About halfway between Seattle and Vancouver, the city of Anacortes, Washington, stands as a terrific jumping-off point for some of the best cruising in the Pacific Northwest. And it’s not just geography that makes Anacortes a great stopover; it’s also the region’s marine services, which offer just about everything.

More than two dozen boatyards and service centers are here or close by, focused on electrical systems, carpentry, re-powers and more. Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard handles gelcoat repair, plumbing, mast rigging and other needs. Over at CSR Marine, boaters can find a pair of 70-ton Travelifts for haul-outs of boats as big as 80 feet length overall. Lighthouse Marine has outboard engines in stock for yachtsmen whose tenders need a boost. Others offer upholstery repair, paint jobs, prop work and additional specialty services.

One reason there’s so much dedicated marine knowledge here is that Anacortes has a busy marine terminal. Recreational boaters should be prepared to see—and steer clear of—shipping and ferry traffic in these waterways.

But just beyond the main routes, there are beautiful spots to explore, including the San Juan Islands. They’re about 20 miles away as the crow flies, making them accessible for day cruises as well as longer itineraries. Yachtsmen have long loved the San Juans for their scenic beauty, with occasional whale sightings, great hiking trails and memorable views of Mount Baker.

But don’t give Anacortes itself the short shrift; the historic downtown has buildings that date to the 19th century. One that sells marine supplies today used to house an eclectic mix of groceries, cigars and shooting galleries. Some of the restaurants are worth a stop too, for a sit-down meal or for takeout. The menu at Adrift includes burgers made with locally sourced cod, salmon or oysters, just in case you get skunked out on the boat trying to catch your own fish.

Check Out More: Yacht Towns

Cap Sante

This marina is within walking distance of historic downtown Anacortes. Amenities for boaters include free wi-fi, along with showers, laundry, pump-out and loaner bicycles. A dog park is across the street. The on-site restaurant is Anthony’s, which serves lunch, dinner and a Sunday brunch featuring smoked salmon scrambled eggs.

City History

Anacortes is named for Anne Curtis Bowman, whose husband, Amos, was a railroad surveyor who founded the town in 1879. Fishing was a mainstay of the economy from the start, with the town eventually growing into a city whose nickname was the Salmon Canning Capital of the World. Steamships and launches known as the Mosquito Fleet helped people get around Puget Sound in the days when water travel was preferable to traveling by road. Today, the most frequently visited destination for many visitors is the Washington State Ferries terminal, which provides access to several of the islands in the San Juans as well as to British Columbia.

The post Escape to Anacortes, Washington appeared first on Yachting.

It’s been almost two decades since the phrase “quality time remaining” became our mantra. To us, QTR doesn’t mean we will live to be 100 years old, rather it reminds us how much time we have left to do the things we love to do. It’s our reminder to live each day as though it’s our last.

My husband, Bob, and I met through boating many years ago in San Diego. He was a former naval aviator, a longtime boater and a commercial airline captain at the time. I was working in the marine industry selling advertising into national boating publications and sailing and racing as crew on other people’s boats.

One of the first things we did after we got married was join the San Diego Yacht Club and partner with friends in the ownership of Sunshine, a 1985 Brewer 42-foot pilothouse cutter. We loved that boat. Swinging on the hook was our favorite thing, and being on board was our happy place.

We sailed Sunshine along the Southern California coastline to Catalina Island, the Channel Islands and parts of Mexico, and did a lot of bareboat chartering. We chartered in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Tahiti, Greece, Croatia and Sardinia, and we made three trips to the Pacific Northwest. Friends always joined us on these trips—which made the charter surprisingly inexpensive—and we all enjoyed our amazing adventures. Discovering a new place by boat has always been our favorite vacation.

Our first bareboat charter in the PNW was in 2005 on a Grand Banks 36, where we joined the annual Mother Goose Cruise to Alaska, led by NW Explorations in Bellingham,Washington. Because we were both still working and had limited time, we went only as far north as Desolation Sound, the largest marine park in British Columbia. That was enough for us to fall in love with the area and to whet our appetite for what was to come. They say that you can cruise the waters of the PNW your whole life and never see it all, and we believe it. The seed was planted, and we knew we wanted more.

