Sea Eagle Anchored in Fossil Bay.
Fossil Bay is one of the most popular anchorages at Sucia Island, in Washington State’s San Juan Islands. I had always shied away from anchoring there due to the very shallow depths (about one fathom) throughout the bay. Mike Japhet (Serenity) talked me into giving it a try and I’m very glad that I did.
Sea Eagle was anchored at the head of the bay, and at a low tide that was just above zero, I was showing two feet of depth on the fathometer. For those of you that cruise the Bahamas, you’re thinking, “heck, that’s plenty of water”, but I’m used to our deep NorthWest waters and was a little concerned. Fortunately, we didn’t bump and spent two days on the hook in a very idyllic setting.
Sea Eagle crew learning how to paddle kayaks
We also splashed a pair of new (to us) kayaks and the crew thoroughly enjoyed exploring the nooks and crannies of Sucia Island.
The US Coast Guard showed up as well and I was very surprised to see them walking around on shore and questioning boaters. I’m not sure what or who they were looking for, but they seemed very serious, even following us in the dingy almost all the way over to Matia Island before deciding that we weren’t worth bothering.
Sunset over Fossil Bay from the flybridge