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I love Seattle, both the mountains and the surrounding waters, last year I spent Christmas there and that’s when I discovered some of the amazing areas we will look into in this article! Seattle is one of the best locations for sailing in the Pacific Northwest. Located on Puget Sound, it offers countless opportunities for sailors of all levels to explore the beautiful waterways that surround the city.
Here are the best day-sailing destinations in and around Seattle:
- Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island
- Port Madison on Bainbridge Island
- Blake Island Marine State Park
- Port of Edmonds
- Suquamish
- Poulsbo
- Port of Kingston
Read on to find out why these sailing destinations stand out from others in Seattle and where you can dock your boat in the city. And if you’re looking to polish your sailing skills, the article also explores some of the best sailing schools in Seattle.
Is Seattle Good for Sailing?
Seattle is a great city for sailing as it offers something for everyone who wants to get out on the water. Visitors can explore the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean or explore the waterways that weave in and out around the city and its outlying islands.
Sailors especially love sailing in Seattle because of the abundance of water wildlife. At the right time of year, visitors can often see pods of orcas (killer whales), gray whales, and humpback whales as they migrate across the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes these massive mammals can be seen from the shoreline, but visitors will get the best views when they’re out on the water.
For those who want the sailing experience minus the work, Seattle offers numerous sailing cruises fully staffed by sailing professionals. These cruises take guests out of the marina and into the deep blue sea to explore the coastal region. Specialty tours, such as sunset cruises or whale watching excursions, are also available. These sailing companies also offer private charters that allow guests to make their personalized sailing adventure come true.
Although sailing is one of the best ways to explore the water in and around Seattle, other watercraft activities also offer a worthwhile experience. These include sightseeing cruises, dining cruises, kayaking, and canoeing. There are also fishing tours that allow for salmon and other saltwater fishing opportunities.
And when you rather be a passenger instead of a captain, you can access many of the surrounding islands via ferry. The ride offers a higher vantage point hence better views.
Best Day-Sailing Destinations in and Around Seattle
One of the best things about sailing in Seattle is the number of destinations you can explore in one day. Each offers something unique, but they all offer gorgeous views and beautiful sailing conditions.
To have an idea of what to expect while sailing in Seattle, check out this YouTube video of Robert Loyd sailing the Puget Sound, from Olympia to Seattle:
Here are some of the best day-sailing destinations Seattle has to offer.
Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island
Sailors can visit Bainbridge Island and dock their boat at Eagle Harbor, the island’s connection to Seattle. Upon disembarking, you can explore Waterfront Park, one of the most popular gathering places on the island.
This 5.5-acre park boasts open green spaces perfect for picnics and outdoor games. It also hosts annual festivals, summer concerts, and other special events.
Blake Island Marine State Park
If you’re looking for a peaceful day-sailing adventure that includes a bit of island time, look no further than Blake Island Marine State Park. Located a few miles from downtown Seattle, this state park sits on 472 acres with 5 mi (8.04 km) of saltwater beach shoreline.
The island is only accessible by boat, making it an ideal day-sailing destination.
Once there, guests can engage in different activities, including hiking, biking, fishing, crabbing, and bird and wildlife watching. Expect excellent views of Seattle and Mt. Rainier, majestic sunsets overlooking the Olympic Mountains, and beautiful beaches dotted with driftwood.
Port of Edmonds
Located north of Seattle, the Port of Edmonds offers a large marina with special moorings for day-guests set aside. They also encourage overnight stays, where guests receive a welcome tote bag with various items, including a promotional booklet showcasing participating merchant offers.
The marina has over 600 moorage slips, so you’ll readily get a spot.
Once you get out of your boat, there’s plenty to do, including picnicking in the park, strolling on the beach, and shopping in nearby boutiques. There’s also no shortage of great restaurants, bars, and coffee shops within walking distance of the marina.
Port Madison on Bainbridge Island
If you head to the northeastern shore of Bainbridge Island, you’ll find Port Madison. The inner harbor in this beautiful and scenic location is well protected by the hills surrounding the water.
After docking, visitors can explore the parks, beaches, trails, eateries, bars, and art studios this part of Bainbridge offers. Paper and Leaf, the island’s only cannabis boutique, is a must-see if you’re a cannabis partaker.
Port Madison Indian Reservation
Port Madison Indian Reservation is home to the Suquamish people hence a port rich in history. It’s located in the Central Puget Sound Region of Washington State—a 30-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle.
History lovers will enjoy a visit to the Suquamish Museum, where they get to see never before exhibited Suquamish artifacts.
Other cultural sites in the reservation include Chief Seattle’s (also Si’ahl or Sealth) gravesite and the Old Man House Park.
You can also do a bit of recreational gambling in the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort or golf at the nearby White Horse Golf Club.
Poulsbo
Located on the Kitsap Peninsula, Poulsbo is affectionately known as “Little Norway.” The historic downtown district still maintains a quaint Norwegian setting to date. Visitors can enjoy museums, galleries, shops, eateries, breweries, wineries, and day spas located throughout the city. Or engage in more active leisure, including biking, hiking, kayaking, and golfing.
If you want an experience beyond the norm, consider scheduling your visit to coincide with one of the many festivals and annual events Poulsbo holds.
One such festival is the Viking Fest held every May. It involves flags, a procession of children, marching bands, and traditional Norwegian costumes.
The Poulsbo Marina features 130 guest moorage slips. Available amenities and facilities include restrooms, showers, laundry, and a fuel dock.