We did two more bareboat charters in the PNW—one on a sailboat in 2013 and another on a Grand Banks 42 in 2016. By 2016, we were both retired, and it was on that cruise that we made the decision to sell our partnership in Sunshine and buy a powerboat for cruising the PNW. Although we are sailors at heart, we both agreed that a Grand Banks would be the perfect boat for us. Not only is it a lot less work than sailing for folks our age, it’s also more practical in the PNW, where the wind is sporadic, at best. You can stay comfortable, warm and dry, all the while taking in the amazing views.

In December 2016, we fulfilled our dream by buying a 1990 Grand Banks 46 Classic in Seattle. We named it Grand QTR, and it has indeed been that. We have been having the time of our lives.

We found a slip in Sidney, British Columbia, a charming little town that has everything we need just 17 miles north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. From San Diego, we can take an early-morning flight up through Seattle, into Victoria, and be on board Grand QTR by lunchtime. It’s the ideal location, with easy access to both the Canadian Gulf Islands and the US San Juan Islands. Beautiful views of Mount Baker are visible from Sidney. There are so many great harbors from which to choose, and all are so close by. Bob loves the challenge of navigating the waters and continually checking the tides, currents and weather, while I am always on “log watch” (and whale watch) when underway.

Our first two seasons on board were spent exploring our new backyard, with friends and family joining throughout the summer. By then we had two grandsons (we now have three), and we’ve found that there’s nothing more fun than sharing this incredible experience with family. We all love Grand QTR. Handrails and walk-around room outside the entire boat keep it safe for grandkids and grandparents alike, while the spacious main salon provides 360-degree views and plenty of room for entertaining.

During our first season, the highlight was a trip to Chatterbox Falls, where we cruised 50 miles up the gorgeous fjords of Jervis Inlet, through the Malibu Rapids at slack tide, and into Princess Louisa Inlet—a trip that had been on our bucket list since our first cruise to the area. It is one of the most amazing places on Earth. There’s no cellphone service or Wi-Fi, only the pristine beauty of Mother Nature at her finest. It’s one of many places in these waters that can be accessed only by boat or seaplane. For us, just being there was a spiritual experience.

The highlight of our PNW cruising seasons was our summer cruising in 2019, when we buddy-boated up the Inside Passage to Glacier Bay, Alaska, with our Sidney slip mates. They were on their beautiful 2014 Kadey-Krogen 44, Mana Kai. Traveling with them made for a safe and fantastic journey. It was the trip of a lifetime for us, during which we traveled 3,200 nautical miles over five months. The cruising grounds are pristine, breathtaking and nothing short of spectacular. The farther north you go, the more beautiful it is and the more wildlife you encounter. Seeing orcas, humpbacks, porpoises, otters, eagles, ravens, herons and bears is always a thrill. The Misty Fjords—like Glacier Bay National Park—was another spiritual place we will never forget.

When COVID-19 prevented us from getting into Canada in 2020 and 2021, we had NW Explorations deliver our boat to Bellingham and spent both of those summers cruising Washington state. We rendezvoused with Mana Kai and Water Dog, another Kadey-Krogen couple (and their two dogs) we met during our 2019 cruise to Alaska. Cruising with them, we had two fantastic, COVID-safe Dungeness-crab-filled summers. Stunning views of Mount Rainier are a highlight of cruising in south Puget Sound, and visiting with friends and family who live there make it even better. The diversity of the island hiking—along with a few online yoga classes—helped keep us in shape while cruising. We’re looking forward to getting back to British Columbia this summer for season six. There’s lots more to explore.

As long as it’s still fun, and as long as we’re in good health, we hope to continue living this dream. Not only is Grand QTR our happy place, but it’s also become our safe place. And with no TV on board, it’s a real escape for us. Floating someplace beautiful with people you love—that is QTR.

