Well i suppose i ought qualify that. Sucia Island is my second favorite major island in the San Juans … i guess that narrows it down quite a bit more.
Saturday morning my Father, my friend Andrew and I loaded on the Dorothy Rose for a fantastic one night trip out to Sucia. We left Cap Sante Marina at roughly 11:00 on Saturday and took about 5 hours to motor north and into Echo Bay. The trip north along Lummi Island is stunningly beautiful. Lummi rises much more steeply from the water than the other islands in the San Juans and the misty afternoon made it feel like we were in a truly magical land.
Upon setting the anchor in Echo Bay, Andrew and I took to the shore for a walk to the north eastern corner of the island. After a spirited hour of walking we’d gone to the end and back leaving us quite ready for our dinner.
Back on the boat we enjoyed some delicious steaks that were supposedly cut from cows raised with the highest of social and environmental standards. The steaks were accompanied by some delicious rolls from La Vie En Rose bakery in Anacortes and a great bottle of Shiraz that we’d picked up at Compass Wines.
The trip home found us in sunshine and a healthy 20kt breeze. Naturally the breeze was right on our bow so we spent much of the day close hauled, rail under even with a first reef on. Such conditions make for exciting sailing, but they also make for excellent napping in the leeward bunks.
Later in the afternoon the wind calmed to 5-10kts and I was able to enjoy a nap on deck under full sail, quite a treat in June.
Sucia is a wonderful destination for a number of reasons. Anchorages are plentiful and one can always find a place in large Echo Bay. There are several smaller nooks that hold fewer boats but provide truly excellent scenery.
Shoreside one can enjoy a variety of trails all over the sizeable island.
