Both nature and design keep it on the east side of Cypress especially
so. Steep terrain, scarce water, and the unwelcoming. Strawberry Bay on the
lack of ferry service discouraged the west side is entirely open to the Rosario
NOTE:
residential or commercial development Strait, to the shipping lanes, and to Cypress Island is a Natural
that’s common elsewhere. Citizen the wakes of ferry traffic. All mooring
action over the last decade led to setting buoys and shoreline are private. Foss
Resources Conservation
aside most of the core of the island and Cove, further north along the west Area. Note that the trail
some of its prime beaches for wildlife side, is public, but like Pelican Beach, is
conservation and public use. also exposed to the north.
up to Eagle Cliff is closed
Public use with limitations, that is. Despite the lack of protected from February through July
For an island so large, Cypress has few anchorage, of water or other amenities,
anchorages, and by San Juan Islands boaters visit all summer long. Most
to ensure that endangered
standards, none are very good. Two of are in vessels 30 feet and under, or in nesting wildlife are
the most popular, maintained by the a flotilla of kayaks. The early arrivals
Department of Natural Resources, are secure a mooring buoy while those in
undisturbed. Pets must be
Cypress Head and Pelican Beach. small craft land ashore. The rest of us on leash at all times.
Cypress Head, a peninsula at the fuss with our anchors and eventually
southeast end of the island jutting into row to the beach.
Bellingham Channel, is best suited for Once on the island, the main activity
small boats. There are five mooring seems to be skipping rocks across the
buoys placed close together in the water or building a fort of driftwood.
small bay north of the head; the beach Something about Cypress stimulates
is steep and the currents strong enough the imagination, and it doesn’t take
to create tidal overfalls. The bay on the long to create your own diversion, or
south side is shallow and obstructed by find that you’re perfectly content doing
kelp. On shore are a few firepits, picnic nothing at all.
tables, and campsites. Many of us head inland. As that
Pelican Beach, on the northeast first couple we met explained, and as
end of the island, is a crescent of sloping we have discovered over and over, the
gravel. This “bay” has six mooring
buoys, but there is no protection from
northerlies, the prevailing wind in good
Mobile Fuel Polishing
summer weather. Swells that build
Serving The Entire Pacific Northwest • 360-808-0505
over the length of the Strait of Georgia
Fuel Filtering...Tank Cleaning
can make an overnight anchorage
(Water, Algae, Sludge and Particle Removal Service)
uncomfortable. On shore are a few
Changing filters often?
campsites, picnic tables, firepits, and
Don't let bad fuel or dirty tanks ruin your next cruise!
– its major attraction – a spectacular,
unobstructed view of Mt. Baker.
Whether you're cruising the Pacific Northwest,
heading for Alaska, Mexico or around the world,
Equally popular is Eagle Harbor,
now is the time to filter your fuel & tank
located between Cypress Head and
... before trouble finds you ... out there!
Pelican Beach. On the chart Eagle
Harbor appears to be a perfect
Seventh Wave Marine
anchorage: A steep head of land wraps
www.seventhwavemarine.com fuelpolishing@olypen.com
protectively to the northeast, and all the
bulk of Cypress Island stands between
you and southwesterly winds. But the
outward appearance is deceptive. Below
the surface, the west and southwest
shorelines shoal out extensively in the
former log booming area, and there is a
surprising (and unmarked) shoal in the
Your professional rigging partner
center of the harbor. It’s important to
✔ Attention to detail!
take care both entering (favor the north
shore) and anchoring, and to verify
✔ Knowledgeable staff!
enough depth for swinging. ✔ Work done on time and on budget!
None of the other bays are
Get ready for spring sailing with a new standing rig or new running rigging.
recommended. Salmon pens, strong
and shifting tidal currents, and a strictly 290 – 10
th
Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360) 385-6330
private shoreline make Deepwater Bay info@porttownsendrigging.com • www.porttownsendrigging.com
48° No r t h , Ap r i l 2009 pA g e 51
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