Cruising the San Juan islands

“Cruising the San Juan Islands.  You’re closer than you think.”

Presented by Capt. Tom Griffin, Pacific Northwest Boating School

Capt. Tom Griffin, owner of Pacific Northwest Boating School, wants to share with you the beauty of cruising/bare boat chartering in the in Pacific Northwest, specifically North Puget Sound and the San Juan islands.  Tom boated in Southern California for 35 years but when he and his wife took their first bare boat charter in 2003 they were amazed at the how entirely different it was from Southern Cal cruising.  After a few more charter cruises, they moved permanently to Anacortes, WA.  Now they want to pass on to you what to know and what is different about boating in “The Samish Sea”, as Puget Sound, the Strait of Georgia and the Strait of Juan de Fuca were designated in 2010.

This PowerPoint presentation provides the guidance, recommended planning and suggested cruising routes for a safe, fun and diverse boating experience.  Of note, you’ll discover just how close and accessible these beautiful islands are from the mainland.  You’ll also learn about a variety of other activities while anchoring in inlets, exploring marine state parks or staying at island marinas.  Most importantly, the presentation points out what are some of the key differences a skipper from Southern Cal must be aware of when boating the San Juan islands.

Topics include:

• A Brief History of the area
• A Cruising Adventure in Your Backyard
• Preparing for Your Cruise
• What You’ll See, Discover and Want to Do
• Cruising Southern Cal v/s the Pacific Northwest Waters