Nominate Your Favorite Small-Boat Cruising Ground
There are lots of places to sail—especially in a small boat—but let’s face it, some places are better than others. Maybe it’s the amazing weather and consistent winds, or the scenery, or the miles of shallow water and deserted anchorages, or the special history of the place. Whatever brings you back, we’d like to know about it for a feature article we’re working on.
In the survey below we’ll ask you for a few details about your favorite spot and we might include your quotes and information in the upcoming feature. (We know we’ve already asked some of you this question and we appreciate your previous response and may use those too, but this more formal survey will help us flesh out the article—Eds)
Click here to participate in survey.
Thanks!
I would like to sail anywhere that real casual looking guy with the beard in the photo above is sailing.
Tim said the exact thing I was thinking when I saw the picture.
Beyond a doubt, the North Channel of Lake Huron is a wonderful cruising ground – lots of isolated anchorages in the arms of spectacular wild islands with critters and sunsets, sunrises and solitude, plus friendly folks along the shores of the largest island in fresh water in the world, drinkable water!
My favorite start to each Sailing season is starting from the lower Puget Sound location at Olympia, Washington, heading to Jerrells cove. Swantown marina has a four lane boat ramp, plenty of parking, moorage and very clean facilities with showers.
Some times we will have wind most of the way and some times it’s just lazy motor sailing all the way.
We tie up at the Jerrells cove east dock where you are sheltered from the strong afternoon winds coming from the east. No toilets by the dock, but if you time it right, it’s only a five minute tree lined forest hike to the camping ground’s large bathrooms. (Need flashlight for night runs).
In 1977 my sweetheart and I launched our own design, hand built 50 ‘ 23 ton cutter yawl in Santa Barbara Calif. We sailed the freezing West Coast for several years. Then one day we went through the Panama Canal and ended up on the magnificent white sand beaches, coves, bays and bayous of, would you believe, Alabama! (See YouTube “Sail the Daedalus” a 6 minute aerial drone view of the Daedalus and surrounding area.) The Northern Gulf Shores has all year sailing in deep back water areas, much of which is still undeveloped. There are many marinas, state and federal parklands with all the facilities. We have never looked back. Here are a short video https://flic.kr/s/aHskwhK8VY and photo https://flic.kr/p/HbcMAe of my present boat an 18′ gaff cat.