Admiralty Inlet travel

[ddolacky]

Looking for some experienced skipper advice. I have a Cutwater 24. I’m considering heading from Port of Edmonds to Orcas Island. In past years I’ve traveled Saratoga Passage, through Deception Pass, across Rosario Strait, through Thatcher Pass and continue to Orcas Island. This time, for the first time, I’m considering traveling via Admiralty Inlet as I travel north to Rosario Strait.
Given acceptable marine weather conditions, is this a safe and acceptable route for my size craft? Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[watson1987]

If you've already gone through Deception Pass, you're already set for Admiralty Inlet. Most people who take the inside passage then go through La Conner and skip Deception completely when heading into the San Juans

In my opinion, you're more likely to hit adverse conditions in the Strait than in the Inlet.

In good/acceptable marine conditions you shouldn't have a problem, I don't like to cross the Strait if the wave forecast shows more than 3 foot waves.

 

[gswearin]

You need to mind the wind and current combo. With a wind against current situation Point Wilson gets really snotty. It doesn't take much wind to create steep waves that are rather unpleasant.

 

[ddolacky]

You need to mind the wind and current combo. With a wind against current situation Point Wilson gets really snotty. It doesn't take much wind to create steep waves that are rather unpleasant.

Thank you. Much appreciated.

 

[ddolacky]

You need to mind the wind and current combo. With a wind against current situation Point Wilson gets really snotty. It doesn't take much wind to create steep waves that are rather unpleasant.

Looking for some experienced skipper advice. I have a Cutwater 24. I’m considering heading from Port of Edmonds to Orcas Island. In past years I’ve traveled Saratoga Passage, through Deception Pass, across Rosario Strait, through Thatcher Pass and continue to Orcas Island. This time, for the first time, I’m considering traveling via Admiralty Inlet as I travel north to Rosario Strait.
Given acceptable marine weather conditions, is this a safe and acceptable route for my size craft? Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

If you've already gone through Deception Pass, you're already set for Admiralty Inlet. Most people who take the inside passage then go through La Conner and skip Deception completely when heading into the San Juans

In my opinion, you're more likely to hit adverse conditions in the Strait than in the Inlet.

In good/acceptable marine conditions you shouldn't have a problem, I don't like to cross the Strait if the wave forecast shows more than 3 foot waves.

Thank you. Much appreciated.

 

[Submariner]

Looking for some experienced skipper advice. I have a Cutwater 24. I’m considering heading from Port of Edmonds to Orcas Island. In past years I’ve traveled Saratoga Passage, through Deception Pass, across Rosario Strait, through Thatcher Pass and continue to Orcas Island. This time, for the first time, I’m considering traveling via Admiralty Inlet as I travel north to Rosario Strait.
Given acceptable marine weather conditions, is this a safe and acceptable route for my size craft? Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I have ran Admiralty a lot. We have three ways to get to the San Juan Islands from Everett: Deception, Swinomish Channel (which I refer to as the SLOWhomish channel), and Admiralty Inlet. Admiralty is rarely a pleasant ride regardless of the weather for us. I've been on the Eastern Bank fishing for halibut (East Entrance Strait of Juan De Fuca)... flat as glass with some fog... headed down Admiralty on the way home and found myself in 3 foot seas. Plus all the rip currents and commercial craft and the ferry that crosses it. I'll run Admiralty again, but it's never my first pick.

Here's a video LaZina and I did comparing the three waterways with some video of each waterway. Start around the 20:00 minute for the Admiralty portion.

 

[ddolacky]

I have ran Admiralty a lot. We have three ways to get to the San Juan Islands from Everett: Deception, Swinomish Channel (which I refer to as the SLOWhomish channel), and Admiralty Inlet. Admiralty is rarely a pleasant ride regardless of the weather for us. I've been on the Eastern Bank fishing for halibut (East Entrance Strait of Juan De Fuca)... flat as glass with some fog... headed down Admiralty on the way home and found myself in 3 foot seas. Plus all the rip currents and commercial craft and the ferry that crosses it. I'll run Admiralty again, but it's never my first pick.

Here's a video LaZina and I did comparing the three waterways with some video of each waterway. Start around the 20:00 minute for the Admiralty portion.

Really appreciate your response. I watched your video and, along with your valuable input on Admiralty travel, also gained helpful information to add to what I have experienced traveling through Deception Pass and the Swinomish Channel.

 

[Remedy2]

I'm with Submariner- I had a C24 for four years and moored in Edmonds and have made that run MANY times. After getting our a$$ kicked in the Strait and near Oak Harbor more than I care to admit, we always go "inside" and through Deception Pass. I don't care what the forecast calls for- been caught off guard too many times. For an underrated moorage- go up Swihomish and spend the night in La Connor. Great little town w some great restaurants.

 

[Submariner]

Really appreciate your response. I watched your video and, along with your valuable input on Admiralty travel, also gained helpful information to add to what I have experienced traveling through Deception Pass and the Swinomish Channel.

"through Deception Pass, across Rosario Strait, through Thatcher Pass and continue to Orcas Island".
Here's another tip...

