Pacific Northwest

Patos Island

June 13, 2011

A Small, Secluded Cruising Destination In The Pacific Northwest In the far northwest section of the San Juan Island chain, three remote islands stand a world away from civilization. There are no towns, resorts, or homes of any kind on these islands. Sucia, the largest island, was bought by a group of yacht and cruising clubs in 1960 and donated to the state for use as a park. Sucia offers five different anchorages with space for 100 boats and is located 5 miles closer to the usual departure points of Bellingham, Anacortes, and Friday Harbor, Washington. The other islands in this group are Matia and Patos; all three belong to Washington State Marine Parks.

An Urban Cruise: Tod Inlet

May 6, 2011

It was a cruise unlike any in my 40 years of boating in the Pacific Northwest. Usually, we seek distant places, quiet wilderness anchorages, and

Always Ready To Help

February 3, 2011

Our Pacific Northwest neighborhood is not what you would call crowded as far as boat traffic goes, which is one reason we like boating here.

Victoria, B.C.: A Delightful Off-Season Destination

April 16, 2010

Our plans for a midwinter cruise to nearby Victoria, British Columbia, turned into a quest for red mittens. We did not find them- they were

The Salish Sea

December 10, 2009

It’s time for a geography quiz. Quick, find the Salish Sea on a handy map or chart. Not there? It was not a fair question.

Off The Beaten Path: Cabbage And Tumbo Islands, British Columbia

November 23, 2009

We all want to cruise off the beaten path at least some of the time. Getting off that path, away from marinas and other trappings

No Choice – Rapids Ahead

July 27, 2009

Two routes lead north along the Inside Passage in lower British Columbia, from urbanity, highways, and talk shows on the radio to the welcome wilderness of central and northern British Columbia. Both offer challenges and the opportunity to take a beating from the sea. One is a long haul through often stormy waters, but with hardly a need to change course for a couple of days, while the other curls among islands and waterways, turns from narrow channels to major inlets and vessels glide past snow-topped peaks along the shore.