June 22: Capt. Raynaud International Schooner Race aboard Adventuress

Join the Captain Raynoud International Schooner Race from Friday Harbor to Sucia Island, and from Sucia Island to Spencer Spit. The schooner will race during the day and anchor together each night, culminating in a party aboard Schooner Zodiac on Sunday evening. Sleep on board and dine in the galley.

Important Notes:

• You may stay aboard the ship Friday evening, but if you plan to arrive at the ship Saturday morning make sure to be aboard no later than 0830.
• This event is limited to those aged 12 and up. Youth ages 12-17 will need an adult on board and overseeing them at all times.
• This is a working sail. Participants will be expected to help as are able, including anchor watch.
• Our galley serves hearty vegetarian fare, and all meals are included.
• Due to its youth education mission, please keep in mind that Adventuress is a dry ship.
• Our vessel carries 60 Type 1 PFDs or lifejackets. Because we are a USCG inspected passenger-carrying vessel operating on the navigable waters of the United States, participants are not required to wear a life jacket during our programs (similar to a ferry).

We will get underway in time to join the race outside of Friday Harbor at 1000 Saturday morning, then head North in San Juan Channel and President's Channel to anchor at Sucia Island Saturday evening. Sunday morning we will race again from Sucia down Rosario Strait to anchor at Spencer Spit for a communal dinner/ party aboard Zodiac. Monday we'll head back to Friday Harbor by mid-afternoon.

What to Expect

At the beginning of the voyage, you will be assigned to a Watch—a small team of about eight people. The Watch will be led by two Watch Leaders. You will work with this group as you learn about sail preparation, sailing, and the marine environment of the San Juan Islands. We also do activities together as a large group.

We are often asked what participants will do each day. Our experience has been that each trip and each day are different. Our program and schedule are often based on the winds, currents, and tides. We don’t plan a set itinerary because we find that it limits program possibilities and does not make the best use of a sailing vessel. Some days we may get up earlier in order to catch a tide or sail later in the evening to make use of a wind pattern. Schedule and routines are adjusted to take advantage of the weather. In general, though, our days resemble the following:

The Morning: Days begin with wake-ups at 0700, we gather on deck at 0745 and have breakfast around 0800. Each Watch will have different morning chores after breakfast, such as doing dishes or deck wash, then we will haul up the anchor and set sail all together.

The Day: No sailing experience is necessary! You'll be folded into the professional crew who will work alongside you to sail, steer and navigate the ship. During the day we'll be divided into watches that rotate between being on duty on deck and on standby when you can relax on deck or below. When on deck, in addition to handling Adventuress' seven sails you'll take turns steering, standing lookout, plotting the ship's position, doing boat checks and helping with meal preparation. The professional crew will walk you through each of these tasks when it is your turn. The standby watch is your free time (unless called to help with the sails!) for resting, reading, etc. There will also be an optional class about seamanship or the marine ecology of the Salish Sea.

The Evening: When we get to our destination for the day, we drop anchor, tidy the ship, and eat dinner. Evenings are a time for the whole group to gather in the main cabin to share an evening program. The program may consist of songs, stories, or other group activities. “Lights out” is at 2200 and the ship is quiet all night. Each Watch is responsible for keeping an eye on the ship for a one-hour Anchor Watch—staying awake to make sure the ship is safe. This is a wonderful time to enjoy the peaceful beauty of a tall ship at anchor in Puget Sound: stars, sounds of night animals, and glowing plankton in the water. All Anchor Watches are led by a qualified Watch Leader who will assist you in taking readings of the ship’s positions.

This is a unique opportunity to sail in company with other traditional sailing ships and enjoy the camaraderie in the evenings. Enjoy the beauty of the San Juan Islands in the elegant silence of a schooner under sail!

(Banner photo by H Hohendorf)