Spring is an especially good time to go visit one of the many gems of the San Juan Islands – the Yellow Island Preserve! Although the 11-acre island preserve can be visited year round, spring is when the island at is most glorious, carpeted with an array of colorful wildflowers. Truly a dream comes true for professional and aspiring photographer’s and artist’s alike!  

Before the arrival of Europeans, the island was used by the indigenous population for harvesting plant foods such as the roots of the camas flower. Intentional burning kept the tree population in check, helping to maintain the prairies needed for camas. Lewis and Elizabeth Dodd bought the island for $8000 in 1947, and sold it in 1979 to The Nature Conservancy, who administer it as a nature preserve.

The Nature Conservancy continues to maintain this island, protecting this beautiful and unique ecosystem. Ongoing ecological research on the island has focused on understanding the extent and rate of invasion of non-native species and developing strategies to restore native species. Results are shared with partner organizations and agencies to help maintain and restore grasslands in other regions of the Puget Sound lowlands; this includes periodic controlled burning of the grass to discourage larger vegetation from taking hold, and creating a flora unique among the lesser-developed   San Juan islands.

The native grasslands on Yellow Island are unique and an absence of grazing has preserved the diversity of native plants. More than 50 species of wildflowers, including broad leafed shooting star and hairy Indian paintbrush bloom on Yellow Island. The only cactus species native to western Washington, the brittle prickly pear cactus, also makes its home on the island. Bald eagles fly majestically above the island’s trees and harbor seals can be found on the rocks off the island’s west spit. Harlequin ducks and the black oystercatcher can be seen in the intertidal zone and mink and river otters are common on the island too. Further out in the nutrient-rich waters surrounding the island, marine mammals such as orca whales, harbor porpoises and sea lions can be seen swimming and feeding.

Visiting rules for the Island are very specific: no pets, no picnics, no camping or overnight moorage, no smoking, no water, no public bathrooms. Walking is encouraged, but only on the established trails. Some beaches close for seal rearing, so boaters need to be aware. The preserve is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., hours which are strictly enforced so that the wildlife gets a break from people. Groups larger than 6 should request special permission to visit the island. Please contact the Conservancy at (206) 343-4344 for written permission.

In 2018, Nature Conservatory naturalist Phil Green retired after spending 19 years as the solo steward on Yellow Island.

Hired in the summer of 2019, Matt Axling is the new steward on Yellow Island, but unlike the previous steward, Matt brings his family along! Matt is responsible for maintaining the unique Yellow Island prairie ecosystem, monitoring the Marine Protected Area around Yellow Island and welcoming visitors.  He draws on his background in environmental education and outdoor recreation to implement conservation and stewardship projects that are based on science and achieve tangible results.  

Before coming to the Nature Conservancy, Matt ran outdoor education and environment education programs for urban youth in Seattle and Albuquerque. He has led trips throughout the Pacific Northwest, American Southwest, Norway and Argentina.  He comes from a long line of islanders with multigenerational ties to Bainbridge Island and the San Juan Islands. In his free time, Matt enjoys kayaking, photography and traveling. 

Special thanks to Noelle van deer Straaten, Nature Conservatory Volunteer for providing most of this information contributed to this blog!

Working Hard to Enhance your San Juan Islands Sailing Experience!

We’ve added  new layer of luxury to Diminuendo for your sleeping comfort. Imagine waking to the smell of freshly brewing coffee. And taking the time to enjoy a morning cup in the comfort and privacy of your own spacious cabin! Because your comfort is our goal, we continuously strive to add new upgrades and innovations to Diminuendo to enhance your overall charter experience. This year we are pleased to announce the addition of custom-cut 7 inch latex mattresses in each of our aft cabins, topped off with luxurious three-inch jell memory foam toppers.  All combined, we feel this will provide a level of comfort found in the finest hotels – or maybe as nice as your bed back home. We’ve also spruced up the cabins this year with new comforters, sheets, and towels, introducing an all new look in jewel tones of gold and navy.

We also had the mast un-stepped over the winter – a process in which the mast is removed with a crane so Ron could install a new wind vane, anemometer, LED anchor light, and upgrades to the wiring.

Last but certainly not least, Diminuendo has been outfitted with a brand new suit of sails (main and genoa) and new running rigging (lines). We put the new sails and rigging to the test on our first charter of the season in March. Captain Ron’s grin would indicate that all meet with his seal of approval!

There are still some great dates open on our calendar, so you’re invited to come and check out the improvements for yourself. We’ll see you aboard!

Gimb’ling Round the Galley!

