DeepZoom (specifically NOAA Charts with animated tides and currents.) is about the easiest way to visualize tides. Pick your day from the bottom and use the slider to change the time and you can see what is happening with your tides. You should also learn how to read tide charts.
Tides in 30 seconds: flood is when the tide is riding, ebb is when it is draining. Think of this area as being a big long bathtub that fills and empties from the west end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. When the flood is going all of the water comes in through there, when it is ebbing all of the water is draining to there. If a big body of water needs to empty through a small passage you get a big current (Deception Pass, Agate Pass, Tacoma Narrows are examples). When there is a larger passage you get less current, but it is still there.
Are you trying to do the whole trip from Seattle to Friday Harbor in one day? If so you want to be passing through Port Townsend before the end of the ebb (water leaving Puget Sound). On July 2nd that means aiming to pass PT around 1pm, which means leaving Shilshole marina around 8am (plan on 7am to be safe). You'll then enter Cattle Pass (narrow pass between San Juan Island Lopez Island) at the start of the flood and get into Friday Harbor around 7pm.
Catching the currents correctly can make a huge difference, especially between Seattle and Port Townsend. With the currents in your favor you average 1-2 knots of extra speed. With them against you are losing that 1-2 knots. That can make it a 5 hour trip in good conditions or a 7 or 8 hour one in bad conditions.
If the weather is rough (unlikely, but possible) you can go up Saratoga Passage (behind Whidbey Island). It is a longer and there is often no breeze behind there, but it is better protected. At the north end (by La Conner) is the Swinomish Channel and that will take you to Anacortes.
Waggoners Cruising Guide (available at Fisheries or West Marine) is a $20 dry but very useful guidebook that will help you find marinas and anchoring spots.
If you give yourself two days to get up there and two days to get home you should be able to sail most or all of the trip.
Tides in 30 seconds: flood is when the tide is riding, ebb is when it is draining. Think of this area as being a big long bathtub that fills and empties from the west end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. When the flood is going all of the water comes in through there, when it is ebbing all of the water is draining to there. If a big body of water needs to empty through a small passage you get a big current (Deception Pass, Agate Pass, Tacoma Narrows are examples). When there is a larger passage you get less current, but it is still there.
Are you trying to do the whole trip from Seattle to Friday Harbor in one day? If so you want to be passing through Port Townsend before the end of the ebb (water leaving Puget Sound). On July 2nd that means aiming to pass PT around 1pm, which means leaving Shilshole marina around 8am (plan on 7am to be safe). You'll then enter Cattle Pass (narrow pass between San Juan Island Lopez Island) at the start of the flood and get into Friday Harbor around 7pm.
Catching the currents correctly can make a huge difference, especially between Seattle and Port Townsend. With the currents in your favor you average 1-2 knots of extra speed. With them against you are losing that 1-2 knots. That can make it a 5 hour trip in good conditions or a 7 or 8 hour one in bad conditions.
If the weather is rough (unlikely, but possible) you can go up Saratoga Passage (behind Whidbey Island). It is a longer and there is often no breeze behind there, but it is better protected. At the north end (by La Conner) is the Swinomish Channel and that will take you to Anacortes.
Waggoners Cruising Guide (available at Fisheries or West Marine) is a $20 dry but very useful guidebook that will help you find marinas and anchoring spots.
If you give yourself two days to get up there and two days to get home you should be able to sail most or all of the trip.
