Roche Harbor to Garrison Bay

With another successful Grand Banks Rendezvous in the wake, we slipped the lines at Roche Harbor and made the short run over to Garrison Bay. While the anchorage itself is always a pleasant destination, our real motivation lay just around the corner in Westcott Bay.

We had reservations at the Westcott Bay Shellfish Company for a Mother's Day dinner with crews from three Grand Banks yachts. Like many boating plans, the holiday was simply a convenient excuse to gather with friends and enjoy good food.

the shore side entrance to the westcott bay shellfish company

westcott bay shellfish company enjoying a mother’s day early season rush

The oysters here are about as local as food can get. Harvested within sight of the restaurant, they travel only a few hundred yards from tide flat to table. Neither Karen nor I would consider ourselves oyster enthusiasts, but the preparations here have made us repeat customers. Whether grilled, baked, or served in one of their seasonal specialties, they consistently find ways to convert even reluctant oyster eaters.

the source of all the yummy shellfish are in sight in westcott bay

a smal section of the acres of shellfish cultivation operation at westcott bay

We were the first rendezvous boat to arrive in Garrison Bay, but solitude did not last long. Throughout the afternoon, familiar Grand Banks silhouettes began appearing around the point, many of them fresh from Roche Harbor. Before long, the anchorage had settled into its usual summer rhythm as cruising boats of every description joined the fleet.

garrison bay is popular any time of the year

There is something comforting about Garrison Bay. The holding is good, the surroundings are peaceful, and the anchorage sits within easy reach of both Roche Harbor and Westcott Bay. It is no surprise that so many Pacific Northwest cruisers return here year after year.

For us, it was the perfect place to unwind after several days of rendezvous activities and reconnect with friends over an exceptional meal.

no leftovers here with these crews. don’t forget the big cookie after you have your fill of oysters

a peacefull night settles in at garrison bay

Westcott Bay to Roche Harbor

A Return to the Grand Banks Family

After several peaceful days in Westcott Bay, we made the short run over to Roche Harbor to attend the Puget Sound Grand Banks Owners Association Rendezvous. This year marked the event's 25th anniversary, and after at least a five-year absence, I finally convinced Karen that it was time for OceanFlyer to rejoin the festivities.

The turnout was impressive. Sixty-six Grand Banks filled the marina, creating a floating display of some of the finest cruising boats in the Pacific Northwest. Walking the docks felt like attending a family reunion where you recognize some faces immediately and meet plenty of new friends along the way.

A small sampling of all the grand banks filling the roche harbor guest dock

The rendezvous is much more than a gathering of boats. Over the next four days we attended presentations covering everything from vessel maintenance and cruising destinations to the latest equipment and upgrades. As always, the real value came from the dock conversations, where experienced owners share the hard-earned lessons that never make it into the manuals.

our friend, bill douglass, presenting a topic of much interest to the attendees

the best in the business when it comes to cleaning tanks, petero Clean, shared their years of experience

We also took advantage of the services available during the event. Our fire extinguishers were inspected, revealing that two needed recharging—a small discovery that made the trip worthwhile all by itself. OceanFlyer also underwent her Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Safety Check and passed with flying colors, always a reassuring milestone before a summer of cruising.

While I was attending to the Safety Check, Karen took the opportunity to attend the guided tour of the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park. This eclectic, yet renowned park covers 20 acres and is home to more than 150 sculptures. She returned singing the praise of the collection and the curator, who was the guide. The Park is an easy walk from the marina and well worth an hour or two away from the docks.

one of the 150 sculptures to explore at the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park

Of course, no visit to Roche Harbor would be complete without maple-glazed donuts form the Lime Kiln Café. After all, cruising may be about seamanship, navigation, and maintenance, but sometimes it is also about enjoying a warm donut with friends while overlooking one of the Northwest's most iconic harbors.

Roche Harbor Resort awaking to the spring blossoms

By the end of the rendezvous, we were reminded why these gatherings have endured for twenty-five years. Boats may bring people together, but it is the community that keeps them coming back. For us, it was a welcome return to familiar faces, useful knowledge, and a tradition that continues to thrive.

Jones Island to Westcott Bay

Remember that peaceful, postcard-perfect Jones Island from yesterday?

Well… today had other plans.

By mid-morning, as the overnight cruisers quietly slipped away from the dock, a Bayliner 4788 came rumbling in and tied up opposite OceanFlyer. Four guys climbed ashore carrying oversized drink cups — never a subtle sign aboard a cruising dock.

Within minutes they informed the very polite Ranger Tug captain nearby that more boats were coming… along with “lots of dudes.”

At that point, discretion seemed the better part of seamanship, so I retreated to the salon to work on the blog.

Not long afterward, the anchorage was treated to what can only be described as a full-contact assault on Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. It was spectacularly terrible. Jimmy Buffett could not have rolled any faster in his grave.

Sensing that Jones Island’s peaceful chapter had officially closed, we slipped the lines and pointed OceanFlyer toward Westcott Bay.

Westcott has long been one of our favorite stops in the San Juan Islands. Overshadowed by neighboring Garrison Bay and the ever-popular English Camp, Westcott somehow remains calmer, quieter, and wonderfully understated.