When you come out of Deception, head to Lopez Pass instead of Thatcher. You'll avoid Belle and Bird rock, which are always lumpy when the tide is running. You'll also avoid the trifecta of ferry traffic that runs through Thatcher and up and around Lopez Island. Going through Lopez Pass avoids all that, and puts you into protected water quicker. It's the shortest path across Rosario. It also will put you on the east side of Lopez island as you are heading north. So when you go by Thatcher, you'll already be on the west side of the channel, far away from the ferry route.

I go over this in this video, start at timestamp 7:50.

 

[Submariner]

Really appreciate your response. I watched your video and, along with your valuable input on Admiralty travel, also gained helpful information to add to what I have experienced traveling through Deception Pass and the Swinomish Channel.

This video is newer and goes into Deception Pass in more detail. I should probably have LaZina pull this part out and make its own video titled "Deception Pass".

Start at timestamp 5:20 - 8:20, all about Deception pass.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

Deception pass in our boats is somewhat straightforward thanks to our speed and power - it's fine under 5knots. its a little more tense at 7+ 🙂
The worst scenario is when there is wind/waves from the west from the strait into an outgoing current at the pass. I did this exact scenario at the weekend with 5 knots of current coming at me as I entered deception. In that scenario the worst is not at the pass its actually about 300m from the entrance where the waves and current mix. the pass itself at 5 knots was pretty straight forward. worst bit was dodging the fishing boats sitting in the entrance!

it goes without saying that log watch is critical and closer to slack current is best! But slack current is a small window to hit if coming a few hours away.

another tip I would give is to trim the bow up as much as is reasonably possible before entering. worst thing you can do is bury the bow in a wave and lose steering control.

Another note on the inside path through saratoga passage is the wind and waves can really pick up on the beam as it comes across the bay from Penn Cove. that's often the worst piece of the trip.

If going the Swinomish channel route, couple things to note. yes you can go at basically any tide. buts it way more relaxing with more water under the keel.
You need to watch the weather in Guemes channel after you leave Anacortes

if going admiralty inlet. watch your course when heading to from cattle pass. its easy to get too close to smith island. some shallow water and kelp hanging out. I will only pick this route if the waves and wind is benign. Ive had luck and had pancake flat days in the straits.
I see Orcas on the west side of san juan islands 60% of the time. just keep clear.

 

[ddolacky]

Deception pass in our boats is somewhat straightforward thanks to our speed and power - it's fine under 5knots. its a little more tense at 7+ 🙂
The worst scenario is when there is wind/waves from the west from the strait into an outgoing current at the pass. I did this exact scenario at the weekend with 5 knots of current coming at me as I entered deception. In that scenario the worst is not at the pass its actually about 300m from the entrance where the waves and current mix. the pass itself at 5 knots was pretty straight forward. worst bit was dodging the fishing boats sitting in the entrance!

it goes without saying that log watch is critical and closer to slack current is best! But slack current is a small window to hit if coming a few hours away.

another tip I would give is to trim the bow up as much as is reasonably possible before entering. worst thing you can do is bury the bow in a wave and lose steering control.

Another note on the inside path through saratoga passage is the wind and waves can really pick up on the beam as it comes across the bay from Penn Cove. that's often the worst piece of the trip.

If going the Swinomish channel route, couple things to note. yes you can go at basically any tide. buts it way more relaxing with more water under the keel.
You need to watch the weather in Guemes channel after you leave Anacortes

if going admiralty inlet. watch your course when heading to from cattle pass. its easy to get too close to smith island. some shallow water and kelp hanging out. I will only pick this route if the waves and wind is benign. Ive had luck and had pancake flat days in the straits.
I see Orcas on the west side of san juan islands 60% of the time. just keep clear.

Thank you. Really appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.

 

[hansvillejohn]

I took my Ranger Tug 25sc from Hansville to Lopez Island on August 5th. We caught the last of the ebb tide past Port Townsend, slack tide through the straight and past Smith Island, and then the beginning of the flood tide into the east side of Lopez. The perfect combination, it was a little bumpy, but not bad. We have hit the dreaded "Point Wilson Rip" on an ebb tide before and it is no fun. A big ebb tide combined with a west wind up the straight can be dangerous, so check your forcast.

 

[GunkHoling]

I've made the run from Port Townsend to Lopez, and Lopez to Victoria, BC a few times now in our Cutwater 28. The worst trip so far was encountering 3ft+ chop from wind against tide through mosquito pass north of San Juan to make it across Haro Strait, then again near Victoria harbor. My advice is to go in calm weather, and if you start to encounter weather or tidal conditions then pay extra attention to the seabed topology especially near cattle pass, stick to the deeper water to avoid upwelling or steeper chop.

When I cross the strait I check 46088 for conditions, it logs wave height and wind. During day light you can get a 360 photo of conditions.

NDBC - Station 46088 Recent Data

National Data Buoy Center - Recent observations from buoy 46088 (48.332N 123.179W) - NEW DUNGENESS - 17 NM NE of Port Angeles, WA.

www.ndbc.noaa.gov