Skipjack, Sucia and Clements Reef

August 18, 2020 – With good winds for sailing we made fast progress up the channel to Low Island. A bald eagle was perched on a posted sign above many harbor seals catching some Z’s. With increasing winds forecast we ducked behind Nob Island to reef the main sail before getting underway sailing wing on wing up the channel. Tacking north of Yellow Island and through Spring Pass we planned a course towards Waldron to sail up Presidents Channel. We had been listening to reports of a humpback whale seen earlier by Blunden Island traveling east which we hoped to intercept, but unfortunately the whale headed north from East Point instead of east towards Sucia Island where we hoped to meet him.

The winds had decreased so we took out the reef in the main sail in Presidents Channel. Great sailing conditions as we came around Waldron Island and up to Pt Hammond, but when we turned the corner to sail by Bare Island we were met with a strong flood current. We used the iron genny to make our way through the islands and the bull kelp forest to circumnavigate one of our favorite National Wildlife Refuges, Skipjack Island. We found several bald eagles including a chick standing on the shoreline and loads of harbor seals resting in the sunshine.

We stuck with our initial plan and decided to sail over to another island favorite of ours, Sucia Island. Making our way in between the South and North Fingers admiring the honeycombed sandstone geology and the unique landscape. As we rounded Ewing Island we could hear the roar of the Steller’s sea lions on Clements Reef and vocalizations of black oystercatchers as they took off in huge group flying by us. Harbor seals shared the island with the sea lions and Mt Baker was a stunning backdrop behind them.

After circumnavigating Sucia we saw winds were increasing again so we tucked in behind Little Sucia to reef the main sail again. We had a fun sail across to Pt Doughty, but with strong winds and current against us we decided to pull in the head sail and motor sail in shore to hug the Orcas Island coastline down. The bald eagle chick gave us a great view as he stood above his nest between the trees. Excellent sailing conditions gave us a fast close hauled sail down San Juan Channel with just two tacks to return to Friday Harbor after a fantastic trip.