Sail BVI, Sail Croatia, Sail Cuba

Thank you for checking in.  I have not forgotten to update my seven fans.  Until I figure out how to update across the board all at once ...  updates on our planned flotillas click our logo, come join us! ...

We have Sail British Virgin Islands next month.  That trip is full.  Then we have Sail Croatia in a Gulet in June, info below.  And we are ... hush, hush, planning the worlds first Sail Cuba trip for US citizens for end o' summer 2015.  Be the first to experience the wonders of Cuba.  I've been there, it's friendly and amazing.   

Personal updates on my international sailboat deliveries are here ...
https://www.facebook.com/captainwoody

 It's true, after getting kicked around the sailing magazine industry I got published again.  Blue Water Sailing sent me magazine proofs a couple months ago.  I have yet to see the issue but that is the rumor (I'm starting). 

That's right sailing/yachting friends, we are headed back to Croatia and this time in a Gultet.  What is a Gulet?  It is a big varnished wooden hulled yacht built on the beaches of Turkey and fitted out to be super plush.  Click here to see all updates ....

Ride Share - Seattle to Anacortes and back

Rescue Tape Ron Cordas and his first mate are joining us on this adventure.  He has suggested that it might be less expensive and more fun to rent a car for the week and ride share to the base and back to the airport.  They arrive Saturday at 1326 and already have a car with space.  Anyone interested is welcome to comment below or email me and I'll put you all in touch.

San Juan StS - What to Bring

San Juan Share the Sail - What to Bring

If this is your first Share the Sail and you haven't returned the questionaire please do so.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, request a copy:  woody@seafaring.com.   I know some of you are already packing so let's get right to it.  

Weather:

We are cruising the San Juans in peak season.  August is the warmest month of the year with an average temperature in the 70's.  Night time gets down into the 50's (did someone say hot chocolate?)   Though the Pacific Northwest sees a lot of rain, the San Juans lie in a rain shadow of sorts averaging only 20 inches a year.




What to Bring:  
You sailors know that no matter what the weather feels like ashore, it's cooler on the water.  
- Shorts, shirts and sun dresses for the warmer times.  
- I'm bringing sweats or fleece, tops and bottoms and a rain jacket so I can layer as needed.  
- Depending on where you choose to eat ashore you might need something nicer -  a toned down Hawaiian shirt or dress shirt and khaki pants for him, whatever women wear always seems to be fine.  
- Your boat shoes should not be the black deck-marking type.   
- A collapsible bag.  The big hard case luggage is a no-no.  There is nowhere on a boat to store stuff like that so if you bring it, you may end up sleeping with it.  
- Sunblock, sun glasses, hat with chin strap (shades head and neck a plus).
- Closable drinking cup.  
- Your bathroom and shower stuff.  Boats come with sheets, towels, blankets, etc.
- Maybe a camera?  Some people will bring an MP3 player that jacks into the onboard 12v receptacle and can tune into the FM radio.
- Goto Seafaring.com Ship Store for Lats & Atts shirts and hats and, of course, a Winch Wench.  
- Money for meals ashore, food bought in ports to bring aboard, trinkets, buying your favorite skipper a coldy!  There's no requirement to tip your skippers at the end.  To prevent navigational errors, you might get the crew together and take your skipper out for a hot meal ashore sometime during the adventure.  




Provisioning:
We will be stocking the boats with some basic food provisions - most breakfasts and lunches and a dinner or two.  Shailors tend to eat ashore a lot to get the local flavor.  If, during our cruise you find your boat is running short of something, consider trading items you all don't want with another of our boats.  Before we turn the boats in we'll look for a couple real cruising boats to give the extra food to.  The gift will be appreciated.  
Do bring special food and drink items that you prefer (decaf, teas, booze, chocolate, food for special diets, etc).
Lats & Atts will put a case of local brew aboard each boat.  Be surprised if it makes it out of the bay.  Often, those drinking on each boat kick into a kitty for the occasional shore run.      
We always put a coldy starter kit onboard- a case of the local.  After that you're on your own.  




Upon Arrival:
Sunday August 8.  Directions and travel advise can be found by clicking the link at the bottom of the page.  Please arrive at the charter base by 1300.  If all goes well I'll be assigning crews to boats around noon.  If you arrive early, find a comfortable spot to hang out and come check in with me.  Starting at 1000 the skippers will be doing an extensive boat orientation with the AYC folks that could take 3 hours.  We have 5 boats so some boats may not depart until late in the afternoon (the first anchorage is around the corner).  Please don't bug the charter staff about when you can board.  I am the only one that will know what boat you are on, so bug me.  If you're persistant, you may get assigned to a dinghy, temporarily.  




What to Expect:
We've got five monohulls of varying size.  Expect to see some local cruising boats join us for different parts of the cruise.   As those who have done a Share the Sail before know, we keep a pretty loose schedule.  This helps us to make last minute changes in plans so we don't miss anything kewl.  We do have a couple of fixed stops.  Monday, we are scheduled to be in Friday Harbor where West Marine will be throwing us a welcoming event.  Thursday we are headed to The Lopez Islander Resort to hang out at their tiki bar.  Friday we'll join our local pirate friends at Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes for our huge annual Lats & Atts PNW Cruiser's Weekend event including the Eric Stone concert on Saturday evening.  Got some pirate gear that packs small?  Bring it.  


