Nor’Westing 2010
USPS National Cruise in the Pacific Northwest
05-11 September 2010


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Cruise Agenda and Itinerary
(click here for a printer friendly PDF version) Updated: 22 Dec 2009

Key Dates in the Registration Process

  • 01 December 2008 – Web site is public for information and planning

  • 01 Feb 2009 - Reservations open
    (See the Registration section for information on the fleet size and the use of a waitlist)

  • 17-22 February 2009 – Annual Meeting, Anaheim, CA
    Booth: Cruise Overview – Overview of the cruise and sales pitch. Handouts for the charter companies, show 2005 photos. Take on-line reservations.

  • 22 Feb 2009 - Waitlist started for boats from outside District 16

  • 28 March 2009 - Reservations closed for District 16 boats and later boats put on waitlist

  • 01 October 2009 - Bills are sent out to reserved slots

  • 01 January 2010 - Payment must be received or the slot is cancelled and is passed to a waitlisted boat

  • 01 August 2010 - Fleet is finalized and list of boats and lengths are sent to the marinas.

Cruising Area

Click on the map below to get an overview of the US San Juan Islands and Canadian Gulf Islands

Cruise Events

Participants' Meeting: 04 September 2010 – Saturday: Bellevue, WA

1500, xx Room, Bellevue Hyatt: Participants’ Meeting – General meeting for skippers and crew, cruise packet handout, presentation on what to expect, time to ask questions of local cruisers for their special "local knowledge."

Bus Transportation: 05 September 2010 – Sunday: Bellevue to Anacortes, WA (90 miles)

0900, Lobby, Bellevue Hyatt: Bus departure for Anacortes -- Please check-in with luggage by 0845. The ride takes 90 minutes and we are in a hurry. Please don't be late. NO EXCEPTIONS.

1030, Anacortes: Bus delivers charterers to Anacortes Yacht Charters and ABC Yacht Charters – Get checked out by the charter companies, provision boats, evening on own.

 

Anacortes information:
Chamber of Commerce - www.anacortes.org
Cap Sante Boat Haven - www.portofanacortes.com
Anacortes Marina - www.anacortesmarina.com

Day 1: 06 September 2010 – Monday: Anacortes to Roche Harbor, WA (31 nmiles)

0800, No Skippers’ Meeting – Because of the various staring points for the cruise, there will be no skippers’ meeting this morning.

0900, Cruise to Roche Harbor – The fleet departs on its own schedule for Roche Harbor on San Juan island. Plan on arrival after 1200 to give the docking crew time to cruise over themselves and for the marina to clear out last night's customers.

1700, Roche Harbor – Welcoming Reception – The organizing committee, with the aid of the Bellevue Squadron, invites all cruisers to come and have a glass or two of wine before dinner.

1800, Roche Harbor – Flag Lowering Ceremony – The National Bridge will lead the traditional flag lowering ceremony.

1830, Roche Harbor – Dinner – Our kickoff dinner follows the wine and cheese reception. Menu: tba.

Roche Harbor Events:
·         Moped tours - rent a moped from Susie's Mopeds and cruise the the island.
·         Kayaking – on your own, just visit the shop on the main dock to rent a kayak
·         Walking tours - there are lots of places in close walking distance to visit.

Roche Harbor Village and Marina

Roche Harbor/San Juan Island information:
Roche Harbor Marina - www.rocheharbor.com
San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce - www.sanjuanisland.org
Real-time view of Roche Harbor - www.islandcam.com/roche.html
San Juan Islands Visitor's Guide - www.guidetosanjuans.com

Day 2: 07 September 2010 – Tuesday: Roche Harbor, WA to Victoria, BC (30 nmiles)

0800, Skippers’ Meeting – Meeting on the main dock for captains to discuss the cruise to Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and the process of clearing Canadian customs and immigration.

0900, Cruise to Victoria – The fleet departs on its own schedule to the Causeway Floats in Victoria’s Inner Harbor. Plan on arrival after 12:00 to give the docking crew time to cruise to Victoria themselves.

1200-1600, Causeway Floats – Clear Canadian Customs – To Be Confirmed; We have a special customs clearing process directly on the floats for those boats carrying cell phones. After docking, stay on your boat until you are cleared by Canadian Customs officials after phoning 1-888-226-7277 or 250-363-0222. If you don't have a working cell phone, you will need to tie up at the Customs dock next to Wharf Street Floats and clear there, then proceed to the Causeway Floats. CONFIRM DETAILS.

Afternoon and Evening, Victoria – On Your Own – After clearing customs, you are on your own for exploring Victoria and arranging dinner. Please note that Canadian liquor laws strictly prohibit alcohol on the docks, so no dock parties please.

