Cruising Buddies to Rendezvous?

D

Dcsqatar

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 11, 2018
Messages
106
Fluid Motion Model
R-29 S
Vessel Name
Beautiful Red
MMSI Number
338348082
My wife and I are 1 month new owners of a R29S, and looking forward to our first Rendezvous. We are not only new to Ranger Tugs but also to the PNW, having just retired and moved from Texas. Not to worry, I am not new to boating, and we already have 25 hrs on our tug.

We are planning to take our time going from the Seattle area to the Rendezvous to arrive on Wednesday. Thinking about two overnight stops along the way. If anyone is interested in cruising with us, please let me know.

Doug & Mei Smith
 
Doug and Mei,

We're heading up from Everett on Monday the 2nd, not sure when we're leaving but aiming to hit Deception Pass at 12:30pm for slack tide. Then tootling up to Fossil Bay (Sucia) or Reid Harbor (Stuart). Leaving our plans really flexible before heading into Roche on Thursday.

We're a 2019 R-29CB, blue hull with red stripe.

We'll keep our eyes open for you, and at least track you down on the Rendezvous to introduce ourselves.

Enjoy your 29, they're fantastic boats!
 
We'll be leaving La Conner in a Red R29S on Wednesday early afternoon Roche Harbor Bound..
This may be the "long way" from Seattle, but La Conner is nice town and might be worth a stop if you are interested. Call Ahead. They typically have plenty of transient moorage, but they are dredging the marina and some local boats are required to use the Transient docks....

Rocky
 
We to are out of La Conner on Wednesday heading for Roche. It really is a pretty cool little town. Worth the trip I think.
 
We just took delivery of our new R29 CB a couple weeks ago. I’ll be heading out from the port of Edmonds on Wednesday, cruising solo. Still not sure which route or which stops along the way I’ll be taking. Really looking forward to it as I’ve never been to Roche Harbor.
 
Doug and Mei,

Welcome and congratulations on your new Tug. We too are owners of a R29S. She’s 11 month old! We’re newly retired and relocated to the Port Orchard area from Oregon. This will be our first Roche Harbor Rendezvous also. We are planning to leave Port Orchard on Monday the 2nd and wouldn’t mind company for the trip north. No definite plans are made at this time so we would be happy to discuss this with you. We just came back from a fantastic trip to Desolation Sound a couple of weeks ago and would love to share our experiences cruising the PNW. We have been cruising this area for approximately 17 years off and on.

PM me if you wish to consider cruising to the rendezvous together or we certainly look forward to meeting you in Roche Harbor!

Will and Robin

Freedom
R29S “blue hull”
 
Taggin on here
Two RTs with outboards are leaving Elliott Bay
On Thursday morning going to Roche
If any others want to join in please do
PM me or respond on this thread
We’re leaving fro K dock and L dock
 
How about a pre-rendezvous Rendezvous? We have five tugs rendezvousing in Victoria, B.C. the 2nd and 3rd prior to going to Roche on the 4th. All are welcome so make a reservation at Victoria and join us for a blast before the blast!
 
Hey All --

We're leaving for Roche on Wednesday the 4th from Bell Harbor in Seattle (we're there starting Sunday, from our home-base in Olympia). Planning on doing the Seattle to Roche leg in one shot. Still undecided on the inside or outside passage from Bell Harbor, but would love to hear others thoughts. This will be our first time North of Kingston (just moved from New England) -- any guidance or thoughts would be appreciated.

For the return trip, we're heading out Saturday for Kingston.

We have the R29 Classic (blue hull)...and are moored at Swantown (B-Dock) and frequently at Arabella's landing in GIg (where we were this weekend!).

Gus
585-943-5349
 
Ernie":2bf1ldvl said:
Taggin on here
Two RTs with outboards are leaving Elliott Bay
On Thursday morning going to Roche
If any others want to join in please do
PM me or respond on this thread
We’re leaving fro K dock and L dock
Click to expand...

i think we will leave early thursday morning from elliot bay (E Dock). Cutwater 28.
im probably going to cruise at 18 knots. what you guys doing with the outboards?

looking at deepzoom tides. a 6am departure puts me at slack at deception pass about 3 hours later. if I am late I will be going with the flow - no dramas. going early means I will have 4 knots on the nose at port townsend if the Juan de fuca straight is calm.

Rosario straight looks much better around 11:30 as the tide drops. with a northerly which is pretty typical Rosario may be a washing machine at 9:30 still but early morning should be fine. just a question of how much wind is out there.
hmm a 7am departure might be a better choice if going via deception or a 9am if going via port townsend.
 
