for fishing, photography and viewing. The same can be done below the water as the scuba diving is some of the best in the area. But the real magic for boaters is
the rare mixture of quiet, picturesque anchorages and good amenities – the resorts and services are geared to boaters and fun to visit. It is easy to be in a State Park one night, do some hiking and beach combing and then the next night be in harbor visiting, provisioning, eating out, shopping and walking the docks. When I teach a week long class in
the islands I like to give the students a tour of the area. I do this for two reasons: the first is to let them experience the beauty and the fun. The second is to get them familiar with the waters and harbors so their first trip as skipper will be less intimidating. I would like to share the itinerary as it provides a good basis for a week in the islands. If you happen to have a few extra days to add to this plan it would allow you the luxury of staying in one place for two days or mixing in some additional sites.
Day 1 – I like to start at Sucia; it is a favorite of many and for good reason: This island is a state park with many harbors; each providing buoys and good anchorage. The island is made largely of sandstone, which has been sculpted by the sea in some fascinating ways. There are many trails to hike and several beaches to explore. Local knowledge: There are
reefs on a couple sides of Sucia, so watch the charts closely on your approach. It is safe to travel between South Finger Island and Sucia, stay in the middle and go slow. The go slow part is all about enjoying the view – the rocks on South Finger are beautiful and it will give you time to scan the trees for eagles. Sucia’s two main bays, Fossil and Echo are open to southeast winds so listen to the weather report on the way there. Do go ashore, take a walk around – the pebbles on Echo Bay’s beach are worth examining and the wooded path between Shallow Bay and Fossil Bay is a peaceful walk in the woods. The neighboring islands of Matia and Patos are both great places
A stop at historic Rosario Resort is a nice finale for your San Juan cruise.
and you will likely find antelope grazing. They are left from a failed big game hunting outfit that used to own the island. Roche is the most popular resort
in the islands due to its great location and its varied and well done amenities. They have a big outdoor pool, tennis courts, a sculpture park, restaurants, stores and much more. There is also an air strip so if you have friends who want to fly their plane up and meet you, this is the easiest place.
to visit but they only have room for a few boats.
Day 2 – I usually try to leave on an ebb tide and head for Roche Harbor. This is a 2-3 hour trip in a sailboat and you will likely see some Harbor Porpoises along the way. Unlike their cousins the Dall’s Porpoise, Harbor Porpoise do not like to play with bow wakes. When you pass Spieden Island look closely
Local knowledge: Walk the docks, the
people and the boats are equally worth seeing. When you enter Roche, use the entrance on the west end of Pearle Island – as tempting as it may be, the entrance on the east end has a rock in it. If you transit Mosquito Pass study the chart closely – the main dangers are the little island at the north end (pass east of it) and the shallows on east side of the main pass. If you want a quieter night at anchor while in this area, Westcott Bay and Garrison Bay are good options. Garrison is shallow so check the tide tables closely.
A friendly deer on Jones Island licks a salty hand.
Day 3 – I like to leave via Mosquito pass as it leads to the Haro Strait south of Henry Island. This strait is frequented by the orcas and porpoises and when we leave Mosquito Pass we are about in the middle of it. A quick look for a group of boats not moving will generally indicate something worth seeing. Barring a detour to whale watch, we usually head north to Turn Point on Stuart Island. The restored lighthouse on the point is picturesque to say the least. Then we head around the east side of Stuart to Prevost Harbor. If the weather is bad or you want a shorter day, a turn into Reed Harbor on Stuart Island will lead to an equally fine anchorage. Both harbors are part of
the State Park system and have docks, several buoys and great anchoring. A walk up to the local one-room school is great chance to stretch the legs. Take your wallet, if you are so inclined, as the kids sell tee-shirts and mementos to help raise funds. If you want a longer hike, keep
going past the school and you can get all the way to the lighthouse, but it is about six miles round trip. Local knowledge: The entrance
to east part of Prevost Harbor (the area where the buoys are) is guarded by rocks on both the northern and southern sides which extend offshore much further than one would expect. Therefore, it is important to come in the main entrance, head for the white house on the southwestern shore to the middle of the channel and then turn 90 degree toward the southeast. Once past this entrance the harbor is clear of 48° NORTH, APRIL 2011 PAGE 59
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98