Victoria Events: on your own, form a small group and enjoy the sites of Victoria. More information on the Activities and Events page.
·         Butchart Gardens – easy public transportation takes you to these lovely gardens.
·
         Cycling – ride the Galloping Goose Trail or one of the many great bicycle routes.
·
         Whale Watching – catch a ride on one of the professional whale watching tour boats.

  Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 

Victoria information:
       
Victoria Chamber of Commerce - www.victoriachamber.ca
        Victoria Harbour Authority - www.victoriaharbour.org
        Tourism Victoria  - www.tourismvictoria.com
        Butchart Gardens - www.butchartgardens.com
        Cycling - www.tourismvictoria.com/Content/EN/187.asp
        Royal BC Museum - www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca

Day 3: 08 September 2010 – Wednesday: Victoria, BC

Morning and Afternoon, Victoria – On Your Own Full day in Victoria.

1830, Victoria – Dinner – A banquet dinner in a nearby hotel. Menu: tba.

Victoria Events: on your own, form a small group and enjoy the sites of Victoria. More information on the Activities and Events page.

Day 4: 09 September 2010 – Thursday: Victoria to Sidney, BC (25 nmiles)

0800, Skippers’ Meeting – Meeting on the Causeway in front of the docks for captains to discuss the cruise to Sidney, BC

0900, Cruise to Sidney– The fleet departs on its own schedule for the Port of Sidney Marina. Plan on arrival after 1200 to give the docking crew time to cruise to there themselves. Please clear the Victoria marina before 1100.

Afternoon and Evening, Sidney – On Your Own – You are on your own for exploring the many bookshops of Sidney and arranging dinner.

The Vancouver Island South District of the Canadian Power Squadrons is working on some activities for the cruise. More information will be available in Spring 2010.

1700 - Cocktails on the Party Dock, Port of Sidney. Join your cruising friends for a BYOD cocktail. Have any snacks left? Well then, bring them along to share.

Sidney Events:
·        In planning by CPS Vancouver Island South District

Sidney information:
Sidney tourism - www.sidneybc.com/
Photos of Sidney - http://www.sidneybc.net/

Day 5: 10 September 2010 – Friday: Sidney, BC, to Friday Harbor, WA (20 nmiles)

0800, Skippers’ Meeting – Meeting on the Party Dock for captains to discuss the cruise to Friday Harbor and the process of clearing US customs and immigration.

0900, Cruise to Friday Harbor – The fleet departs on its own schedule for Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Please plan on arrival after 1200 to give the docking crew time to cruise to Friday Harbor themselves.

1200-1600, Friday Harbor Marina – Clear US Customs – Vessels must tie up to the Customs Dock on B Dock and the captains must clear customs personally. Vessels which have all crew members carrying current I-68 or NEXUS clearances can phone in while underway for clearance. You must have a valid US passport or foreign passport with the appropriate visas. If your boat is 30 feet or over and doesn’t have a 2010 US Customs decal, then you will have to pay a $27.50 decal fee. Most of the charter boats should already have a customs decal. Since the customs dock is next to the ferry landing, please stay out of the way of the ferries. They are much larger than your boat and are made of steel.

Afternoon, Friday Harbor - On your own - Enjoy the charms of Friday Harbor and its shops and museums.
·         Photo Scavenger Hunt - organized by the Friday Harbor squadron (to be confirmed).
·
         Airplane sight seeing rides – on your own.
·
         Bus tour of San Juan Island – on your own.

1800-2200, San Juan County Fairgrounds – Reception and Awards Banquet – Buses will transport everyone to the fairgrounds for the gala awards banquet. A cash bar operated by the Friday Harbor squadron will be open during the reception and for wine purchases for the meal. The bar sells margaritas, red and white wine, and beer. A sit-down dinner follows with the following menu:  MENU TO BE DETERMINED.

Friday Harbor, San Juan Island and Lopez Island Information:
Port of Friday Harbor - www.portfridayharbor.org/marina/marina.html
Friday Harbor Web - www.friday-harbor.net
San Juan Islands Visitor's Guide - www.guidetosanjuans.com
Real-time view of Friday Harbor - www.islandcam.com/fridayhrbr.html
Real-time view of Fisherman Bay, Lopez Island - www.islandcam.com/fishermansbay.html
Lopez Island Chamber of Commerce - www.lopezisland.com

11 September 2010 – Saturday: Friday Harbor to Anacortes, WA (20 nmiles)

0800, No Skippers’ Meeting – The Nor’westing 2010 National Cruise is over. Everyone is on their own today. Most charter boats will return to Anacortes or their point of origin.

Safe cruising.


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