Travel Update:  if anyone is interested in ride sharing from the airport to the base and back, comment on the blog page titled Ride Sharing.


This email and more are posted on blog here:
sanjuansts.blogspot.com


If I think of anything else you'll be hearing from me again.  I am delivering a boat up the coast (currently waiting out a gail in Bodega) and should be hanging out in the San Juans for the week leading up to our grand event.   Email your questions to me.  It may take a day or two but I'll get back to you asaic.


Captain Woody
woody@seafaring.com


=============================================




Some notes culled from the AYC.com website:
The weather is generally mild all year long. June through September is mostly sunny with temperatures ranging from the mid 60's to the low 80's. Much of the cruising areas of the Pacific Northwest are in the "rain shadow" of high mountains that block many of the weather systems that come in off the Pacific Ocean. The result is that rainfall can be as little as 20 inches annually in some areas. There is even a variety of cactus that flourish on the Western slopes of certain islands. 


From May to October the winds are mostly moderate (6-18 knots). This varies by locality and time of day with the fresher breezes occurring among the island archipelagos. 


Depending on the time of year or your destinations, you will need suitable clothes for the season. Don't forget sunglasses and suntan lotion. Anacortes Yacht Charters provides berth linens and towels for all charters. 

San Juan Sts - Travel Info

San Juan StS

Aug 8-15

Raise your hand if you're fired up to do some San Juan Island cruising!  If you are receiving this you are confirmed on the Latitudes & Attitudes San Juan Share the Sail and Cruiser's Party!  Welcome Shailors.

I know that some of you are busy planning every detail so I have provided some info to assist you:

We have 5 boats from the nice people at Anacortes Yacht Charters.  We begin our adventure Sunday, August 8.  The skippers will start their check in process at 1000 (10am) but we don't expect to start loading the boats until noonish.  I will tell you then which boat you are on.  Please arrive by 1300 (1pm) as some of the boats will be preparing to depart.  Our first stop is an easy anchorage around the corner.  

Travel:

If you are travelling in from afar, like us, you will likely fly into Seattle.  The airport code is SEA.  For those of you, like us, that won't be chartering a small plane, a right turn from baggage claim takes you out the S entrance  to the bus terminal.  Yep, it's a couple hour cruise up the highway.  I'll be using the time to ease into my week long adventure.  

Bus service:  Airporter.com - Call in to book so you can request an Anacortes Marina drop off.  1-866-235-5247 .  

Anacortes Marina driving directions (and other info):  http://ayc.com/service_directions.cfm.

Suggested Lodging is below.  

Cruise:

On this cruise are the normal suspects:  myself and Bob and Jody.  They will be bringing their grand daughter Tabitha.  We also are lucky to have our TV producer Darren and his crew on their boat.  From our east coast operations, Tom and Sharon,brownellsystems.com.  From San Diego, Rags and Kathy, maritimeinstitute.com.  Local bretheren of the sound pirate and Vessel Assist operator, Big John will be joining us with his yacht for part of the cruise.  

Darren and Big John have conspired to knock up a list of possible stops for our little flotilla.  This list is subject to, and probably will be, changed:  

Board boats in Anacortes, head to Spencer Spit State Park for mooring or anchor.

Friday Harbor Marina – Marina’s right in town, with West Marine and other merchants throwing welcoming event and discounts.

Sucia Island State Park - Moor/anchor.

Insert other kewl San Juan Islands here.  Maybe Roche or Reid? 

Lopez Islander Resort in Fisherman's Bay as Big John has arranged an invitation to the tiki bar. 

Of course we will be arriving at the docks Friday evening in time for the Lats & Atts PNW Cruiser's Weekend at Cap Sante in Anacortes.  Dock party Friday and Eric Stone concert Saturday.  Other festivities in between:  http://www.seafaring.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15955 

On about noon on Sunday, Aug 15 your skipper will be returning the boats to the base in the same harbor.  You are welcome to depart anytime from Cap Sante or wait for the boat to return to Anacortes Marina.  

Next:  

I will be sending out Crew Questionnaire and What to Bring emails.  The Questionaire will help with crew placement.  

You can put your hand down.

Captain Woody

woody@seafaring.com

----------------------------------------------

Info from Anacortes Yacht Charters (more at AYC.com):

All yachts are complete with the 

following:

Pillows, blankets and towels are provided aboard each yacht.

VHF Radio Tool Box

Compass(s) First Aid Kit

Depth Sounder Crab Ring & Line

Dinghy, Oars Boat Hook

Fenders Dock Lines

Flashlight Batteries

Flares Fire Extinguishers

Anchor(s) Life Ring

Marine Toilet(s) Marine Toilet Paper

Bilge Pump Galley Equipment

Ice  Pot Scrubber

Handi Wipes Dishwashing Liquid

Window Cleaner Soft Scrub

Crab rings are standard equipment on all boats.  For those interested in 

Harvesting seafood while in the waters of Washington State, 1-day licenses are available for purchase in our office.

