Day Trips
SAIL THE MAGNIFICENT SAN JUAN ISLANDS AND SALISH SEA
Enjoying the San Juan Islands from the deck of a beautiful wooden sailboat gives a special perspective into this lovely area of the Salish Sea. We share the waters with whales, porpoise, seals and sea lions, otters and a plethora of sea birds. Learn about them and their habitat from our onboard naturalists. Relax and enjoy the natural beauty and breathtaking scenery, or take part in running the ship.
Our experienced and friendly crew is always happy to share their knowledge and love of sailing. We offer day sails on our Coast Guard inspected vessels departing from Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island, throughout the 2012 season from May through October, including full day, half day and evening sails. We also offer multiple-day adventures, special events and private charters. For more information, and availability email or call Schooners North at info@schoonersnorth.com or 360 378-2224.
Cruises
Create your own cruising adventure or participate in one of our scheduled events
Cruises can be from overnight trips in the San Juans to summer long adventures extending to the far north in Alaska. Experience sailing aboard one of our fine vessels with our friendly and experienced crew.
We depart from the wonderful little town of Friday harbor. The days are filled with the excitement of sailing in the straits, exploring the coves, forests and secret places among the islands of the Northwest. Evenings find us anchored in peaceful bays, small isolated harbors or quiet villages.
These sailing opportunities will be offered throughout our charter season.
Call 360-378-2224 or email for dates and availability.
HALF & FULL DAY SAILS
These three and six hour sails depart from and return to the Spring Street Landing dock in Friday Harbor, right next to the ferry landing.
We serve snacks and water on both outings and offer a lunch coupon for a sandwich and chips for 5.00. Our course is determined by the wind and currents. Heading up San Juan Channel, we sail between Shaw and San Juan Islands, passing Yellow Island, with it's astounding variety of wild flowers in the Spring, and Jones Island, both are state parks accessible only by boat. On full days we'll likely pass Spieden Island on our way to Haro Strait where we often encounter whales when they're in the area. When we sail a southerly course from Friday Harbor we'll go around Turn Island, another island park, and toward Lopez Island and Griffin Bay on the south end of San Juan. On a full day we'll sail through Cattle Pass and on to Haro Strait, with panoramic views of the Olympic Peninsula and if we're lucky, whales.
Half day 60.00/person, full day 100.00/person.
EVENING SAILS
The perfect way to unwind after a full day of fun in the San Juans.
Make it the beginning of a romantic evening or a relaxing end to a busy day.
Evening sails last for two hours and we encourage you to bring your beverage of choice and a snack. We'll be covering the same waters as the half and full days, just not quite as much of it.
Because the evenings tend to be a little cooler, we suggest that you bring a couple of extra layers.
Evening sails are 35.00/person regardless of age. The children's discount does not apply to evening sails.
PRIVATE CHARTERS
You don't have your own 80' schooner?
Not a problem, you can have ours, with a full crew at your disposal, and we'll be sailing on your schedule and your itinerary. There are so many great reasons to make one of our boats your boat for a day or for several; weddings and wedding parties, bachelor parties, family get-togethers, romantic get-a-ways, birthdays, corporate retreats, any special occasion that calls for something extraordinary and unforgettable, or any group of 15 or more that would like to do a full day sail can have the boat all to themselves if you wish.
When you charter one of our boats for your own special occasion we'll do all we can to make it a once in a lifetime experience. With our local knowledge we can help you plan your event and destination. We have gourmet chefs to handle catering, and Spike has a full galley to help with food preparation and serving. We sail from San Juan Island, however, other pick-up and drop-off locations can be arranged.
All of our private charters include a full crew along with the vessel. Our ketch accommodates 6 guests and is 1000.00/day, our schooner accommodates 33 guests for day sails and six overnight, she is 1500.00/day.
BURIALS AT SEA
A burial at sea is a dignified and beautiful way to pay your respects to a loved one that has passed away.
