Winter cruising from Seattle to Vancouver

D

dgeller

Member
Feb 1, 2014
56
Seattle
Boat Info
2014 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins + Zeus pods
Planning on heading to Vancouver this coming Sunday, December 21, for a few days. It will be Xmas break for us and it seemed like a fun way to make our way up toward Whistler.

Any advice in terms of safe and comfortable boating this time of year? I've been following the NOAA marine forecasts and it seems, a few days out, that there will be moderate chop and some decent gusts. I'd normally shoot straight up from Port Townsend on the West side of San Juan Island, but I'm thinking for the comfort of the crew, that an interior, albeit slower, approach through La Conner might be best.

The KAYLA is a 50' SeaRay. I've had her in rough water in Georgia Straight before and she performed admirably. Of course, wife and kid weren't there at the time. ;)

Any thoughts in terms of departure times? I was planning on exiting the locks around 8am. Any anecdotal thoughts vis-a-vis quietest times heading North this time of year between Seattle and Vancouver?
 
We took our boat on same trip in November of 2005. We had wind and waves most of the way and it was cold, spent 2 nights in Oak Harbor because of wind. We went through La Conner. I would stay off big open water as your in water survival time if you sink would be a few minutes.
Wear life jacks at all times. We have the inflatable ones and tell people where you are going each day.
Great time of year to be out you should have the docks to yourself and the buoys will be mostly empty.
Watch the weather and look out for logs in BC.
 
I would consider Deception Pass which allows a relatively short run over to Friday Harbor, then up through the Gulf Islands and cross over Georgia Strait with a 2 hour run from Porlier or Gabriola Pass.
 
Depending on your speed you may be able to make it to La Conner in a day. When doing long runs we leave at first light. In September and October winds seem to come up by noon to the point you start to look for a place to stop.
 
I have no concerns whatsoever about your boat; just your crew.
So, if you are looking for comfort, don’t count on it.

If you go via La Conner, the two dirtiest pieces of water will be the (US) 30nm from Lummi Bay to Point Roberts and the (Can) 20nm from Point Roberts to the Point Grey bell buoy. This is the stretch where ferry sailings are often cancelled.

Don’t rely on NOAA, as half your voyage will be in a foreign country…

At the moment, again, at the moment, Sunday’s forecast is for winds to 30 knots from the SE, veering to 20 knots from the SW. That means you will be in following seas through that entire run of open water. They are also throwin’ in some heavy rain.

Fortunately, even though December brings the highest tides, there is only a half tide ebb on Sunday. No issues there.

In some ways the Port Townsend approach might not be a bad one. You’ll find out real quick how the crew will handle it.

Another way might be inside to Roche Harbor then jump across to the Gulf Islands.
That way you can always poke your nose out Active or Porlier Pass to see how things are.

Don’t forget, you will have to return, so, seriously consider things could be worse when that time comes. Then what? Skipper the boat home alone while the crew busses it? Leave the boat behind? I guess it all comes down to, how much time you have and how locked in Whistler is.

Of course the weather and my thoughts could both change by the time you read this.

I’m not trying to scare you, just cover some bases
 
I have been to our boat in Ladysmith in the winter. The ferry from the main land to the island has always had big waves. I have relative that live on the island and some days the ferry is cancelled.
Get ready to wait in places for calm water. I do not know about fog in your path but I would not like to run the Sound in fog with all the ships there. We have seen fog in the fall north of Anacortes that took 3 days to lift.
We have friends on the Island that go out in the winter for a week into the Golf Islands. They sit a lot and play cards.
 
Inside passage and then depending on wind/waves Deception Pass or La Conner.... Also there is a TON of DEBRIS floating out there from being washed down all the rivers do to the flooding.
 
northern said:
We have friends on the Island that go out in the winter for a week into the Golf Islands. They sit a lot and play cards.
Click to expand...

Lol, that's really all that needs to be said.

I've been a year round boater all my life and the only plans to make this time of year are none.

Hour by hour...
 
You didn't say if you are thinking of doing this run in one shot so, if you are, you need to factor in hours of daylight as well.
 
I don't mean to high jack this thread but since we are all PNW boaters here... What are your feelings about the US Customs office in Roche Harbor ?

We have been treated terrible there on more then one occasion...:huh:
 
I have found the NOAA Pro Buoy app very helpful. This app displays current observations ( usually updates hourly ) from the stations.
We can make a fairly accurate decisions on which route to take. For example lets say at Point No Point we check the observations by at Smith Island, Port Townsend, and Hein Bank to decide to go the inside or outside. Smith Island at 12:00 has a wind Speed of 8.9 knots gusting to 9.9, not bad.

Winter Cruising can be very rewarding. Have Great Trip
 
The highest tide of the year will be Saturday. Combined with the 30kt winds that are forecast it won't be a fun day. Sunday, however, as you've planned, looks like the day to go. If I were in your boat, I'd run it right up through the Eastside of Whidbey, through Deception then North through Rosario Strait an NW to Vancouver. The winds appear to be following that day which will make it seem much calmer. When do you plan to come back?

http://windalert.com/map#48.581,-122.439,9,1,!995,2
 
Good suggestion. Was planning that or Swinomish Channel and La Conner. I think I'll decide based upon our departure time and wind readings on the East side of San Juan Island.
 
We definitely plan to be to La Conner in a day. We cruise at around 25kts. Hoping we'd be in Vancouver by 2pm(ish). Though, speed entirely dependent upon conditions, including fog and wave action.
 
Great feedback. Thank you. Incidentally, I was only relying upon NOAA for half the forecasting. With regard to our return trip - we built in a very flexible schedule. So, safety and comfort drive our return plans.
 
Was planning on doing it in one shot, yes. Planning to leave super early and, weather and sea conditions permitting, push 25kts.
 
I've been to the office there to ask general questions, a few times, and they've been pleasant. But, I have heard stories about them not being too nice. They probably see their share of over-the-top, hurry-it-up, rich yachters and that likely colors their perception of all boaters. We're NEXUS pass holders and just phone in our arrivals.
 
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