For more details about Grand QTR’s cruising adventures, visit grandqtr.com.

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Hikes with a View

Yacht charter in the Pacific Northwest often includes itineraries in scenic Alaska or British Columbia’s Desolation Sound, but it’s worth the effort to look a bit farther south, between Seattle and Vancouver off the Washington State border. There, you’ll find the San Juan Islands, a region that is much less-traveled by charter yachts but that is absolutely brimming with wide-open views and outdoor adventures.

Yachts that charter in the San Juans are typically based there during at least part of the year, because tax laws make it unfavorable for out-of-region yachts to move into the market. The downside of that reality is limited supply — charter clients have to book early to get the best yachts — while the upside is having captains and crew with virtually unlimited local knowledge. They usually know the captains of the local whale-watching fleet, to get the scoop on pod positions. They know the harbors that remain empty come sundown, to ensure a quiet night on the hook with a good view. And they’re familiar with local fishing fleets, which provide the chef with the freshest catch.

Want to wet a hook yourself? Charter yachts here usually have fishing and crabbing equipment, and tow center consoles with fish boxes and other gear. Guests can leave their own rods and reels at home but will want to pack a favorite pair of hiking boots, as well as clothing that can be layered. Early morning climbs can lead to stunning views in the crisp air, followed by gunkholing or paddleboarding in a bathing suit and T-shirt under the midday sun.

Pro tip: Think layering when researching charter yachts too. Those with open as well as enclosed lounging areas will let everyone enjoy the views in any weather.

About the San Juan Islands

Remember the little guys: While most activity in the San Juans takes place around the four biggest islands — San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw — there are actually 172 islands and reefs to explore.

Arrive by seaplane: A 45-minute flight from Seattle can land guests right at the harbor where the charter yacht awaits at anchor.

Watch the whales: The orcas are generally around from spring through autumn, as are the sea lions, bald eagles, porpoises and, well, charter yachts.

The post Checking Out Charters in the San Juans appeared first on Yachting.

“We looked at the Jacuzzi, and my wife thought maybe we should store our vegetables in there,” he says. “We went a little further and put some insulation in and modified the canvas cover.”

The idea not only worked, but also for two months last summer, Rosehearty‘s hot-tub-turned-chiller became part of some truly memorable experiences.

“We put all of the vegetables up there,” Hutchison says. “We’d find an iceberg, go over, get a chain saw, chisels and hammers and knock off some lumps of ice, and for three or four days, we could pack that ice.”

Unusual? Yes, but then again, exploring the Northwest Passage is the stuff of adventure-minded yachtsmen’s dreams. Rosehearty‘s owner is such a man. After years of planning, he decided that 2016 was the time to make that particular dream come true — the first of more adventurous cruises to come, including some with charter dates in Chile and Antarctica during 2018.

David and Raya Hutchison stood on the flybridge, stared at the hot tub and decided to discuss… cucumbers. The couple, who are captain and chef aboard the 183-foot Perini Navi ­Rosehearty, was preparing for a cruise from New England to the Northwest Passage. The planned route would leave them responsible for 24 souls: a permanent crew of 13, a Canadian naturalist, a Canadian logistics expert, an ice pilot and eight guests, including Rosehearty‘s owner. All of those people were going to get hungry — in parts of the world so remote that provisioning can be impossible for up to a month at a time.

The Hutchisons already knew how to stock up in a way that let them produce five-star cuisine in far-off anchorages, from the Caribbean to the ­Mediterranean. Rosehearty charters at a weekly base rate that, during prime seasons, can top $250,000. But the Northwest Passage posed a tougher challenge, one that called or creative thinking. In fact, Capt. David Hutchison says figuring out how to provision and stow enough fresh vegetables turned out to be harder than modifying the 10-year-old sailing yacht to cruise safely and comfortably in waters packed with ice.

