Cruise to Gulf Islands-June 12th through 20th

[Stella Maris]

Maureen and I will be taking Karma to the Southern Gulf Islands departing Seattle on June 12th returning on the 20th. We have no definite cruise plan at this time. Points we would like to visit would include, Victoria, Poets Cove, Sucia Island, Sidney Spit MP just to name a few. We plan to travel four to six hours per day at about nine knots.

Anyone that would be interested in coming along is welcome. In order to not have people such as Dennis and Darlene as well as Herb and June backtracking, we would coordinate meeting points where people would hook up. Barry, this would go for you and Gill as well. As we approach Edmonds, we could give you a call and you could hook up with us as we pass by.

Anyone interested, please let me know. All cruise destinations will be subject to change based on weather, currents, or just plain having too much fun where we are at not wanting to leave just yet.... This will be a casual cruise designed to relax and take life a bit slower!

 

[j&lgray]

Our plans are loose at this point, so we might be around for a Gulf Island trip, but it would have to include the Saturna Island winery and a Saturday in Ganges for the famous Farmers/Artists Market . . . just some suggestions.

Laurie

 

[Stella Maris]

Did you say Winery....... I am sure that we can work a winery tour into the schedule.......

 

[Zuma]

Zuma would love to come on this adventure... count us in!

 

[Nellie Too]

I agree with John and Laurie, Ganges is a must. There is anchorage just to the south of the island in a bay. I will look at the chart and identify the island. We will look at our schedule.
Bob

 

[Stella Maris]

Imagine, mention wine and everyone starts jumping on board....... You all do understand, wine is the blood of life.... it is made with grapes as you are well aware..... grapes are a fruit..... you should have five helpings of fruits and vegetables a day..... five glasses of wine..... five servings of fruit! Throw in some crackers to cover the grain and a little cheese. Now you have three of the five food groups covered! Glad we are all looking out for our health!!!!

Ganges is a must as well as the winery tour on Saturna Island. Victoria would be fun. Moor at the base of the Empress Hotel in downtown!

I will work on an itinerary this week and get it posted. Again, this would all be subject to change due to weather, current, fun, wine, or just for the heck of it! This is the fun cruise! Bring your party hats!!!!!!

Four vessels so far have expressed interest! Again, no set starting point. We come up with various "hook up" points along the way. "Hook Up", cruise away! So far it appears that Maureen and I will have the longest day starting in Port Orchard. We will "hook up" with Bob and Nita outside Shilshole Bay Marina/Agate Pass. From there we will cruise north and hook up with John and Laurie around Everett. Lyman and Jeneane, not sure where you will put in. Wherever that may be, we will all hook up and cruise to the first nights destination! As others join, we will determine times and locations to "Hook Up"!

Southern Gulf Island Tour
June 12th – 20th

1. David and Maureen, R-29, Karma
2. John and Laurie, R-25, Laurie Ann
3. Lyman and Jeneane, R-29, Zuma
4. Bob and Nita, R-29, Nellie Too

 

[tim&kim]

Kim and I would be good to hook up for a few days....maybe meet you in Ganges ( which is a must )....Silva Bay is also a great place to spend an evening.....may be by June the "boat" will have a name!

Tim and Kim
R29
Gibsons, B.C.

 

[Lobo]

More than likely we'll trip over you somewhere along the way.

Places to look at:

Annette Bay on Prevost Island (nice lunch stop or overnight)
Long Harbour on Salt Spring Island (at the head -- very sheltered and peaceful)
Wallace Island -- Princess Bay or Connover Cove
Pirates Cove Marine Park
Portland Island -- Princess Margaret Marine Park -- both north and south anchorages

All above are anchorages, no moorage costs, no facilities other than scenery.

A nice moorage is Otter Bay Marina on Pender Island. Reasonable prices, pool, a bit of supplies, sheltered.

In Bedwell good free anchorage, or reasonably priced mooring buoys at the marine park, or you can wear out your Visa Card at Poets Cove with pool, bars, some supplies (also Canadian Customs).

Port Browning marina, also on Pender (and just across Plumper Sound from the Saturna winery) has both free moorage (row to shore) and docks. In not great condition, but safe. A half-mile walk to a good grocery store, liquor store, etc.

Cabbage Island Marine Park (east side of Saturna Island), close to USA border (and Sucia) is a nice place. Buoys (fee) and good anchorage (free).

