San Juan Charters
Our San Juan charters with Island Passages Sailing begin as we sail out of Anacortes Washington. There are over 200 named islands, 80 of them National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) and 200 unnamed islets and reefs in our San Juan charters area of San Juan County alone. San Juan charters can be as short as overnight to experience just a taste or over a week to explore a portion of our San Juan charters area in depth. Five-day, seven-day or longer trips in addition may include a side trip to Canada outside of our shorter San Juan charters cruising grounds. A shore-side trip visiting the inner harbor of Victoria or the Butchart Gardens may be in your interests. Book a charter greater than ten days and we may go to Princess Louisa Inlet(Chatterbox Falls) and with a full two weeks even a remote destination like Desolation Sound is possible. Passports are required for all visits outside of our regular San Juan charters area other than to Puget Sound.
A sample San Juan charters itinerary follows, however, as you have exclusive use of Finnessa for your vacation, we will help prepare a unique itinerary to pique your interests.
Seven day, six night itinerary:
Day 1, Sunday–You will board at noon for orientation and safety review. Leaving Anacortes, we head north to Samish Bay to begin our San Juan charters where we can shake out the sails and help you to learn or review the basics of tacking and gybing. This leads us to our first night on the water at Eagle Harbor on Cypress Island. Cypress Island is in Skagit County but nonetheless falls into our San Juan charters cruising grounds.
Day 2, Monday–The crew normally has breakfast on the table by 8 a.m. with the goal of getting underway by 9 a.m. We sail north crossing Rosario Strait keeping our eyes open for wildlife. Eagles, Peregrine falcons, wood ducks and shore birds too numerous to count can be found along the beaches and rocks. Mammals we are likely to see on our San Juan charters include Minke, Grey and Orca whales; sea lions; seals and porpoise. We sail past numerous islands and NWR rocks viewing wildlife at a distance so as not to disturb the animals according to federal laws. After having lunch afloat, we anchor at Sucia Island between two and three in the afternoon allowing you time to kayak in one of our single boats or go ashore to explore the island. Dinner follows hors d'oeuvres in the cockpit with Mount Baker to the east.
Day 3, Tuesday–This day may find us sailing southwest down Boundary Pass to Roche Harbor, arriving early to explore ashore all the McMillin family history from the lime kilns to the mausoleum. There is also a great outdoor sculpture garden to stroll through. If you wish, you may have supper ashore at the McMillin Dining Room, an Island Certified Local restaurant with a fabulous northwest menu. Walk off dinner as you browse the shops while waiting for the striking of the colors at sunset with "Colonel Bogie March", national anthems of Britain and Canada, and a cannon salute when the US flag is lowered. We're then back to Finnessa for the night anchored out in the bay.
Day 4, Wednesday– We will head south through Mosquito Pass on our way to Lime Kiln Point. This will be the western most point of our San Juan charters trip. Canada is to the west across Haro Strait with the big sea-going cargo ships on their way to and from Vancouver on the mainland to the northeast transiting the Strait. Orca whales can often be seen in this area when the salmon are running. Heading north we will anchor in Prevost Harbor, Stuart Island. This is a Washington Marine Park with access to a county road which goes to Turn Point lighthouse, the western most in the San Juan charters area. Hike ashore(highly recommended) or kayak among the lagoons looking for wildlife. Perhaps after four days you may be ready for an afternoon nap!! Enjoy hors d'oeuvres in the pilothouse as we watch for seals on the prowl for dinner. There will be another great meal prepared with your favorite ingredients, a little quiet time to read up on tomorrow's cruising ground or play board games before going off to bed.
Day 5, Thursday–If the whale watching was great yesterday and left little time for exploring Stuart Island, now is the time to do that. We may go to Friday Harbor where there are many shops and art galleries to interest travelers. That would lend itself to spending the night at Parks Bay across San Juan channel which is a secluded jewel where your only other visitors may be heron and eagles. This could also be a good time to anchor in Blind Bay on the north side of Shaw Island.
Day 6, Friday–Your San Juan charters excursion may take you up Eastsound on Orcas Island, mooring in front of Rosario Resort. This active destination is known for its organ and piano concerts on the Aeolian pipe organ built in 1913 and the 1900 Steinway. This recital includes an historical perspective of Robert Moran, a Seattle shipbuilder and mayor who had the mansion built to his exacting standards. The house is now a museum and worth the time to visit.
Day 7, Saturday–We depart for Anacortes for an early arrival and vessel departure by noon. This completes your seven day San Juan charters experience leaving time for transportation back home or exploring Anacortes on your own.
Come Join us at Island Passages Sailing for the vacation of a lifetime!!