That’s why, in a sense, the journey that Rosehearty took to the Northwest Passage last summer was kind of a shakedown cruise, a chance to see how things turn out for the cucumbers and more when a luxury sailing yacht goes to the ends of the Earth. The itinerary served as a harbinger of the types of experiences Rosehearty will offer charter clients in the seasons to come.

The original plan was to sail from New England to Greenland, leave there at the end of July, cruise through the Northwest Passage and finish at the Pacific Ocean. Timing the entry was crucial, Hutchison says, because pack ice makes the eastern part of the Arctic inaccessible for all but a few weeks each summer.

“It’s never really opened until the 25th or 28th of July, just to get into some of the initial places on the trip, and then it closes pretty quickly,” he says. “Most of the ice is driven down through the strait, and it packs up around the island, and it blocks the place up.”

Once Rosehearty got up there, though, the owner had to change his plans. The ­Pacific route had to be scrapped because of timing — a lucky break, in a way, because the yacht got to spend more time in the eastern Canadian islands.

“It’s a lot more drama, wildlife, scenery in that part than there is in the Canadian and Alaskan coasts,” Hutchison says.

Perhaps surprisingly, the modifications Rosehearty needed to complete the journey were minimal. The owner added a flybridge enclosure with clear panels, to capture the frequently recirculated fresh air that normally would have been expelled from the interior. Even when the outside air temperature was about 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind was blowing 20 knots, Hutchison says, “It was comfortable enough to be up there without a jacket.”

In addition to retrofitting the hot tub for vegetable stowage, the crew also kept stores fresh in the parts of the bilge that lacked insulation.

“We’re a fairly big charter boat and have good freezer space,” Hutchison says, but a lot of the time, “the outside water temperature was minus 1 or minus 2 Celsius [28 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit], so anything in the uninsulated bilge areas of the boat was fine. It wouldn’t freeze, but it was fine.”

The crew also left the yacht’s two personal watercraft in New England and used that space for a new 23-foot Milpro tender. The military-grade Zodiac didn’t look as pretty as Rosehearty‘s usual guest tender, but with its twin 70 hp outboards, AIS, radar and GPS, the Milpro was reliable for weaving among icebergs and more.

“We’d load it up with 10 people and go fishing, polar bear sighting, that type of thing,” Hutchison says. “It was an open plan, not a yacht tender, more of a workhorse. We could throw stuff in and drag stuff out.” Helm electronics were key, Hutchison says, aboard the tender and Rosehearty herself. Help can be days away, and ice packs can move in fast. Being able to receive regular weather and ice reports, as well as contact the authorities daily, was crucial.

“You actually tell the Canadian Coast Guard where you want to go, what your route plan is, and they’ll tell you whether it’s OK or if you have to change [your] route,” Hutchison says. “They want you to report every six hours, and if you don’t ­report, they get anxious and start to email saying, ‘C’mon guys, where are you?’”

Traditional charts sometimes bore no resemblance to reality. Using only paper charts, he says, would send any captain “back to the time when everybody used to fail. You end up in the wrong place in the wrong time.”

“You’re supposed to be in 70 meters of water and you find yourself in 7 meters because these tall icebergs drift around,” he says. “We had the pack ice returning with currents. We were quite lucky to get out of there as we did. You can imagine a couple-thousand-ton ice block landing on your anchor chain or grounding on top of it.”

There is Internet service, ­Hutchison says, primarily for use by airplanes. ­Rosehearty has VSAT-supported Internet capability, which worked best for maintaining communications; the yacht also had Iridium service as a backup.

“The satellite, a lot of times, was on the horizon,” Hutchison says. “When you’re up at 77 degrees North and looking at an equatorial satellite, you’re almost looking around the curve of the Earth. The Iridium was slower, but it was good enough to use to get the weather and ice reports.”

At Creswell Bay, where Rosehearty anchored in mid-August, having faster communications turned out to be key.

