The crew of Diminuendo and her guests were treated to a beautiful evening in Active Cove with a wonderful view up the Strait of Georgia. The San Juan Islands provide an endless array of magnificent vistas. Sunsets in the San Juans are not always like this, but it just makes us appreciate them all the more when Mother Nature does grace us with one so beautiful!

We often sail by Patos Island on the way from Sucia to Stewart Island to treat our guests to one of the breathtaking view of the Patos lighthouse with Mount Baker looming in the distance. This time we decided to drop the hook and spend the night at anchor in Active Cove. The cove is a bit small so we’re not always able to find room. There are 2 mooring buoys and just enough room for a couple of boats to anchor out. In choosing you spot, one must consider the currents which can be quite strong, especially on a spring tide such as we had on this occasion.

One advantage of offering only private charters is that it allows us to change our plans as opportunities present themselves. As Captain Ron likes to put it, “leaving navigation to chance, circumstance, and whims.” Were we to offer “by the cabin” cruises, we would have to stick to a set itinerary or try to reach a consensus among the different couples sharing the boat.

From our vantage point in the cove, we could see the Patos Lighthouse as well as the lighthouse on Saturna Island across the border in the Canadian Gulf Islands.

Genaro and Stacey were a real pleasure to have aboard. Genaro is an expert drone videographer, and we will soon have some aerial video of our adventure to share!

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.