[Dave_E]

Hi PNW Sailors,

I have reservations with the port Authority in Victoria for the last week in August. I was thinking about staying in Port Townsend and then making the 35 mile crossing the next day (big water trip). I was just up in the San juans last week and 3 of the 5 days we were there, the straight (as seen from the San Juan Channel) was fogged in until mid day. We do not have radar. I don't have a clue what the weather over the straight is like in late August and am thinking I should go north and over instead of straight across. What do you who have spent time in the area think?

Dave

 

[PaulinVictoria]

The fog/mist is generally in the JDF straight itself, it's not often that thick at this time of year or that late in August, it'll look thicker since you're viewing "end on". The worst stuff is usually a little later on. I wouldn't worry about it too much but it can roll in pretty quick. You could of course head north and come across south of the San Juans, but the same chance of fog exists there I guess.

 

[Capt Len]

Minimiziing time spent cutting in front of big traffic is good. Getting up to Cattle Point and looking at a dash across does that and offers an easy two day trip option.Work the tides. Fog rarely thick enough to not be able to find the coast on our side. If you start off from PT early morning,clear day beginning of ebb it's an easy straight across thru the shipping lanes . AIS ??

 

[mitchbrown]

August is called Fogust around here. I sailed from Seattle to San Francisco in late August early September. We had fog in the straight as well as going south. We had Radar and was happy to have it. Late September might be the best idea.