Here are some examples of your dining selections while exploring the San Juan Island while aboard Diminuendo:

Dinner

Flame Grilled Copper River Sockeye Salmon With French Green Beans And Broccoli “Smashed” Potatoes

Pan Seared Dungeness Crab Cakes With Cajun “dirty” Rice And Asparagus Spears Au Dente

Fresh Clams and Mussels Over Linguini Noodles With White Wine Garlic-Lemon Reduction and Fresh Thai Basil

Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese Crumbles, Plum Tomatoes, Pickled Beets and Crisp Bacon. Balsamic Reduction 

Lunch

BBQ Pulled Pork On Artisan Chibatta Bread With Paprika Spiced Cole Slaw and Maple Baked Beans

Mediterranean Wrap: Pine Nut Hummus, Cucumber, Carrot, Feta Cheese, Back Olives And Crisp Greens wrapped in a Sundried Tomato Tortilla

Red Pepper – Tomato Soup With Italian Meatballs Coucous and Wilted Kale

Ahi Tuna Filet with Spicy Aioli Avocado and Tomato 

Breakfast

“The Captain’s Scramble” Sautéed diced Red Potatoes Smoked Ham and melted Cheddar Cheese

Oatmeal, Assorted cereals fresh fruit, yogurt, pastries and juices

 

 

 

 

 

We are only a month away from one of our all-time favorite things to do on our charters. That is to throw out the crab pot when we drop anchor and drag it back up the next day when we weigh anchor. If we are lucky, we are rewarded with a catch of Dungeness crab, and hopefully up to five nice, legal males. The nice thing about crabbing is that it requires no actual talent, and does not require you to wake at an ungodly hour in the morning or brave the elements outdoors on a particularly unpleasant day. Almost like shooting fish in the proverbial barrel – almost. Crabbing in area 7 (encompassing the San Juan Islands and Bellingham) officially begins on July 15^th and runs through the end of September. Before starting there are a few rules to follow: Make sure the crabs are legal-size. For Dungeness crab, that means the crabs must males, and must be at least 6¼ inches at the widest point of the shell, just in front of the rearmost points or tips. The most accurate way to measure is by using a plastic caliper crab gauge, available at most sporting-goods stores. Gear includes a crab trap, around 100 feet of weighted line, and a float with your contact information displayed. And don’t forget bait! We’ve found that fish carcasses (available at many sport-related stores) work well, while other people swear by chicken or turkey parts.

Make sure you acquire a license and catch-record card, and fill out your catch card immediately before you forget. Don’t overlook the mandatory use of a biodegradable rot to secure a pot’s lid and escape hatches. This cord must be able to rot away to allow crabs to escape if a pot is lost. Should you lose your pot on the bottom without a proper escape cord, it can attract and kill crabs for years.

Some of our favorite spots include Fossil Bay and Echo bay at Sucia Island, Prevost Harbor at Stuart Island, Friday Harbor and Garrison Bay. Chuckanut Bay outside of Bellingham has also proven to be a nice spot to drop the trap.

I personally love making crab cakes. This is a labor of love, as each crab, once cooked, can take up to 20 minutes each to de-shell. I won’t include my secret recipe here, but once you have mixed all your ingredients (egg is mandatory) simply shape the mix into cakes and fry in oil in a shallow fry pan until golden. They can also be easily frozen and thawed for latter and will retail their goodness even after freezing!

June is a great month to explore the San Juans on your own private sailing charter aboard Diminuendo with Northwest Sailing Adventures. The scenery is always spectacular, but even more so in the spring, when the grasses are still green and the leaves on the trees are fresh and new. Abundant wildflowers splash the islands with color.

On Sunday, June 4th, we set sail from Bellingham and had a great day of sailing up to Sucia Island, where we anchored for the night in Fossil Bay. After a pleasant night in this snug harbor, we headed around the east side of the island to see if the Steller Sea Lions had returned. We were not disappointed! There were a number of the massive creatures basking on the rocks and more swimming nearby.

As we neared the Saturna Lighthouse, we observed a cluster of boats near shore and decided to investigate. As we drew near, we saw the unmistakable plume of a whale blowing and caught a glimpse of black. At first glance, Ron thought perhaps it was a Minke Whale which frequent the area, but on closer approach it became clear that it was a group of Humpbacks. We were following along at a distance while the whales and boats headed north for a bit. Then the whales abruptly turned directly our way. Ron could not determine which way to turn to stay clear of their path, so he stopped to let them pass. As they approached, we were struck by just how massive these creatures truly are. Whereas we usually see them from the side, seeing them from ahead gave us a view of their ample girth. They passed within about 20 feet of our starboard side, treating us to a close up view. The barnacles adorning the head of one were clearly visible. With a final wave of their tail flukes, they dove and disappeared below the surface, leaving us in awe.

We then continued across Boundary Pass toward Turn Point. We saw another cluster of boats slowly moving along the eastern shore of Stuart Island toward the lighthouse. As we drew near, we saw the magnificent glistening black dorsal fin of a male orca, soon to be joined by the rest of the pod! We followed as they rounded the point and proceeded into Haro Strait where they congregated for a time before heading off to the west.

Later that evening as the sun sunk toward the horizon, Ron and Mari went for a paddle around Prevost Harbor in their kayaks, where they encountered a group of river otters. The following morning, we were treated to the sight of a herd of Mouflon Sheep congregating on the grassy slopes of Speiden Island. All in all this was a great cruise for wildlife encounters in the San Juan Islands.