We spent a total of 12 weeks cruising between the end of May and the end of September. Our travels took us as far north as the McKensie Sound area of British Columbia, at 51 degrees North Latitude. Although this is only about 240 miles as the crow flies, our knot meter log indicates that over 1400 miles passed under the keel.
We visited all 21 reciprocal clubs listed in the 1995-6 Handbook. However, we were unable to stay at Corinthian Seattle because their Club House, with all gate keys, was in dry dock for repairs, Nanaimo because they were enlarging their facility all summer, and Quartermaster Harbor because they don't have enough depth for our boat, if low tide is less than one foot. We visited three clubs twice. We did stay at Nanaimo last year and found it a pleasant and convenient place to stay, at least in calm weather.
We are glad SSSS offered the challenge to use the reciprocals. It encouraged us to visit places that we normally pass by or that we considered too far out of the way. We never had an unpleasant experience.
The clubs are split between those who have their own docks and members act as dock masters and those that use private marina space and you deal with the marina people. Several clubs have extensive club facilities and social events. The top of this group is Tacoma Yacht Club with an excellent restaurant and cocktail lounge. Watching the September moon eclipse while enjoying a fine meal in their dinning room was a very pleasant experience.
All club members we met were pleasant, but the Canadians definitely have the edge in having the extra time to be helpful or just talk. We so enjoyed our visit to both Vancouver and Victoria that they are definitely on our calendar for every year
Some clubs, such as Eagle Harbor Yacht Club and Seattle Singles Yacht Club, reimburse the marina for you reciprocal usage. We stopped at Eagle Harbor for the second time in September and were told that their budget for reciprocals was exhausted.
Echo Bay Yacht Club, at the bead of Fife Sound, doesn't have moorage. But they do have a club house with a satellite TV, which we used to watch all we saw of the Olympics. They also have cheap dues and membership is open to anyone. The membership consists of recreational fisherman from throughout the western US.
We really can't pick a single most friendly place and would like to send a thank-you to all of them. At Tacoma Yacht Club they were anxious that we not be forced to leave before we were ready. Even though they had a big function the next night and would need that moorage, they would find us someplace else.
At Corinthian Tacoma, where they only have member slips available, we were noticed wandering about by a member. He found us a slip and went to a lot of trouble on a very hot afternoon to get us signed up and the keys for the gate.
At Flounder Bay Yacht Club a member, after assisting us to sign in, stood out in the rain waiting for us to bring our boat around so he could help us dock.
Our favorite all-around stop was the Vancouver Rowing Club. It is on the shore of Stanley Park and a short walk from the downtown with dozens of ethnic restaurants and many shops. Busses and tours to all sorts of attractions are readily available. Two days moorage is free and additional days are reasonable. They work very hard to provide space for as long as you want. The Club house is very old and English and charming. The staff was young and equally charming.
For us the best geographic location is the Eagle Harbor Yacht Club. It is one days trip north, the marina has very good facilities and getting the things you forgot at the Thriftway is great fun.
Jack and Joanne DeMeyer, Balder