Pacific Northwest – U.S. and Canada
Yacht Charter & Sailing Vacations

Sailing Skill Level Overview

The Pacific Northwest regions of the United States and Canada offer a variety of sailing conditions ranging from calm waters to more challenging conditions, from dynamic weather to exceptional tides & currents. The reward is sailing in one of the most beautiful places in the world – dramatic landscapes, nature experiences, and unique local cultures.

For these reasons, the Pacific Northwest also is considered one of the best sail training areas in the world! Several of NauticEd’s best instructors reside in the PNW, in both Washington and British Columbia. And so if you’re thinking of taking a course, need licensing, or even just need to brush up on sailing/charter skills with private instruction – consider the Pacific Northwest!

Overall, here are 2 key considerations for PNW sailing:

1. Local Knowledge! Weather, tides & currents, anchoring conditions, and even “land effects” can vary significantly by location.  The charter company certainly will advise you, and don’t hesitate to ask experienced PNW sailors for advice (they’re typically friendly and more than willing to assist)!
2. Planning: sailing in the PNW requires more planning than in other areas. Weather, tides and currents, marina/anchorage availability, and clothing are all thoughtful considerations when planning for each day of your sail. Notably, we HIGHLY suggest you subscribe to the regional authority Salish Sea Pilot for your planning and decisions while underway.

In general, consider the following when planning a PNW sailing charter and vacation:

Weather varies greatly depending on the time of year and location. Weather in the PNW region is typically mild with cool wet winters and warm dry summers – extremes in temperature and precipitation are unusual. From June to September, warm to hot weather can be enjoyed from Puget Sound north to Desolation Sound with cooler temperatures prevailing in the northern regions of Vancouver Island. The weather during the Shoulder season requires that sailors be particularly attentive to the LOCAL weather forecasts, especially if wind is a conern.

Notably, for sailing, you have to be mindful of weather systems coming ashore from the Pacific Ocean and then meeting mountain ranges (e.g., Olympics, Cascades, Coastal Mountains, Vancouver Ranges) – the combination of which can create dynamic local weather effects depending on your location.

Tides & Currents: planning for tides and currents is an essential skill in PNW waters. Specifically, tidal currents can be amplified between islands and in passages, sometimes to the extreme, so planning ahead for the tidal currents is important. Also consider the wind direction when transiting high-current passages – a brisk wind that’s opposing a strong tidal current can make for a rather “uncomfortable” transit!

Fog: some areas are prone to dense fog at different times of the year (especially early spring or late fall).

Commercial Traffic: many areas (such as near Seattle, WA) can experience busy commercial traffic – ferries, container ships, barges, and at times even military submarines! IF you’re transiting a commercial area, then you’ll need to pay particular attention to the traffic lanes and give commercial traffic a wide berth.