Point Wilson rips

dhays said:

Hi All,

I have been across the Strait of Juan de Fuca a number of times but only once in a power boat. I have learned to be more careful about rough water now than I was in the sailboat.

I'm looking at going North across the Strait on Aug 11th and am looking for some more local knowledge. Specifically, when are the rips the least troublesome? I'd like to round Pt Wilson by 12:30-1:00pm. However, slack tide at Pt Wilson is 1:45. I'd be exiting Admiralty Inlet on an ebb, and likely facing NW winds. Not the best combination.

It is too early to know the winds, but typically they are reasonably light from mid-morning to early afternoon when they build. Because of this, I'd like to start my crossing as early as it practical. Unfortunately, "practical" is dictated by a number of factors, one being that it would be tough to get there much before noon. Unfortunately there will be a strong ebb tide then.

So estimating a 5-10 kt NW wind, how much before slack at Pt Wilson is reasonable? Secondly, if rounding Pt Wilson with a rip still going on, is it better to head west and hug the shore till McCurdy Pt and head North, or go the other way and hug the shore from Admiralty Head to Pt Partridge?

I know a lot of you have crossed this dozens of times, give me the benefit of your experience.

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VicTrawler said:

I've run north from Port Townsend in a 42' Catalina at max flood in a small craft advisory. When we got to the buoy, we were barely able to motor past it. Waves were 4-5 foot. Wind was 25-30kts out of the SE so it was opposing the current. That was sketchy but it never felt terribly dangerous.

On the contrary, we just last week rode the flood into Port Townsend in our 36-foot trawler; about 3.5 kts of current. Wind was light out of the west. Never saw more than a half-foot ripple on the water. I'm sure there are boaters with far more experience around Pt. Wilson, but it seems to be that as long as it's not blowing a gale, and the current is moving in the same direction you're headed, you'll be fine. Every situation is different though...

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Delfin said:

Just avoid wind against tide and you'll be fine. If you are heading out on the ebb you'll have no problems unless there is quite a bit of north wind blowing. I have motored past Wilson Point too many times to count and only once was it ridiculous. That said, in the winter it happens that the ferry run is cancelled when the prevailing southerlies are blowing against a flood tide, so your prudence is certainly warranted.



It gets a bit shallow on the west side of Whidbey, so hugging the coast isn't much of an option, but we never worry about it and always just go around the nun buoy before turning north. Keep an eye out for traffic, as you have to cross the shipping lanes heading north. And, if you see a lot of coasties running around in inflatables with 50 calibers mounted on the bow you are in for a treat because that presages the return of a boomer to Bangor.

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Ka_sea_ta said:

Dave whenever we head north, we make the decision at Kingston whether to cross the straits or go through deception or LaConner.... If you really want to cross the straits and it's snotty spend the night at Ft Flagler and cross early you have the tide with you.. You can avoid the rips off Wilson by being on the whidbey side... The older and slower I get the more often we go the little longe way on the east side of whidbey...besides Oak harbor normally has great fuel prices

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drb1025 said:

I just came south across Point Wilson yesterday on a flood and pretty much avoided the visible rip by staying on the Whidbey side. I will usually cross on a flood rather than an ebb, as the ebb rips are worse.

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drb1025 said:

Also at 12:30 you will be near the maximum ebb. Could be a rough couple of miles. If you can pick a different time, that would be best, especially if there are others on the boat that may get seasick or concerned.

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