“We were sitting quite happily in ­Creswell Bay and saw these little white dots on the horizon,” Hutchison says. “You wouldn’t think they could move so fast, but they do. The ice pack had decided to move back, so we left there around 7 o’clock at night knowing we had to run five or six hours to get to the next safe haven, and there was a lot of ice around. That was a tense time.”

Even still, he says, the Rosehearty crew is looking forward to offering charters near the planet’s other pole in 2018. They also are still thinking about what more they might experience if they give the full Northwest Passage another try.

“I think if you asked any of us on the boat whether we want to go back, we’d say yes,” Hutchison says. “We didn’t see as many whales as we were expecting — we were a little too late for the beluga whales, which had moved on, and the narwhals were a little [skittish] because the locals were ­hunting them — but we did see about eight to 10 polar bears, and walrus, and the bird life. “It’s special,” he says. “It’s tundra. It’s wild. The remoteness of it — the scenery is spectacular.”

Read the Rosehearty blog from the Northwest Passage, and see the exact route the yacht traveled.

READ MORE: 10 Charters to Check out in 2017

The post An Arctic Escape appeared first on Yachting.

Ocean Independence has welcomed the 98-foot Sunseeker Emrys to its charter fleet, with itineraries available out of San Francisco.

“Several unique features allow this sexy Sunseeker to stand out among her few competitors in charter on the West Coast of North America,” the company stated in a press release. “Besides an experienced crew and versatile layout inside and out, guests will feel the features aboard are typical of larger yachts.”

Emrys accommodates eight guests in four staterooms, including two with king berths, making her a good option for couples who want to charter together and split the weekly base rate of $50,000.

The post Now for Charter in San Francisco appeared first on Yachting.

Christensen Yachts 160 Custom Series superyacht D’Natalin IV

Christensen Shipyards has launched the 164-foot superyacht D’Natalin IV (part of the 160 Custom Series) at its facility in Vancouver, Washington. Sea trials and final fitting out are next, with delivery to the owner scheduled for May.

“We are excited to see the D’Natalin IV sitting in the water perfectly on its lines as designed,” Christensen CEO Joe Foggia stated in a press release. “The blue hull is flawless in its finish and really strikes the attention of anyone who sees it. We are appreciative of the owners who chose Christensen to build their fourth superyacht.”

The interior aboard D’Natalin IV is by Portland, Oregon-based Carol Williamson and Associates, whose other recent work includes the 163-foot Christensen Casino Royale and the 191-foot Trinity Carpe Diem. On D’Natalin IV, the firm used high-gloss, raised-panel walnut cabinetry and inlaid stone floors.

Christian Bakewell of Merle Wood & Associates represented the owner both in the purchase and construction. “Prior to contract signing, we spent over two months writing a very detailed build specification,” he stated in a press release. “This has allowed the shipyard and owner’s team to meet the very aggressive build schedule outlined in the construction contract, while keeping the quality to very exacting standards. The results speak for themselves. She is an absolutely gorgeous yacht.”

There is no word yet on whether_ D’Natalin IV_ will be offered for charter, but the owners have offered their previous builds in the past. Stay tuned for further information here on our site, or click over to www.christensenyachts.com.

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52 Grand Banks Kiawah

Grand Banks Yachts has appointed NW Explorations as its first authorized purchase-for-charter company. The Washington state-based outfit will serve as a base for charters aboard Grand Banks boat in British Columbia, Desolation Sound, the Inside Passage, southeast Alaska, Haida Gwaii (aka the Queen Charlotte Islands) and Prince William Sound.

The new purchase-for-charter program will let anyone interested in buying a Grand Banks work with NW Explorations on charters as well, from all aspects of the market including charter yacht ownership.

“We have maintained a substantial Grand Banks charter fleet for over three decades,” Brian Pemberton, owner of NW Explorations, stated in a press release. “We know these boats intimately, and this summer we will be taking a flotilla of Grand Banks across the Gulf of Alaska and into Prince William Sound, cruising for nearly 5,000 miles. The comfort and reliability of Grand Banks for these extended cruises are legendary. We are very excited to sell and commission new Grand Banks into our fleet.”

