#TBT: Five Days, Four Islands – A Brief Journal of the Unexpected
In our latest Throwback Thursday, we follow along on a sailing journey through the San Juan Islands where every day and moment must be savored. "Five Days, Four Islands" first appeared in the April 2004 issue of 48° North A…
#TBT: GUNKHOLING: Shaw Island
A lovely and detailed window into a San Juan Islands favorite, Shaw Island. Published nearly 20 years ago, some details may no longer be current, but it certainly captures Shaw's cruising opportunities in ways that ring true…
Harney Channel Between Orcas and Shaw Renamed Cayou Channel
The 2-mile channel between the south end of Orcas Island and the north end of Shaw Island formerly known as Harney Channel has received a name change. On Tuesday, July 5 the Washington State Board of Natural Resources…
Round the County, Noah’s Ark Edition
David Miller shares the following tale of his crew's weekend of fun at Round the County 2021. This article was originally published at David's blog, and is republished here with the author's permission. An absolutely epic…
Fun With Friends: 48° North Cruising Rally 2021
This article, co-written by Chuck Skewes and Joe Cline, originally appeared in the September 2021 issue of 48° North. Since 2018, 48° North has partnered with Ullman Sails to put on a cruising rally in the islands of the…
Three Sheets Northwest: Spring Surprises in the San Juans
We pulled into Rosario Resort on a gloriously warm Thursday afternoon and saw something we hadn’t expected to see — an almost empty marina. I walked up the dock as a group of geese and goslings swam in the shallow water…
With Busy Boating Season Ahead, Make Sure to Take Care of Your Own ‘Backyard’
If Covid-19 has taught Pacific Northwest boaters anything, it's the value of exploring our own backyards — especially the San Juan Islands. As the high season of recreational boating kicks into gear throughout the Pacific…
Navigating a Small Boat Adventure During a Pandemic
In any normal year, I’d typically get two or three rowing trips under my belt in my home away from home, the Pacific Northwest. But the shutdown changed all of that—2020 is not a “normal” year. This year, I was grateful for…
How have we never been here before?
Rediscovering a sense of surprise and wonder while cruising close to home From the October, 2020 issue of 48° North. I’m a little embarrassed to admit we’d never really heard about Watmough Bay near the southeast tip of…
Island Life 2020
A Potpourri Of Perspectives about Cruising in the San Juan Islands From the August, 2020 issue of 48° North. For many boaters around the Pacific Northwest, the San Juan Islands are the quintessential destination for summer…