We sailed to Seattle to catch a Mariners baseball game!

Posted by nflickgeo@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 39 comments

A few weeks back we sailed our 1979 Catalina 22' up to Seattle for the 05/02 game against Kansas City and Randy Johnson's number retirement! It was too bad the M's lost but we still had a great time. I don't think there is a better way to catch a ballgame.

We did it in three days:

Gig Harbor > Des Moines

Des Moines > Seattle

Seattle > Gig Harbor

We stayed at Bell Harbor Marina right in the center of the downtown waterfront, it felt surreal to be surrounded by the yachts of the Seattle tech elite in our Craigslist sailboat. Moorage only cost $35 a night!

A decent portion of the journey was under motor but we managed to sail for a good while in Elliott Bay and from West Seattle to the north entrance of the Colvos Passage on the way home.

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jh937hfiu3hrhv9@reddit

The current in colvos passage always runs north. Try it the other way next time.

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Westar-35@reddit

Nice!

Here in SF we have McCovey Cove next to the Giants field. Last time we went our boat was commented on 3 times by the announcers. But it ends up more like hearing the game and BBQ on the pushpit.

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mrblacklabel71@reddit

That is so dope!!! How do you like living in that part of Washington?

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nflickgeo@reddit (OP)

I grew up here, graduated Gig Harbor High School, in all my travels I have never found a place I'd rather live than the Puget Sound. I especially love the western side, we have quick access to the urban eastern side while also having the Olympics in our backyard.

I got my degree in Geography, there is nowhere that blends the ocean, forest, cities, and mountains quite like here!

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mrblacklabel71@reddit

That is so awesome! My wife moved to Eastern Washington from Texas a year ago and will likely move to the west side in a few years. We did some sailing around the Windward Islands and then chartered a monohull for 8 days, it was amazing. I learned a lot on the charter and got a sailing bug.

We want to learn to sail and will likely do it over in the Sea-Tac area, so your info is helpful on 2 fronts. I really appreciate it!!

One other question if I may, how is the job market over there in Gig Harbor?

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justthekoufax@reddit

I am so very jealous, what a splendid time you must have had.

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toromio@reddit

I was in Seattle last summer and stayed down in Longbranch. Sailing to the game would have been faster than driving (not really). I was amazed at how long it took to get to places because of all of the routing around the water you have to do. What a great outing!

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rrawlings1@reddit

I could have sworn it always flows northerly on the west side of Vashon. I’ve had mixed results going the opposite direction the handful of times I’ve done it. I could be very wrong.

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nflickgeo@reddit (OP)

From another comment

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Belzoni-AintSo@reddit

My two favorite things rolled up together!

I am inland. But I love listening to ball games while anchored out in some inlet on my lake.

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nflickgeo@reddit (OP)

We listened to the game the night before while moored in Des Moines and the day after while motoring down the Colvos! Baseball on the radio is best enjoyed outside.

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jaypea222@reddit

Why, It’s the Mariners

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nflickgeo@reddit (OP)

They've been bad for basically my whole life, it's part of the experience.

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jackspinnaker@reddit

beautiful boat! I have a ‘76 and I hope to have some adventures like that later this year. how was it with two people staying aboard?

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nflickgeo@reddit (OP)

Hell yeah! We opt to use the V-berth for storage and sleep on opposite sides. I did this trip with my dad, he took the dining table converted into a bed and I took the bench. The cushions were made by the wife of the former owner and are surprisingly comfortable. We bring pillows and sleeping bags, basically feels like tent camping!

The lack of a bathroom would be a bigger issue if we were doing longer voyages, but in the Puget Sound we are rarely more than an hour away from a park with a dock. We are planning to start exploring to the south later this summer which will require spending nights on anchor, so we are going to have to figure out some sort of toilet setup.

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CitizenBask@reddit

That is a perfect day!

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torenvalk@reddit

Excellent use of boat.

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jimsauce719@reddit

If you get your boat on Lake Washington you can actually sail up and "tailgate" at the UW football games too!

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nflickgeo@reddit (OP)

We bought the boat from a guy who lived on Lake Washington, but we have never brought it back! Not a bad idea...

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ColteesCatCouture@reddit

I want your life😭

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automaticpragmatic@reddit

And you didn’t invite me :(

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Last_Cod_998@reddit

Yeah, the motoring is a bummer.

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nflickgeo@reddit (OP)

Shall we paddle it next time?

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Last_Cod_998@reddit

No, why am I getting negged?

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phliff@reddit

We stay in Bell all the time - little secret and the waterfront is so much fun!!

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carnalasadasalad@reddit

That is fantastic! We are thinking about doing the same route this summer, but in reverse, because we are in Seattle. But one question, doesn't the current in the Colvos passage usually run North?

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nflickgeo@reddit (OP)

It either runs north or is slack, never runs south. We timed leaving Seattle for the two hour window (+/- 1hr from high tide) and bombed it while there was minimal current to fight.

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carnalasadasalad@reddit

Awesome! We will try to sail so will just do your route in reverse, though we aren't sure where we will stay the first night.

The Gig harbor entrance looks really tight! We draw 7 feet that is the one part that is making me nervous we've never been there!

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nflickgeo@reddit (OP)

Des Moines! Was a great public marina that cost $20 (cash) and had a cute walkable waterfront. Was our first time visiting and really liked it.

Gotta time Gig Harbor entry at higher tide and you'll be fine! Swing wide of the lighthouse.

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