Travel and Accommodations:

Air Transportation

Seattle-Tacoma Intl (SEA)   

  (All Flights – 2 hours from  Marina)

Bellingham Intl (BLI)

 (Horizon, Allegiant and Delta 

all 1 hour from Marina) 

 

West Isle Air offers connecting flights from Boeing Field to the San Juan Islands including Anacortes several times daily.  Van service available from Sea-Tac to Boeing field.  West Isle Air is available directly for reservations and fare information at: (800) 874-4434.

www.westisleair.com

Kenmore Air features daily float plane flights from Seattle to the San Juan Islands and Desolation Sound.  Call Kenmore directly for prices and flight schedules at: (800) 543-9595. www.kenmoreair.com

San Juan Air offers scheduled, charter and scenic flights from Anacortes, Bellingham and Seattle to the San Juan Islands and British Columbia.  Call San Juan Airlines for prices and flight schedules at (800) 874-4434.

Ground Transportation:

Bell-Air Shuttle Service offers van/bus shuttles from Sea-Tac and Bellingham airports directly to the Anacortes Marina (by prior arrangement). Make reservations directly with the Airporter Shuttle  at:

(360) 380-8800 or (866) 235-5247 

 $34.50 one way - $64 RT pp

 $32.50 one way - $58.50 RT Seniors or Military

www.airporter.com

Triangle Van Service provides local van service between Sea-Tac or Vancouver Airports and the Anacortes marina.  Fares vary based on the number of passengers and the distance covered.  Please call directly: (800) 255-2281

 $260 one-way for 1-4 passengers.

Elegant Limousine provides limousine, ground transportation and airport transfers to and from Sea-Tac airport.  Please call direct for reservations and rates at: (800) 209-7082 or (206) 913-3260. 

RPM Limousines offers ground transportation and airport transfers to and from Sea-Tac airport.  Please call direct for reservations and rates at (888) 545-4776 www.rpmlimo.com

Car Rental:

U-Save:  (877) 451-6985  

~Round Trip drop fee $150

~office open 7 days a week.

  

Enterprise:  Local (360) 293-4325

(800) 261-7331 or www.enterprise.com

One way drop fee: $50 each way when you mention our corporate code.

Office hours: M-F 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Usually open Saturdays in the summer months from10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

To insure the best rates and one way fees use our corporate code! 

Code:   T07923       Pin: ANA

 Suppliers Prices are subject to change.   

Complimentary parking available at the local marinas.

Accommodations:

Anaco Bay Inn

916 33rd Ave

Cont. Breakfast & WiFi Incl.

(877) 299-3320

www.anacobayinn.com

Anaco Inn

905 20th Ave.

(888) 293-8833

www.anacoinn.com

Cap Sante Inn 

906 9th Street

(360) 293-0602

www.capsanteinn.com

Islands Inn

3401 Commercial Ave.

360-293-4644

www.islandsinn.com

Majestic Inn

419 Commercial Ave.

360-299-2007 or 800.370.0100

(WiFi incl, Spa, Hair,Lounge)

www.majesticinnandspa.com

Marina Inn

3300 Commercial Ave.

360-293-1100 (WiFi incl)

www.marinainnhotel.com

Ship Harbor Inn

5316 Ferry Terminal Rd.

Continental Breakfast Incl

(800)852-8568

Reservations-(360)293-5177

www.shipharborinn.com 

Bed & Breakfast:

Autumn Leaves B & B

2301 21st Street

(360) 293-4920

Heron House B & B

11110 Marine Drive

(360)293-4477

www.islandbreezeGH.com 

The Ship House B & B

12876 Marine Drive

(360) 293-1093

www.shiphouseinn.com

More Information:

Anacortes, Washington

www.anacortes.org

Anacortes Chamber of Commerce

www.anacortes-chamber.com

Dog & Cat Kennel

www.sunnyhillkennel.com

8033 Summit Park Rd

Anacortes

360.293.3434

San Juan StS - Questionaire

Crew Questionnaire

The questionnaire will be used to put you on a boat with like-minded shailors.  

Hit the reply button then answer the questions or remove the answers that don't apply to you.  Thanks!

Your Name/s: DoB/s:

List relevant medical conditions:  

-Do you smoke? [Yes]  [No]

-Do you drink? [Never] [The odd glass of wine with dinner]

[Afternoon cocktails, out by 2200] [Bloody Mary for breakfast after clubbing 'til late]

-Do you expect to [Read] [Nap] [Hike] [Swim] [Party]

-Since this is a "Share the Sail" which parts of the adventure would you prefer to "Share" in?

[Hoisting sails and anchoring] [Helming] [Cooking] [Pillaging]

Essay questions:

-What other stuff would you like to do while on this trip?

-Briefly, what is your sailing experience, if any?  

-Other comments, expectations: