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Question for Seattle sailors

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CatalinaGuy
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/06/2003 : 12:31:58

Hi folks,

I'm considering a relocation to Seattle for work. I'm wondering how the sailing and weather conditions are up there. Is it too rainy to sail much, or is that just a bad rep that Seattle has?

Regards,
Doug
C-25

Edited by - on

dave andersen
1st Mate

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85 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2003 : 19:13:26

I live in Ventura CA half the year where I keep my C-25 and the
other half on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound -- you can sail most
of the summer on the west side of Whidbey with the Olympics on the
other side, but generally I'd say that compared to Ventura with
prevailing westerlies from 8 - 14 mph all year, the NW is lousy
for sailing -- no prevailing winds, too much lea from all the islands.
I see most sailboats motoring most of the time. Just my humble opinion.

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2003 : 00:32:59

I have spent a few weeks worth of summer vacations cruising in the San Juan and Gulf Islands, and although I have not experienced the weather conditions there at other times of the year, what Dave Anderson says seems pretty consistant with my own observations. In summer, you motor a lot more than you sail, at least in the San Juans. However, I have also heard that there are often strong westerlies in the Staight of Juan de Fuca, northwest of Puget Sound. I have to say one thing though, that the San Juan/Gulf Islands in summer have to be considered one of the most incredibly beautiful places in the USA to cruise around in with a boat of any kind. There are thousands of quiet anchorages to pull into and explore, and hundreds of marinas to stay in if you want something more upscale. You could spend years wandering around there and never see everything, I think. Look at a chart; the navigable waterways run from Seattle, north for a couple of hundred miles through the Strait of Georgia, to the northern tip of Vancouver Island, even all the way to Southeast Alaska if you have the desire to go that far! After you move to Seattle, you owe it to yourself to at least charter a boat for a week or two, if you don't own one yet, and cruise around the San Juans and southern Gulf Islands (best weather is July/August).

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25 #1205 "Quiet Time"
Sacramento, CA

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2003 : 12:44:03

Some thoughts on the weather -- I believe the quality of weather in the Pacific Northwest depends more on your attitude than it does on the weather itself. For the last dozen years or so there has been a significant migration of Californians to Oregon/Washington. Simply put, some people thrive; others do not (and return).

What counts is not the quantity of rain, it's the quantity of cloudy (and sometimes rainy) days. Not seeing the sun for days on end for much of the year can be depressing for some. But it also contributes to provide an outdoor beauty and environment which is unmatched elsewhere. If you don't allow the cloudy days to prevent you from taking advantage of that environment, you will love it. Plus, when the sun comes out for good from July -Sept., it's truly glorious.

I grew up in Portland, which may have marginally better weather than Seattle. I was lucky in that my parents, not native Oregonians, adapted, learned and taught me to take full advantage of many outdoor activities, both in spite of and because of the weather.

I now live in Southern California and try to take the most advantage of the outdoor activities here. But being a fairweather sailor (or backpacker, skier, fisherman, hunter, etc.) is not hard here. To be honest, it would take some effort to re-adapt if I moved back to Portland. But I have no doubt that I could because I know how great life there can be if you take advantage of it.

Hope this helps.

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2003 : 15:22:54

I think RichardG's response is right on the money. So much of your satisfaction will depend on your attitude, your expectations...(and probably a lot on where you are moving from)

Seattle can be a dreary, dark place in the Winter... that far North, the daylight hours are very short, the big Pacific Storms bring lots of cloudy days, briefly interrupted with nice days here and there. Seattle proper only gets 35" of rain a year, IMHO it's the darkness that bothers most folks.

(Yes, there is a reason for all those coffee houses in the NW).

On the other hand, Summer days are long, temperatures are mild and there's very little rain June through October.

The scenery is magnificent all year long...

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2003 : 20:38:45

I live in Portland, OR and sail the San Juans nearly every summer. It's always lousy here: never any sun, no wind, and even the women are ugly. Stay where you are......;)

Seriously, I try to get north to the Juans in June. It's rainier then, for sure (often summer comes about the 4th of July), but then so do the crowds. I'll take some rain early to avoid so many people. Also, the winds are better earlier. Later in the season, in the Juans, you'd better have a good auxiliary. The Strait of Juan DeFuca will often give you all the wind you want and then some, but it's not consistent. I don't sail the south of Puget Sound, but my understanding is that it's notoriously light wind.

Gary B.
Encore! #685 SK/SR

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2003 : 21:19:12

<b>"...never any sun, no wind, and even the women are ugly." - Gary</b>

Okay, I can live without the sun and the wind, but the women are ugly, too? <img src=icon_smile_dissapprove.gif border=0 align=middle>

Oh, gotta go...Admiral's walking in I................

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
C25 SR/FK
Cradled on the hard, 200ft from Lake Erie

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2003 : 12:05:20

The weather up here sucks. It starts raining in October and doesn't stop untill late July. The wind in the summer is very light. We are taxed 3rd highest in the nation and the traffic is worse than Los Angeles. Price of houses has gone through the roof and we have a 7.5% unemployment rate. Oh about the sailing well let me say this. If it wasn't for the sailing I would move to the east coast. The sailing is wonderfull. You need good rain geer and plenty of gortex for the winter. A dodger is a must as is a good cabin heater. I keep my boat in the water all year and sail whenever I can get away from work. I pay $180 for a 30 foot slip with TV, water, power, and phone. We have plenty of sailing groups. Lots of places to sail to and a great State park system for boats. Take a look at www.nwboating.com I recomend the sailing here please stay in touch if you need any help.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

CatalinaGuy
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2003 : 12:21:30

Thanks for the comments folks, this will definitely help me make a decision.

Doug Hibberd, 'Shiraz'
C25 SK/SR 1983
Austin, TX

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2003 : 19:50:48

"Take a look at www.nwboating.com I recomend the sailing here please stay in touch if you need any help."

Thanks for the great link. One of the main reasons I'm giving up my Venture for the Catalina is to have a boat big enough so that I can stay comfortably on for a week (or more) to explore the San Juans.

It's on my list for late Summer if all else goes well. I figure it will take me 2 days to trailer there from NW Calif. If I plan it right, I'll be able to spend 10 days or so exploring, and 2 days to trailer back.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2003 : 17:16:34

Douglas, you paint too pretty a picture (terrible grammar, I know). That comes from living too long in the Northwest also ;~).

The sailing in the Sound is good from September to May. Invest in a good set of rain gear and as I always say, "If you let the rain stop you, you won't be doin' much".

Seriously though, our local club does all it's races from September to May 'cause that's when it's windy. Makes for some interesting sailing - have you ever had your raingear freeze to the deck? And in the summer, you hope for wind, and sometimes you're lucky.

John Mason - Ali Paroosa
1982 - FK/SR #3290

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2003 : 17:31:22

Hey John: Ruth and I are planing to overnight this weekend at Dockton. I wish my spelling was as good as some of the ideas I come up with. Here is my latest. Ruth wanted a place to hang towels or wet items in the cabin on winter days. Like hanging something up to dry ovenight. I went to Bed Bath and beyond and picked up a $10 holel laundry line. It's in a small flat spool and mounts on a bulhead with a clip on the aft cabin. Pull the line out above the stbd seating and your ready. I also found a 115/battery powered Carbonmonoxide detector for 1/3 the West Marine price. Happy sailing

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

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