Where did you go in July?
Did you cruise south to Jarrel Cove or north to Roche Harbor? Fireworks? Quiet anchorages? Post your experience on the Blog so your neighbors can ask questions and plan accordingly.
Jibe Cafe Open Mic night
The Jibe Cafe will host an evening of open-mic performances, Sunday July 10th. If you are a singer, musician, storyteller, stand-up comedian or other performer and want to join us, please use the form on the link below to register for the event. We will begin at about 7PM Sunday night.
Happy 4th of July!
Your Shilshole Liveaboard Assoc hopes you have a fun and safe 4th!
Local Crabbing Season Opens July 3rd
Seattle/Bremerton Area 10 Scheduled to open July 3 through Sept. 5, Sundays and Mondays only. Tuesdays through Saturdays will be closed. A license is required and can be bought at Fred Meyer. Know the rules…Dept of Fish and Wildlife watch people and their catches and the fines can be hefty.
Crab seasons and areas | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Race to Alaska on now…
6-22-22 update: congratulations to Jonathan McKee from E dock and Team Pure & Wild for their 1st place finish. Day 5: Pure and Wild for the win, secret weapons, breakfast lasagna – Race to Alaska (r2ak.com)
It’s like the Iditarod, on a boat, with a chance of drowning, being run down by a freighter, or eaten by a grizzly bear. There are squalls, killer whales, tidal currents that run upwards of 20 miles an hour, and some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. We have several boats from Shilshole-check out the race on the link below…
Concerts at the Locks
The free outdoor concerts resume this summer on the lawn at the Ballard Locks. Bring your chair/blanket/picnic and enjoy local musicians on the weekend afternoons.
Port Ludlow
Port Ludlow is a easy 3-4 hour trip (sailboat speed) from Shilshole. Catch the outgoing tide north and cross the traffic lanes fairly perpendicular (as you should always do) to run up the Kitsap side. Round Pt. No Point and head to Foulweather Bluff where you should arrive at slack water to avoid the major tide rips that occur near the bluff and buoy. From there, it’s a 3.5 mile trip across the Hood Canal entrance to Pt Ludlow (stay clear of the Tala Point as it is shallow, rock strewn and full of kelp). The harbor is large with easy anchorage in 25-35 ft of mud bottom. (avoid the cable crossing area). There is a dinghy dock at the marina for you to go and explore. See more here…
Cruising North…
June, July and August are the months our docks are empty and everyone seems to be up north! Is this in your plans? Do you want to go and have questions? Post your questions and stories here…
The San Juans, the Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound, Barkley Sound, the Broughtons, and beyond are all common destinations of local boaters for the summer months. The weather is great, the days are long and you have time to get back home before school starts or the fog sets in.
This isn’t something you do in a weekend…it can take a week or longer to get there (depending on how far you go) and the same back, so time allotted is important. Don’t try to do too much at once. It can be crowded at times (it’s popular), but the views/scenery/experience is absolutely unbelievable. World cruisers say that the best cruising grounds are right here in our own backyard!
Cruising South Sound
South Sound is an underrated destination. Most boaters head to the San Juans and points north, but south of the Narrows you will find a quiet, island dotted area that has terrific anchorages with incredible views of Mt Rainier and the Olympics.
It’s about a 5 hour run to Gig Harbor from Shilshole but break it up with a visit to Blake Is, Blakely Harbor or Quartermaster (on Vashon). It’s then a quick run over to Gig Harbor to wait for favorable current to go through the Narrows.
Time your southbound trip through the Narrows for a flooding current. Stay in the middle away from the bridge pylons to avoid the back eddies and to get the most push. You’ll be surprised at your speed over ground as you zip though and how quickly you cover the distance. You’ll pop out on the east end of Fox Island. Your cruising guides will list all possible anchorages to explore and their amenities. Here is what we did last year… Continue reading
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