Can someone recommend a good summer easy cruise?

[northoceanbeach]

Hi, I have been sailing for four months, often, but only from the harbour in Honolulu on my Cal 20, and never further than 6 knots away from the harbour entrance. I have been out in winds up to 25 mph and with some swells, maybe up to 6 ft. I've learned the basics about sailing and maintenance and this summer I want to cruise somewhere on the mainland.

My plan was go to said destination, but a boat maybe a 22-24 footer, for up to $3000 and start close to the marina, get maps, learn local tides and currents, and then branch farther out.

Can you recommend where would be a good place to do this? Hopefully somewhere where I can anchor and not always be in marinas, and where marinas aren't mored than $20 a night. Here in Honolulu it's like $6 a night ofr a 22 ft. guest, but I've heard some places are crazy expensive, so I'd rather not that.

My family lives in Eugene Oregon, but I don't have to stay on the west coast, I'm also willing to go to some sail friendly easyish lake, maybe great lakes, maybe ozarks, don't know. I want to see almost everywhere, so I could base my decision more on coast, sailor friendlyness and good for beginnier level.

Thanks for the advice.

[PBzeer]

Oriental, NC would be an ideal place. Many day long trips that end at an anchorage or free dock, as well as shorter ones. Around Deltaville, Va would offer the same venue.

[Stillraining]

Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands are very day sail and week end friendly..Or spend the summer...Lots of anchorages and several marinas and small dockages or public mooring balls. Tides are bigger then yours but currents you should be use to for the most part...but can run 6 to 7 knots in places... Good weather July thru Sept ( Most of the time) 70 to 85 degrees on the water. Can be crowded on week ends at prime locations...but there is always the off beaten gunk holes.

Check this site out for a pretty good write up on what to expect.

Roger & Marlene's Guide

[PDuckX]

I would also recommend the Puget Sound/San Juans. It is not to far from Eugene and meets the requirements you are looking for. There are a couple places to Charter a boat out of Anacortes Washington. We have done it once before and will be doing it again this summer. Let me know if you need any information.

[beej67]

If you're set on a small boat with low draft, and also set on traveling a long way before you get started, the north Gulf of Mexico is pretty good cruising grounds, with ample opportunity to anchor in isolated bayous / etc, and the boat traffic isn't too bad. It's not widely accepted as a great cruising area because much of it is shallow, and hot, and bugs/etc, but for smaller boats it's ideal.

[SailKing1]

Chesapeake Bay, Has a little bit of everything. Lots of great achorages, pretty reliable winds and never really less than a daylight cruise to marinas.

[julied]

Puget Sound/San Juan Islands/Gulf Islands.

We have easy anchoring, usually in sticky mud and rarely in more than 30' of water. Lots of towns to visit, lots of water for sailing, lots of parks on the water with trails for day hikes. Easy to get into many of the anchorages even when arriving late. (Except that August gets REALLY busy in the San Juans)

Our summer doesn't usually start until July 4th. It's usually nice through September.

We know have 88 resident Orcas (a new baby was spotted yesterday). I see porpoise several times a year and there is even a Humpback hanging out south of Seattle right now.

We don't get a lot of wind here. The most I've been in was 25 knots but the usual is more like 0 to 10 so don't expect a lot of time spent with the sails up.

I don't know about marina costs because I always drop the hook. State parks put out mooring bouys that you can use for $10/night. Many parks also have docks that you can tie to for a small fee. Washington State offers a yearly pass. The cost is based upon the length of your boat.

~Julie D

[djodenda]

What Julie said....

[sgkuhner]

You should look into Long Island Sound. There are many free anchorages on both the CT coast and on the Long Island side. Then if you want to go a bit further there is Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay and Nantucket Sound, all of which have many many free anchorages as well as marinas. However, the marinas may be a bit more expensive; but, we never stay in a marina. Then if you really feel comfortable with your boat you can go through the cape Cod Canal and make your way to Maine which is really fantastic sailing. The only problem with Maine is the Fog; but, a good chart plotter can alleviate most of the difficulty of navigating in the fog.