That’s exactly why we like it.

From our anchorage, it’s only a short dinghy ride to English Camp and even closer to Westcott Bay Shellfish Co., home to the freshest oysters we’ve ever eaten.

Now, Karen and I are not exactly oyster people.

Or at least we weren’t.

But these oysters are so impossibly fresh — and prepared so well — that somehow we keep returning year after year. Pacific Northwest cruising has a way of changing your standards.

This year, Westcott also served as our rendezvous point with our friends aboard Navigator, a beautiful Kadey-Krogen 48.

Over the next couple of days we traded dinners aboard each other’s boats, wandered the grounds of English Camp, and took on one of the most difficult puzzles I have ever encountered. Cruisers will understand: somehow a thousand-piece puzzle becomes a subtle competitive event untill your brain melts and eyes water.

Good friends, calm water, and shared meals aboard — hard to improve on that.

DID I MENTION THAT THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT IN WESTCOTT BAY

Next stop: the Puget Sound Grand Banks Owners Association 25th Anniversary Rendezvous in Roche Harbor.

Bellingham to Jones Island — A Surprisingly Quiet Gem

With a flawless forecast stretching out in front of us, we cast off from Bellingham and pointed the bow toward Jones Island State Park.

The dock-talk crowd thought we were nuts.

“On a day like this? Jones will be packed.”
“Don’t even bother—no chance at dock space.”

They weren’t wrong—on paper. Bluebird skies in the San Juans usually mean every cruiser within range descends on Jones. We fully expected to get skunked.

The Arrival Surprise

As we eased into the east cove, we scanned the dock…

• One cruising boat on the east side

• Three small boats on the west

• No obvious space for OceanFlyer

We idled off the dock, waiting it out. Then, a bit of quiet choreography:

A group returned from shore, hopped into their 18-foot runabout, and headed out. Almost immediately, another small boat shifted position—just enough.

That was our opening.

Making Room

We slid in and tied up, leaving the forward third of OceanFlyer hanging past the end of the dock to maximize space for whoever came next.

jones island is always a favorite

And then came the real surprise:

Even the mooring balls were empty.

On a day that should’ve been standing-room-only, Jones Island felt… almost private.

Luck? Maybe.
Or maybe the fleet had other plans.

A Walk Worth Slowing Down For

One of the joys of Jones is its shoreline trail, especially along the south side.

• Sweeping views of passing boats

• Quiet coves and weathered rock

• That unmistakable San Juan mix of wind, water, and evergreens

with settled weather, the north cove was full

another adventurer taking advantage of the calm seas

The short loop is just over a mile—but we took our time. About an hour, unhurried, stopping often. Around here, you don’t rush scenery.

There’s also the “difficult” trail up the island’s northwest lobe. The switchbacks on the way up will get your attention, but the descent? Worth every step.

Why So Quiet?

If you had to guess, the answer was blowing right at us:

A steady northerly.

That wind pushes a bit of fetch into the north cove, making things lumpy until it settles. On days like that, many cruisers opt for the south anchorage instead—more protected, but it comes with a tradeoff:

• Two mooring balls (this season)

• Dinghy ride ashore

• Beach landing required

For some, that’s enough to tip the scales.

Final Thought

Jones Island on a perfect-weather weekend—with open dock space and empty moorings—feels a bit like magic.

It happens… just not often.

And when it does, you take it, tie up, and go for a long walk.

Blunden Harbour to Muirhead Islands

After a calm night, morning broke glassy and silver, the sea looking more like molten metal than water. Perfect conditions for running south.

MarineTraffic showed a phalanx of boats stacked up behind us, all making their Cape Caution dash in today’s rare calm. We, however, pressed toward the Broughtons, seeing almost no traffic until Wells Passage. With a wet, windy forecast ahead, everyone seemed to be seeking a snug anchorage. For us, that meant the Muirhead Islands at the end of Drury Inlet—a longtime favorite.

Through Stuart Narrows

Drury Inlet is guarded by Stuart Narrows, best tackled at slack. We arrived 45 minutes before low slack, referencing the Stuart Narrows tide station, and pushed against two knots of current. Swirls marked the final pinch between the two rocks, but nothing OceanFlyer couldn’t handle. For boats or crews less certain, slack water is the way to go.

One-Boat Hole (or Two)

Our prize was the little “One Boat Hole” on the northeast side of the islets. It’s a coveted spot, and you never know if someone’s already claimed it. AIS showed nothing, but three kayakers nearby gave us pause. You have to nose right in before you can tell if a boat is tucked into the southeast corner.

This time, fortune smiled—the cove was empty. We dropped anchor in 25 feet at a 2.5-foot low tide, perfectly centered in the “hole.” Moments later, our friends on Spellbound arrived and rafted alongside, turning the One Boat Hole into a Two Boat Hole. We hadn’t seen them since our April shakedown, and the reunion was a welcome one.

Waiting Out the Weather

Now settled in, we’ll see if the forecasted southeasterly gale can reach this deep into Drury. For the moment, OceanFlyer and Spellbound are snug and steady, ready to share stories and ride out whatever comes.