You don't have to travel that much between these places. Any questions -- just ask.

Dave

 

[Stella Maris]

The planned itinerary for now is:
June 12th, Depart Seattle. Overnight in Deception Pass Marina area or Hope Island MP
June 13th, Run Deception on morning slack. If weather is good, shoot straight across to Victoria. Spend Sunday and Monday night in Victoria
June 14th, Spend second night in Victoria
June 15th, Sidney Spit MP
June 16th, Saturna Island Winery
June 17th, Bedwell Harbor
June 18th, Ganges
June 19th, Farmers market in Ganges, then on to Friday Harbor to clear customs and overnight
June 20th, Back to Seattle we go...

Of course, all of the above are subject to weather and whether or not we decide to stay, move on, change directions, it's called cruising........ go where the tides, winds, and desires take you!!!

1. David and Maureen, R-29, Karma
2. John and Laurie, R-25, Laurie Ann
3. Lyman and Jeneane, R-29, Zuma
4. Bob and Nita, R-29, Nellie Too
5. Tim and Kim, R-29, "The Boat"
6. Dave and Lynn, R-25, Lobo

 

[patrick]

Hi There Since i live on salt Spring {ganges} let me know if i can help with arrangments here . we can provide transportation or help with moorage .

thank You
patrick { Thats it R-25 }

 

[Auklet]

David and Maureen --- More local knowledge from the old geezer.

Cross Hope Island off your itinerary. Nothing there. As the mooring buoys sink or float away the state is not replacing them. I think there are only two left. The currents are horrible. We did go ashore once but had a heck of a time getting back to the boat. Best to go on to Coronet Bay.

Even Coronet has a small caveat. There are two piers. The "T" pier that is attached to land and the outer pier that is not. I would choose the outer pier and dinghy in to shore. The "T" pier looks good during the day but it is used by fishermen all night. They squabble and yell at each other and at one point they actually got into a big fight right next to our boat. Other than that this is a wonderful place to stop. It's a busy place that has excellent facilities. Another choice, depending on the slack in the pass, would be Bowman Bay. Good anchorage, mooring bouys, and another free standing pier back in the south corner that all of you can tie up to.

Sounds like a great trip.

 

[j&lgray]

I agree about Hope Island and Cornet Bay. The floats in Cornet Bay are not connected to the shore, but it could be fun to have the entire float full of Ranger Tugs. We have never tied up at the docks on shore just because of the fishermen. Another thought is there is a good boat launch at Cornet Bay for anyone needing to haul there boat and then put it in the water. A little pricey to keep your vehicle parked, but it is convenient.

About the Saturna Winery . . . last time we were there, there was room for only about two boats at the small day-use only dock. So we might have to plan for "boat pooling" for that day trip. There is an anchorage around the corner to the north called Winter Cove that is very nice IF the winds are in the right direction. We've also anchored in Browning Harbor on the east side of North Pender Island.

But as we all know, be flexible and avoid a schedule if at all possible!

Laurie

 

[Stella Maris]

This is the great thing about Tugnuts!!!! I tossed the itinerary out there, and we got some great feedback! We had gone past Cornet Bay and it looked great during the day! However, we did not know about the issue with the fishermen. As for Hope, all the guide books give it a pretty good write up. Local knowledge pays off! If we time it right, we may be able to get through Deception and go into Bowman Bay. If Cornet becomes the destination, the outer floats would be fine.

As for Saturna, Laurie as you and John have been there, is there an Anchorage or marina within five miles that we could overnight at. We could take two vessels over to the winery for the tour. Would it be feasible to stay at Poets and go over for the tour? If we were to do that, we would have one other night to visit another location.

Patrick, Thanks for the offer to assist! We may take you up on that. Hopefully you will follow along on the blog and catch up with us at some point if only for a day.

Like Laurie stated in her thread, this is only a tentative schedule.... if the weather does not cooperate...... we could end up someplace totally opposite of what the thoughts were! Maureen and I do not follow a schedule when boating. We put together what I would call a wish list and if it works out it works out. If it doesn't, we almost always end up having more fun than what we thought we would!

 

[patrick]

Hi there I will diffintly catch up some time along the cruise . my sugestion re saturna island is to stay at Browning harbour the have fixed it up a lot and it is a shorter run to saturna .

thanks pat

 

[Stella Maris]

June and Herb on Sea Sweeper jumped in today for the cruise to the Southern Gulf Islands in June! We now have seven boats making our way north. Let's see if we can get to 20!!!!