Port of Kingston
Located north of Seattle, the Port of Kingston is a vibrant port community that features typically readily available guest moorage. But with only 49 guest dock slips, you can reserve a guest dock slip online beforehand to avoid disappointment. Amenities include water and electric hook-ups, bathrooms and showers, picnic tables, and coin-operated laundry.
There are several places to dine and shop in the surrounding community. And you also have the Mike Wallace Park, where local community organizations, such as the Kingston Farmers Market, often hold events. Additionally, you can access veterinary, dental, and financial services nearby.
Marinas in the Port of Seattle
The Port of Seattle offers five marinas where sailboats can be docked, allowing easy access to all the shopping, dining, and entertainment venues available across the city.
Bell Harbor Marina
Bell Harbor Marina is Seattle’s only downtown recreational marina. It offers unparalleled access to Pike Place Market, the Seattle Center, the Seattle Aquarium, and the infamous Space Needle. It has room for up to 70 boats at one time, and moorage is available year-round. Additionally, there are multiple essential amenities for long-haul sailors, such as showers, garbage/recycling disposal, and sewage pump-out services.
Fisherman’s Terminal
Fisherman’s Terminal is home to the North Pacific fishing fleet and caters to more commercial watercraft. However, a few moorings are available for recreational sailors, including monthly and day-guest users. There are several restaurants and shops on-site and free parking for up to three days. Other amenities include showers, electrical hook-ups, potable water, and sewage services.
Harbor Island Marina
Harbor Island Marina is the best moorage location in West Seattle. It can accommodate up to 77 boats at a time and provides easy access to neighborhoods in both West Seattle and the South Sound. In addition to monthly and guest moorage slots, the marina offers liveaboard moorages for those who want to live on their watercraft. Available amenities include showers, metered power, and a self-service pump-out.
Salmon Bay Marina
Salmon Bay Marina is located just outside the Ballard Locks and is unique in offering both covered and uncovered monthly moorage in freshwater. It’s within walking distance of Fisherman’s Terminal, where guests can access restaurants and shops. This marina includes access to typical amenities such as showers and garbage disposal facilities and exceptional amenities like laundry and storage facilities.
Shilshole Bay Marina
Shilshole Bay Marina is the largest marina in Seattle, with over 1,400 moorage slots. It accommodates day, monthly, and liveaboard guests and has one of the largest and most active boating communities. Boat groups and yacht clubs especially love Shilshole for its wide fairways and docks and ample space for different trail users. Sailors can eat and drink in various restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops around the marina.
Best Sailing Schools in Seattle
With plenty of locations to dock and moor your boat, Seattle is a good sailing destination for experienced sailors. However, the city is also a good place for beginner sailors to get their sea legs and develop fundamental sailing skills.
There are several sailing schools in Seattle. Each offers basic sail training for newbies and advanced training for those looking to perfect their sailing skills.
Here are the best sailing schools in Seattle.
The Seattle Sailing Club
The Seattle Sailing Club is one of the most active ASA-certified sailing schools countrywide. ASA stands for American Sailing Association, whose sailing standards are accepted nationally and internationally. The school’s instructors are accredited by the United States Coast Guard and ASA, assuring you of your safety during training and an enjoyable experience.
You’ll start by learning the basics, including terminology, safety, tacking/jibing, rigging, and seamanship. Courses will include classroom training and hands-on training. The latter will initially occur on a keelboat then a tiller-steered powerboat. And as you progress to higher-level sailing courses, you’ll be able to train on boats 30-feet (9.14-meter) or larger.
Experienced sailors looking to polish their skills on select topics, say, navigation or anchoring, can also take classes.
The Puget Sound Sailing Institute
The Puget Sound Sailing Institute is another ASA-certified sailing school. Although based in Tacoma, some PSSI classes are taught in other locations, including Seattle, Des Moines, and Anacortes.
Those new to sailing can take Basic Keelboat classes in Bell Harbor. Lessons will include online videos, textbooks, and on-the-water instruction. After completing the course successfully, you should be able to charter and skipper a 27 ft (8.23 m) or smaller boat in normal weather unsupervised.
Afterward, you can take Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Cruising classes (check the website for available locations and dates). With these additional classes, you will gain the ability to charter and skipper a boat for extended overnight trips in all weather with no hired crew.
The Seattle Yacht Club
The Seattle Yacht Club, located on Portage Bay in Seattle, has a sailing school taught by US Sailing Level 1 instructors. They have adult sailing lessons that are suitable for beginner sailors. Classes launch from the yacht club and primarily sail in Portage Bay.
The Vanguard-15 (V-15) is the primary training boat they use. But intermediate and advanced sailors also practice their boat-handling and racing skills on the Olympic-Class Laser. In addition to sailing classes for adults, SYC also runs a Youth Summer Sailing School that admits students as young as seven years old.
Here children and teens learn basic sailing maneuvers or better their skills, then participate in a learn-to-race week. During the week, they learn racing rules, basic racing tactics, and more advanced boat handling techniques. At the week’s end, students participate in a regatta.
Final Thoughts
Given its location on the water in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is an ideal location for sailing. There are plenty of day-sailing destinations, including Blake Island Marine State Park and Port Madison on Bainbridge Island. Each offers stunning views and various things to do, from dining and shopping to sightseeing and biking.
Sailors can moor their boats at one of the many marinas in Seattle. And those who want to learn to sail or improve their skills can register for lessons at any one of several sailing schools in Seattle.
