Juan de Fuca Crossing

[sjreib]

Going to and from the San Juans from the Seattle area, what is the maximum wind speed that folks feeling comfortable crossing the straits as opposed to transiting Saratoga Passage and Deception Pass knowing that wind direction and current are also considerations. Better to have the wind and current with you than opposed.

Thanks

 

[Red Raven]

For us 15 knots is the limit for comfort. We have encountered and handled worse but it is not fun. Boating is supposed to be fun so if bigger winds are predicted we adjust our route or don't go out.

 

[knotflying]

Been both in the PNW and East coast. Same here, 15MPH is our limit. Seas above four feet are also a no go and that all depends on how far apart. If they are rollers than we would push that limit higher.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

for the straight there are other factors

1. westerly swell vs wind waves
2. southerly wind vs ebb tides in rosario straight

i went across for 4th of July. there was Gale warning in the straight so went up the backside of whidbey. I timed it right to give me the option for a deception pass run on the tides but last minute chose the swinomish channel route as a gale westerly on any ebb current coming out of deception pass is very ugly.

good thing I did the channel as the straight was fogged in as well as windy.

its about 3 hours to 3:30 from elliot bay to La conner/deception pass at 15 -18 knots. if you go through deception pass its a total run of 5 hours to Roche harbor. if you go via swinomish channel, guemes channel, thatcher pass its 6 hours from elliot bay to Roche.
if you go straight across the straight you cut the time to 4:30.

if its even remotely bad weather go the long way; its way more pleasant and very easy to go up the swinomish channel. evne stop for lunch in La conner 🙂

the other thing to watch is ebb tide in rosario straight. it can get pretty lumpy beam seas if going the channel route just plan for slack in rosario and its super easy.

 

[NorthernFocus]

Are you asking about actual wind speed or forecasted wind speed according to NOAA? In many places, particularly around mountainous terrain, local conditions vary significantly from the forecast. So are you asking what is the max forecasted wind that people are comfortable with?

 

[sjreib]

Thanks Tugnutters,
I am asking about weather forecasts so I can plan my route accordingly. Usually a day earlier if going to the SJ's via the east side of Whidbey. Sounds like 15knots is the cutoff for reasonable boating conditions, but I'll probably be a bit on the conservative side. Taking wind direction and current will also influence the decision. Good to know about Rosario Strait.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

the puget sound marine forecast is pretty generic. if it says 5-15 knots i go. for seattle summer weather go in the morning. the wind always builds in the afternoon. if it says small craft advisory 15-25 knots I try and avoid.

this page is pretty useful for getting a picture on the sound and up in the straight. I bookmark it on the phone and load it up as I head up the sound in case things change. I think its updated every 3 hours.

https://www.atmos.washington.edu/data/marine_report.html