1. David and Maureen, R-29, Karma
2. John and Laurie, R-25, Laurie Ann
3. Lyman and Jeneane, R-29, Zuma
4. Bob and Nita, R-29, Nellie Too
5. Tim and Kim, R-29, “The Boat”
6. Dave and Lynn, R-25, Lobo
7. June and Herb, R-25, Sea Sweeper

 

[Lobo]

An ad in the April 2010 Pacific Yachting from the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority has the following points:

* Discounts available for groups of 7 or more vessels
* Group float available for gatherings
* Reservations accepted
* Enhanced security & gated access
* Power up-grades.

Moorage or Reservations: 1-877-783-8300
http://www.victoriaharbour.org

For those that haven't been into the inner harbour of Victoria, the docks are right in the middle of everything. There are two sets: one at the foot of the Empress Hotel (preferred) and one a block away (foot of Fort Street). "Everything" means you are within a block of the museum, Empress Hotel (quaint -- but expensive -- traditional English afternoon tea); shopping (hey, US dollars at PAR!); whale watching departures (OK, not so exciting to us); water taxi's around the harbour; Undersea Gardens; etc etc. The Customs dock is located between the two sets of wharves. If someone was coming later by ferry to join up, the docks are quite close to where the Coho comes in from Port Angeles or the Clipper from Seattle.

All marinas in BC are on VHF 66A.

If the plans to visit Victoria are firming up, perhaps some thought should be given to this if not already done.

Dave
"Lobo"

 

[Stella Maris]

Just bumping this forward as a reminder of the upcoming event!

 

[Zuma]

Counting the days to spend some time with my Tugnut family in the Gulf Islands!!! Steaks are marinating in the freezer, checking to see what requirements are necessary for taking the MacDog north with us and reading all the guides and charts. It's summer and time to head out here in the Pacific Northwest!

 

[Stella Maris]

While you are marinating the steaks, I am chilling the wine... I will be finalizing the route planning this next week. I will take into account everyones departure points so as nobody is traveling south to then go north..... If the weather is as beautiful in four weeks as it is now.... we will have a great time! Currently we have eight vessels that are planning to attend. They are as follows:

1. David and Maureen, R-29, Karma
2. John and Laurie, R-25, Laurie Ann
3. Lyman and Jeneane, R-29, Zuma
4. Bob and Nita, R-29, Nellie Too
5. Tim and Kim, R-29, “The Boat”
6. Dave and Lynn, R-25, Lobo
7. June and Herb, R-25, Sea Sweeper
8. Dennis and Darlene, R-25, Tug of My Heart

Anyone else wishing to go along, please shoot me a PM and I will add you to the list.

 

[Stella Maris]

Below is the itinerary for the Southern Gulf Island Cruise:

Saturday, June 12th:
Depart Port Orchard 5:00 am Arrive in Victoria Harbor 3:00 pm, overnight at Causeway Marina (each vessel needs to make a reservation 1-250-383-8326 ext. 243. Tell them you are coming in with a group of seven Ranger Tugs.

Sunday, June 13th:
Overnight in Victoria, Causeway Marina

Monday, June 14th:
Sidney Spit MP, Anchor or mooring balls

Tuesday, June 15th:
Winter Cove, Anchor

Wednesday, June 16th:
Open for suggestions

Thursday, June 17th:
Poets Cove Marina

Friday, June 18th:
Ganges, Marina, Mooring Balls, or Anchor

Saturday, June 19th:
Ganges Farmers Market, Depart Ganges 1:00 pm, Arrive Friday Harbor 5:00 pm (depending on the weather, Maureen and I may continue on further)

Sunday, June 20th:
Depart Friday Harbor 6:00 am Arrive Port Orchard 4:00 pm

Maureen and I will have the furthest to run on Saturday morning. We will hook up with Bob and Nita on Nellie Too around Kingston and continue north. Lyman and Jeneane, I am not sure where you will be launching from so you will let us know where we will hook up with you. Dennis, Darlene, Herb, and June, we will hook up with you as we pass by your homes.

Dave and Lynn live in Victoria so they will meet up with us there. Tim and Kim will be coming from Gibsons so they will meet up with us in Victoria. John and Laurie will catch up with us on Tuesday or Wednesday.

As with any "plan" when it comes to boating, all plans will be based on weather. We will not move if the weather is not conducive to safe travel.