Learn more at www.grandbanks.com.

The post Grand Banks is Getting into Charter appeared first on Yachting.

90-foot Northern Marine trideck

Craftsmen at Northern Marine in Anacortes, Washington, are putting the finishing touches on a 90-foot trideck that has been listed on the brokerage market.

“She’ll be launching in April and delivered in May,” says Josh Gulbranson, a sales broker with Fraser Yachts Worldwide who has listed the boat at $9.2 million. “The individual who is building it changed his life plan and is going to do other things. That’s why it’s for sale.”

Gulbranson says Båaden (Danish for “boat”) is the first Northern Marine build with a full sundeck. Other megayacht-style spaces include a main-deck master cabin, a full-beam sky lounge and a bridge-deck captain’s cabin plus belowdecks accommodations for two or three additional crew.

Features include zero-speed stabilizers, VSAT and redundant systems for everything from the watermakers to the air conditioning. “The boat can be run off the generators if there’s a main-engine failure, so she has get-home propulsion,” Gulbranson says. “She is just loaded with redundant systems.

A pair of 600-horsepower C18 Caterpillars provide a top speed of 10 knots. Range is 4,000 nautical miles.

Construction is nearly complete, but there is still time for a new owner to select loose furnishings. Learn more at www.fraseryachts.com.

The post Take Delivery by May appeared first on Yachting.

96-foot Burger motoryacht Oriana

You may not recognize the name John Calley, but surely you know his work. The Hollywood mogul was at various times chief of Warner Brothers, United Artists and Sony Pictures, working behind the scenes on everything from “The Towering Inferno” and “A Clockwork Orange” to “Superman” and “Jerry Maguire.”

“When he was making ‘The Da Vinci Code’ movies, he started getting ill,” says Roy Sea, a sales broker with International Yacht Collection. “In his estate, he decided that all his boats and antique cars would go to a foundation that creates scholarships for underprivileged kids.”

Calley died in 2011, and the 96-foot Burger Oriana is currently owned by the John N. Calley Foundation. The asking price on the 1984 build is $1.25 million — and the sale’s proceeds will go toward scholarships.

“And the boat’s in great shape,” Sea says. “He was the third owner. He bought the boat from a charitable foundation, too, the Marine Resources Development Foundation in Key Largo. He kept it in Los Angeles and the Pacific Northwest. He used to be married to the actress Meg Tilly, and she’s from British Columbia, so the boat had a dock in Victoria and Vancouver.”

That’s where Oriana is currently lying, in Victoria. She has a pair of 800-horsepower Caterpillar 3412s that push her to a cruising speed of 14 knots and a top speed of 15 knots. When built, she was 91 feet; the 5-foot extension was done in 1986 at Bradford Marine, which transformed the original cockpit into an aft deck, extended the boat deck and installed cranes for larger tenders.

The specs, though, are not what most people ask about, Sea says. Instead, potential buyers always want to know if buying the yacht would count as a tax deduction.

“You’ve got to check with your accountant,” he says. “If he can make the case that you’re paying less for the boat than it’s worth, then you probably can [take the deduction], but it’s not something the foundation is going to give an opinion on.”

Learn more about Oriana at www.iyc.com.

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Rendering of Christensen 164

Christensen Shipyards has signed a contract to build a 164-foot Custom Series megayacht worth just shy of $36 million.

The deal was inked at the recent Miami Yacht & Brokerage Show. Plans are for the yacht to feature new exterior styling including a fold-out balcony and a swim-deck extension.

Inside, the yacht will have staterooms for as many as 12 guests. No further information has been released about design or specifications.

Christensen says delivery of the latest 164 is expected in August 2016. Between now and then, the Washington-based builder says it may add 100 employees to its 380-person full-time work force to complete the new build along with eight other yachts and additional projects it has under contract.

Stay tuned for more at www.christensenyachts.com.

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