 - Ganges Marina (Saltspring Island). See note #1. VHF 66A

August 27 - Backeddy Marina (Sechelt Peninsula). See note #1.
(800) 626-0599 (Kristine), VHF 66A

August 28, 29 - Chatterbox Falls (Princess Louisa Inlet). See note #1.

August 30, 31 - John Henry Marina (Labor Day Weekend)
(604) 883-2336 (Megan), VHF 66A

September 1 - Cap Sante Marina (optional)

As usual, this is a non-sponsored, self-supported event, where each boater is responsible for moorage fees upon arrival, and observing the US/Canada Border Crossing rules.

Looking forward to seeing you this summer at one or all Roaming Rondy Ports of Call!

Clear skies, flat water and tight lines!

Bob
The Doghouse 2
MMSI: 368050260
425.327.7291

Note #1: as a weather-related safeguard for the Strait of Georgia crossing, it may be necessary to stay 8/27 in Ganges, pushing back Backeddy Marina to 8/28, therefore shortening our stay at Chatterbox Falls to one night, 8/29.

 

[baz]

Bob:

Thanks for posting this... I assume one can join the ARR at any one of the Marinas, right ?

Just checking the nautical distances from LaConner to Bedwell and then onto Ganges to be done Sunday August 25.

LaConner to Bedwell is some 41 nm / 47 miles (via Deception Pass)
Bedwell to Ganges is some 14 nm / 16 miles

Assuming a 1 hr layover to dock and clear customs at Bedwell, a cruise speed of...

1) 12 mph requires approx 6.25 hrs of travel time
or
2) 15 mph requires approx 5.2 hrs of travel time
or
3) 20 mph requires approx 4.2 hrs of travel time
or
4) 35 mph requires approx 3 hrs of travel time :lol:

The August timeframe is probably the best weather period we have traditionally in the PNW as well. 😀

Personally, I like LaConner very much. It has many shops, taverns, eateries, antique shops, picture galleries and craft shops. One of my favorites is The Wood Merchant http://www.woodmerchant.com. If you're a wood-lover this shop will not disappoint; wonderful hand-made rocking chairs, jewelry boxes, butcher block tables and very fine hand made house furniture items (can be expensive mind you). Many years ago we bought a wonderful (and very heavy) Cherry butcher block table and two companion Cherry stools and the owners hauled it themselves from LaConner to my home in Edmonds free of charge. It's easy to spend a full hour browsing this shop. The Main Street is a mere 5 min walk from the Marina.

Also, the fuel dock at LaConner probably offers the lowest prices for diesel/petrol-gasoline in the north PNW area.

Overnight docking is best done securing a position on the inside of the dock finger. If on the outside you will be subject to much rocking as boats transit along the main channel. Typical, only the big boats dock on the outside. The running current can be quite strong at 7 kts easily so plan your arrival for slack time if you can. Review http://www.portofskagit.com/la-conner-marina/navigating-the-swinomish-channel/

 

[Kimberly Dawn]

Barry,

You're right in thinking you can join the group at any port or all ports. Cap Sante, La Conner and Ganges require group reservations be made / coordinated under a single group leader. Our moorage at La Conner will be at the north marina, on the inside. South end of Swinomish Slough was dredged this past fall, making navigation past hole-in-the-wall to Saratoga Passage much more comfortable.

Bob
The Doghouse 2

 

[baz]

Bob:

I like this ARR schedule, and especially for the month of August as it's typically the best weather here in the PNW.

I'm going to make dock reservations at
1) Cap Sante Marina (Anacortes)
2) Port of Skagit Marina (LaConner)
3) Ganges Marina (Saltspring Island)

as a starting point.

I'm not sure at this time about my passengers but have invited family members and friends from UK to give them first choice, and the airfares from London to Seattle via BA are at an all time low and may well be BREXIT related for all I know. I'm off to UK in May and already have secured a round trip Seattle to London for just under $500. That really is an all time low for me compared to what I've paid over the past 50 years or so. If my UK folks can't make it this year my local family will no doubt want to come along.

I'm so looking forward to this ARR and want to check out how well my R29 CB handles this cruise with passengers onboard for several days and nights. I don't want to 'race around' and will cruise at a leisurely pace so passengers can take in all the lovely scenery we have in the PNW and the Canadian waters.

 

[bill j]

We are in! We have a CW 302 Coupe (outboards). I have made reservations at Backeddy and John Henrys Marinas. We will plan to meet up with you at Ganges on Aug 25, 2019. Look forward to making the trip with all of you - Bill Johnston

 

[Kimberly Dawn]

I have made a change to the float plan, inserting Gibsons Marina, Howe Sound, BC, between Ganges and Backeddy marinas. This modification will reduce the Ganges-to-Backeddy distance of +/- 75 nm to Ganges-to-Gibsons distance of +/- 40 nm.

We will stay at Ganges Marina Sunday 8/25, leaving 8/26 for Gibsons Marina for one night, leaving 8/27 for Backeddy Marina. Each of these dates will be pushed back one day for weather crossing the Strait of Georgia, if necessary.

I will coordinate a group reservation with Cap Sante, LaConner, Ganges and Gibsons marinas, so I will need early notification of your participation for my headcount to the port harbormasters. You are still urged to call Backeddy and John Henry marinas for reservations... they have generous cancellation policies.

See the Float Plan Map at: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=12584

Looking forward to seeing you on the water!

Clear skies, flat water and tight lines!

Bob & Kim
The Doghouse 2

 

[Kimberly Dawn]

Hello to All,

I am making yet another change to the float I feel will benefit those participating.

When I inserted Gibsons into our plan it was to reduce a challenging 75nm day. In doing this I created a series of one-nighters, which does not have a comfortable pace in retrospect.

I am now eliminating LaConner from our itinerary and going directly from Cap Sante (Anacortes) to Ganges Marina, Saltspring Island, BC for Friday 8/23, Saturday 8/24, Sunday 8/25, leaving Monday 8/26 for Gibsons. I will coordinate these three ports as a group, so I will need your information (Boat name/ Length/Skipper's name/ Power requirements/ Tie preference) to provide to the harbormaster/wharfinger.

Looking forward to seeing you on the water!

Clear skies, flat water and tight lines!

Bob Giles
The Doghouse 2
425.327.7291

 

[scross]

Bob,
If you have any problems getting reservations at Gibson’s, I’d recommend checking out Secret Cove. Really nice marina, fuel dock and well stocked marina store. Shortens your trip while keeping you away from WG. It’s 52.2 nautical miles from Ganges and about 23 nm closer than Gibson’s to Backeddy Marina in Egmont.