We realize that if you are requiring this service it is a sensitive time, and we'll do all we can to make it a positive experience. Federal regulations require that the ceremony be performed at a minimum of three nautical miles from land. Haro Strait, which lies between the Islands and the magnificent Olympic Peninsula is easily reached and returned from in a day and is the only local area that will allow us to sail far enough off shore to perform the ceremony. We can help with the permit process, and with your accommodations while you're on the island.
ISLAND EXPLORATIONS
The San Juan Archipelago
The San Juan Islands have several marine state parks that can only be reached by boat. We'll be sailing to these lovely gems this summer and grabbing a mooring buoy or dropping anchor then heading to shore for some hiking and exploring.
We'll end the day roasting weenies and telling stories of our adventures around a campfire before turning in on the boat or camping ashore.
Cost is $250.00 per person/day.
CANADIAN GET-A-WAY
We love our friendly Canadian neighbors and enjoy visiting Victoria and their beautiful Gulf Islands.
We'll be sailing from San Juan Island and taking a day or two, or maybe more to do a little Canadian tour. We can spend a night in Victoria Harbor, in the center of Victoria, from here the city is easily accessed on foot. Then, depending on the cruise, we can go visit one or more of the Gulf Islands before we head back to clear US Customs.
Please call for dates and pricing. A valid passport is required.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Bellingham Bay Rendezvous
We'll be joining other classic Northwest boats for a week-end get-together at the pier in Fairhaven next to the Bellingham Cruise Terminal and Alaska Ferry Terminal. We'll be doing daysails in Bellingham Bay on Saturday April 28th and will participate in a regatta on Sunday. Along with sailboat races there will be a long boat race during the week-end. There will be plenty of time for dockside tours of Spike and the other boats in attendance and a classic run-about show on Sunday. The shore based activities will include a beer garden, vendors and classes & seminars. We'll post a web address for the event as soon as it's updated for 2012. The Bellingham Bay Rendezvous will take place on the 28th & 29th of April, 2012. We hope to see you there.
July 4th Fireworks
The fireworks displays that Friday Harbor and Lopez Island put on are both pretty spectacular, and you'll have the best seat in the house for both of them if you join us aboard Spike Africa the evening of July 4th.
We'll leave the dock in plenty of time to get into position in San Juan Channel for a spectacular view of both Friday Harbor and Fisherman's Bay on Lopez.
Bring your beverage of choice and warm clothes for a truly unique experience and visual treat.
Cost is 35.00/person.
The Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend
This festival has become quite famous and shouldn't be missed by any wooden boat enthusiast. There are vessels of all shapes, sizes and means of propulsion. The Port Townsend festival is held in the Point Hudson Marina adjacent to the Wooden Boat Foundations new digs and we expect to be on one of the town docks doing sailing charters through out the week-end.
The festival offers educational seminars as well as a plethora of marine related gear, clothing and food vendors, a beer garden and a stage for a variety of performances. You can meet us in Port Townsend for a day sail or join us in Friday Harbor for the sail over and back. Food and beverages are provided on the sails over and back but not during the festival, however, you are welcome to bring your own food and beverages aboard.
We'll be posting more information including dates, prices and a web address for the festival as soon as we get them from the Wooden Boat Foundation in Port Townsend.
WE WILL BE POSTING MORE EVENTS AND SAILING OPPORTUNITIES HERE AND ON OUR CALENDAR AS DATES AND DETAILS ARE CONFIRMED, SO PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THEM.
Call 360-378-2224 or email info@schoonersnorth.com for more information about our special events.
YOUR Special Event
Let us make your wedding, party, family adventure, company gathering, or other special time an extraordinary experience that you and your guests will always remember. We can accommodate creative events from corporate team building to private memorial services. Whatever your occasion, planning it on a classic vessel will guarantee to make it special.
Call 360-378-2224 or Click here for more information about our special events.