Boating In and Around Whidbey & Camano Islands

Hobie Cat races in Penn Cove, viewed from the Coupeville Wharf. © 2008 Russell Sparkman

Let's face it. Those who love boating never really quite grow up. If you look carefully when they're out on the water, that's mostly a kid looking back at you, even if there's an overlay of wrinkles and gray hair.

And for the kid in all boaters, Whidbey and Camano Islands offers an excellent playground. Whether wind, or motors, or muscles and oars power the boat, the numerous launches and marinas offer plenty of opportunities to become a kid again.

Prior to becoming the organizer for the Whidbey Island Race Week, Gary Stuntz, seen at the helm, was a competitor himself. His wife, Brenda, is seen riding the rail in the front. © Sean Trew

Among them is Gary Stuntz, who got his start a bit earlier than most. He says the first time for him, "I was seven days old."

The Northwest native practically grew up on the water. By his own estimates as a kid he spent 40 weekends a year on the water. He says, "My friends were the seals and the whales."

Now retired, Stuntz is the organizer for one of Island County's signature events, Whidbey Island race week. "Sailing to me became a passion," says Stuntz, adding that he began running the regatta, "because I wanted to make sure that people had the same thrill and love and ability to be able to do what I've done."

Each July, Oak Harbor's Whidbey Island Race week is a chance for grown ups to bring out the big toys and match their sailing skills against each other...and of course nature. It's a chance for tourists to watch from shore as these beautiful sailboats maneuver a course that challenges the talent and teamwork of everyone on board. From a distance it looks like a graceful ballet with the wind as these boats move across the waters of Penn Cove. If the course brings them near you, watch and listen carefully, you'll see (and hear) everyone on board is hard at work!

Deceptions Pass Boat Tours offers a thrilling, high-speed ride under the Deception Pass Bridge through the fast currents of the pass. © 2008 Russell Sparkman

But even those without a boat of their own can find opportunities to get out on the water. At Deception Pass, you can ride The Island Whaler, a jet drive catamaran under the bridge and through the pass. You'll learn about, and hopefully see, some of the wildlife that makes the area so special. You'll learn about the history, from the woman who was the area's first female ferry captain to the area's prison rock quarry and barracks in the side of a cliff! Tickets are available at the bridge and the tours depart hourly from nearby Coronet Bay between April and October. For info, call 1-888-909-TOURS (8687).

Between March and mid-May you can ride the 100 foot Mystic Sea and look for the gray whales that spend part of the year in the waters around Whidbey and Camano islands.

A paddler on a Whidbey Island Kayaking tour gets a close encounter with a Grey Whale off the bluffs of Langley. Gray Whales pass through Saratoga Passage every spring. © Ed Young

For those interested in seeing gray whales from water level, nothing beats a sea kayak. While kayaking is a year around activity in our waters, the annual migration of gray whales through Saratoga Passage each spring affords the adventurous paddler a chance for a close encounter with these remarkable animals.

Ed Young, owner of Whidbey Island Kayaking, enjoys leading trips from locations such as Langley, or Possession Beach, because each trip is different. "You never know what you're going to see," he describes from a cobblestone covered beach at Possession Beach Waterfront Park. "From birdlife to the occassional seal that follows behind our kayaks, no two kayak excursions are the same."

Ed likes to point out that the kayaks are incredibly stable, and first-timers are encougared to give it a try.

"On a recent July trip," Ed explains, "I took a family from England out on a trip. Normally, we have calm conditions, but on this day the wind was blowing harder than usual. Still, this family, including kids who'd never kayaked before, were able to a day on the water."

Handbuilt canoes during various stages of production on display at the Center for Wooden Boats facility at Cama Beach State Park. © Roseann Alspektor

Boats, of course, have been an integral part of the region's history and development. At Cama Beach State Park, the Center for Wooden Boats is a place where people can experience firsthand the types of wooden boats that were common in the region years ago.

However, Dick Wagner, the founding director for the Center, says this museum is different from most, because it, "is a museum where you participate." At the museum visitors can learn about, touch, and even make these simple boats.

So, whether your tastes run from the simplicity of these wooden boats or the complex beauty of racing sailboats, or you just want to go fishing, Island County is the place for you.

The Port of South Whidbey has taken over the marina located in the City of Langley on South Whidbey Island. The Saratoga Passage location make a great stop for boats seeking protected passage between Central and South Puget Sound and North Puget Sound (Oak Harbor, La Conner, Anacortes, Bellingham and the San Juan Islands). The City of Langley offers galleries, antiques, boutiques, restraints, gourmet chocolate and a specialty florist shop. During the evening the local movie house offers current movies at only $6 for Adults!

For moorage information contact the Harbormaster (VHF 66A) Office contact Tel: (360) 221-1120 or email: Harbormaster - Marina offers transient moorage, electric, water, showers, lauch ramp and pump out.

Seeking tidal charts? Simply select a location listed under Possession Sound. Saratoga Strait, or Rosario Strait and the month you are interested in visiting. Learn more.

• Langley's municipal marina Book your mooring reservation NOW for the Island County Fair – August 19-22th. Join us for the 86th Island County Fair in 2010! Just a short walk from the marina, fun for the whole family.
  Come enjoy the community celebration of Whidbey Island's rich arts heritage for the Choochokam Arts Festival, July 10-11, 2010. The picturesque streets of downtown Langley are lined with artists. The air is filled with the sounds from three separate stages, each with its own flavor.
  
• To make reservations for the Langley Marina:
  Email: Harbormaster@portofsouthwhidbey.com or call 360-221-1120 or 425-387-4950 with date of arrival, length of stay, Boat name, LOA, Beam and Draft. Include contact your information. or Contact the Harbormaster at 360 221-1120 always has plenty of moorage for visitors.
• In Coupeville, you can access the town from the dock all day, and anchoring in Penn Cove overnight will offer a truly serene sleep. For more information regarding moorage at Coupeville wharf call (360) 678-5020.
• Oak Harbor's marina has visitor moorage, gas and charters. At Cornet Bay, located on the north end of Whidbey Island, you'll enjoy breathtaking views and gas and goods are available. http://www.whidbey.com/ohmarina/ or call (360) 679-BOAT or (360) 679-2628.
• Camano Island State Park has a floating dock for landing.Camano Island State Park
  2269 S. Lowell Point Rd.
  Camano Island, WA 98282 - (360) 387-3031
  Latitude 48D 7' 39.37" N (48.1276)
  Longitude 122D 29' 57.12" W (-122.4992)
  Body of Water Puget Sound
  Hours Summer: 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  Winter: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  The park is open year-round for camping and day-use.
  
• Camano Island Yacht Club
  Clubhouse Telephone: (360) 387-3737
  Email: camanoislandyachtclub.com
  Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1041, Stanwood, WA 98282
  Club Location: 129 North Sunset Drive, Camano Island, WA 98282

• Adventures in Boating Washington: This handbook is published by Boat Ed, the provider of Washington's boating safety course. Although this handbook is a convenient reference tool, students wanting to receive official Washington boating safety certification would benefit from studying Boat Ed's comprehensive boat safety course. All boating safety course material has been developed in conjunction with Washington Parks & Recreation, and is the same material used in their classroom courses. Take the Washington boating safety course.

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Whidbey and Camano Islands are only 25 miles north of Seattle, and 2 hours south of Vancouver. See Directions and Maps to learn more about how to get here.