Quote:
Originally Posted by chuck1
Greetings All,
Long time reader (two years) first time poster. I want to be a good forum citizen so I tried to do many searches but nothing stuck out and I admit I didn't go through all 11 pages.
Back story. Wife and I got through our certifications and have been flying from SLC down to O.C, CA and chartering out of Newport Beach (boat sizes 32'-40') for a day here and there. A 3-4 hour sail once a quarter doesn't seem to be doing the trick. We know we need something more challenging to hone our limited skills. Our ultimate goal is to purchase and liveaboard (~45) by 2018 give or take depending on the health of parents.
I would like to charter in the PNW but don't know much and I hear the summer can be calm winds. I have vaca so I can go anytime. Any advice would be appreciated. Company, boat type size, good location for beginers e.t.c. Thanks in advance. |
Start to break down your PNW requirements. If you want lots of sailing then you are looking at April-June or September-October. You will still get some sailing in summer months but it will be sporadic and often just in the 5-10
knot range.
Where do you want to go and what do you want to do? US charter companies out of Anacortes or Bellingham are best for the San Juans, but I would recommend either Nanaimo Yacht Charters or Desolation Sound Yacht Charters (Comox) in
Canada if you want to visit Desolation Sound. I think for the Gulf Islands its a toss up. There are a bunch of other different charter companies and bases as well:
Vancouver, Sidney.
Crossing the strait is often the best sail you will get, so have a look at routes and destinations that include a crossing. If you really want to splurge look at a
circumnavigation of
Vancouver Island with someone else. OR consider a flotilla. We did a rapid two week trip up to the Broughtons with a
Cooper Boating flotilla as our first big
cruise. It had good and bad aspects but we learned a lot in a "safer"
environment and it was a great
introduction to longer range cruising.
What do you want to sail? Check out the
boats. I had to
work to find a boat in the size/configuration I wanted without a
furling main. 33-36 ft is great for a couple. 38-40 is better for more depending on how cramped you like to be and how well you get along.
If you are sailing outside the summer months look for at least a
bimini and more is better when its likely to rain or be cold. Again, a
heater is great in those months.
If you are flush with time and cash then longer is better; try and get off the beaten path. I know we have experienced huge differences in what we learned when we went from 1 week charters to 3 week charters. And our extended 3 month
cruise was 'nother whole ball of wax.
Oh, and be aware that the PNW is all about the currents. Most charter companies will insist you have a coastal
navigation course and some
experience with tidal currents. You can't go anywhere without running into a pass or two that can only be transited at slack...
How's that for random thoughts...
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