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Pacific Northwest Cruising Destinations |
Sailing on the Alcyone we rarely have a fixed itinerary, preferring to see where the wind, tide and the interests of our guests take us. We always have a cruising destination, but it is sailing, be it a windy romp or a sunny calm glide, the stops along the way, and the people we meet and sail with that make the cruise. The San Juan Islands are located just across the straits from Port Townsend, with the dramatic backdrop of the snow-capped Cascade and Olympic mountains. These unique islands provide plentiful cruising in a compact area. The islands consist of eight large inhabited islands and 26 smaller islands, in a space about 20 miles across. In some places neighboring islands are simply a stones throw away. The maze of islands provide a play ground of protected waters to sail and enjoy. Many of the islands are designated state parks or have state parks on them, providing some great hiking and exploring. There are also some quaint island towns to discover. We would be at anchor every night and enjoy a slow pace as we explore these very special islands. Desolation Sound is a cruisers paradise of wooded islands and fiord-like bays located 150 miles north of Port Townsend, about halfway up on the inside of Vancouver Island. The protected waters provide a variety of cruising options: small towns on quaint islands, tugs with log booms, narrow straights where the currents can run at over ten knots, and a variety of wildlife. The end destination has the added treat of warm water lakes and bays for swimming and playing. Barkley Sound is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island. This trip would be for the more expereinced sailor. We can have an overnight passage and a taste of some blue-water sailing on our way to this spectacular area rich in Native American culture, which has a special feel of the exposed open coast. |