We are cruising on Wednesday the 4th from Tacoma Narrows Marina. Doug and Mei Smith (@Dcsqatar), we too are recently retired and transplanted from Austin, Texas to Fox Island. We are new to cruising PNW with our recently purchased 2015 Cutwater 30CB.

Our plan is to go straight to Roche in one day using the outside passage if good weather. Anybody else cruising that way and want to cruise with us or anybody with experience have suggestions/concerns?

Gary and Margo
 
Just as a FYI....

I've cruised up to Roche on several occasions in a 2010 R-25 Classic (Edmonds to Roche), a 2016 R-21 EC (trailered to Anacortes and then to Roche), and a 2018 R27/OB (Edmonds to Roche via Deception pass without any regards to tide/current at the pass) --- all done in one day. The R25 and R21EC took the longest as you would expect. The R27/OB going at close to full speed (fairly calm seas) took around 3 hrs at best going either way using shortest route.

I now have the 2019 R29 CB NW Edition but will not be going to Roche for the RT's GTG this year.

IMO (I've made all these routes over the past years)

1) Shortest/fastest: From Seattle or Edmonds going up Admiralty Inlet to Port Townsend, then across the 'open' Juan de Fuca Strait to go between Lopez Island and San Juan Island into Griffin Bay, then on up to swing past Friday Harbor, then on up to Roche is quite likely the shortest and fastest route to take. The Juan de Fuca Strait weather is the one to watch out for.

2) A slower route would be to go up through Saratoga Passage up to Deception Pass and then on up across Rosario Strait to Lopez Pass and then into to Lopez Sound, then continue up east side, and of Lopez Island to Harney Channel, then make your way west to Deer Harbor / North Pass, then up to Roche via San Juan Channel and Spieden Channel then round over to Roche.

3) A slower (more time consuming) and safer route is to go up through Saratoga Passage up to Skagit Bay and then pass Goat Island and take the 1 hr long ride north along the Swinomish Channel, passing La Conner (no wake speed of around 4-5 kts) on up to Anacortes and into Guemes Channel, then going west and over to Thatcher Pass, then onto and through Harney Channel, then make your way west to Deer Harbor / North Pass, then up to Roche via San Juan Channel and Spieden Channel then round over to Roche. If you have time break the trip up into two stretches; Seattle/Edmonds to La Conner and stay the night at Port of Skagit in La Conner or at Cap Sante Anacortes (if there on Wed drop in on the Pizza party that others have traditionally been to -- Ref here -> http://www.tugnuts.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13474&p=91202&hilit=Nellie#p91202).

In all cases, have sufficient fuel on board, and check the weather before leaving and while cruising to Roche.

Enjoy the Roche Harbour RT GTG.
 
Hi Gavin and others at Elliot Bay
The long range forecast makes 7am to 11am look pretty smooth all the way through admiralty inlet with slack at admiralty around 11
If that holds I like the outside route and I like casting off at 8 to 9
Gavin said he cruises at 18
My boat loves 25, but for company I could see trying to stay under 20
PM me if you want to talk about it
 
To the Crew leaving Elliott Bay Marina — We’re leaving Wednesday from Bell Harbor Marina. Plan right now is to leave about 8am (just ahead of High Tide), and take the outside passage through the open part of Juan De Fuca, then tuck into the inside between San Juan and Lopez island. Weather and Tides look to be with us.

We’re a classic, so we run at about 14kts. Happy to see anyone along the way. Will be our first trip North, so any guidance or advice is welcomed!

Gus
M/V Epiphany
585-943-5349
 
The San Juan Island area is famous for it's fog conditions (especial early AM). Make sure you have your radar skills onboard and if using AIS Rx & Tx that also can be useful. Boat's of all speeds will need to go slow. :roll: Take care.
 
Gus
One thing I’d say is to stay well east as you pass port Townsend and point Wilson area
That point can be a mess. Just notice that even the ships and Clipper swing wide right in that area.
Another idea is to stay open to going inside as you approach the bottom of Whidbey
Read the conditions and look at real time conditions at Smith island an hour out to help decide if you want to continue on outside
 
Thanks to everyone for the insight. We found a ‘boating buddy’ and are on our way. We look forward to seeing you all in Roche Harbor.

Doug & Mei Smith
R29S Beautiful Red
 
Ernie we will be late to the marina on Thursday after some late flights back from work. So I think the earliest we will escape Seattle will be around 10 onwards as we will still need to fuel up and pump out before leaving. . I don’t want to hold you up.

Looking at the latest marine forecast definitely worth getting under way still in the morning for us in case 20 knots arrives early.
 
Forecast for the outside looks a little sketchy for first thing in the AM, but still planning on it and will decide when we get to Whidbey, hopefully around 10/10:30.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there and hopefully on the trip up!
 
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