PNW passage advice?

[brianc]

Hey - First post, I hope this is the right fourm! I'm looking for any advice on my travel plans this weekend.

Pending any changes in the forecast I'm planning on heading out of Anacortes early Friday morning (daybreak) across the Strait of Juan De Fuca to Port Townsend on a 33 foot sailboat which cruises under power at just under 7 knots.

The trip is about 30 miles give or take so I should be at Admiralty Inlet around 11 am which is at the beginning of the ebb. I am planning to stay close to the eastern edge of the inlet to get a little less current against me and to avoid the rip at Point Wilson.

This is my first trip across the strait and Admiralty Inlet so I want to make sure I don't do anything stupid or unsafe.

Thoughts?

Backup plans are Deception Pass on the flood in the AM and then find somewhere to stay, possibly Oak Harbor or Everett.

Marine forecast as of 3am this morning (5/16)...

Eastern strait... FRI...W WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING 10 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT.

Admiralty Inlet.. FRI...S WIND 10 KT...BECOMING N IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS.

Thanks!

[Capt Phil]

Take your rain gear! Phil

[Cheechako]

Sounds like you have a good plan, figure on 5.5 knots max. for the trip ... just to be safe. Watch crossing if it's foggy, ferrys and tanker travel at 20-25 knots. You aren't really getting much into the straight, but if the wind is 20, be prepared to reef. If it's (South) windy to anchor at PT Townsend you can go across south to Marrowstone/Indian Island and anchor. or head down toward the cut between those islands and the peninsula and have dinner at the great Ajax Cafe in Port Hadlock! Favorite hangout of the Movie Stars when they made "An Officer and a Gentleman"

[senormechanico]

We're on the West side of Whidbey Island, just North of Bush Point.
When I return from the San Juans, I generally go pretty much down the middle between Whidbey and Point Wilson.
There are rips on both sides, although it's usually worse on the West side.
We usually try to time slack near Smith Island so we have enough depth to enter our community's canal system.

I wouldn't want to end up like this guy.
He had just purchased the boat and was leaving on an ebb.
He wouldn't take our advice when he still could have gotten off, and wound up sitting there all day.

That small boat is Vessel Assist in a vain attempt to pull him out.

[brianc]

Hey - thanks for the responses!

I made the passage this morning in five hours, completely calm the entire way and hit Admiralty inlet right at the end of the flood so no rips to deal with.

Brian

[evm1024]

Originally Posted by brianc

Hey - thanks for the responses!

I made the passage this morning in five hours, completely calm the entire way and hit Admiralty inlet right at the end of the flood so no rips to deal with.

Brian

Good planning pays off. Well done!

[Capt Phil]

Good planning, brianc... it paid off. More should do what you did. A little research, well found boat and take off. Can be a bit of a washing machine when the wind blows hard down the straits and the current is opposite. Cheers, Phil