I just read a website that says we can go back and forth after July 21st. This is undoubtedly subject to change with current conditions and remember what the US says and Canada says may differ so check with both sides before you cross over.
Interestingly, the last time I had a passport problem (expired) and could not find the answer online. I simply called the office in Friday Harbor and talked directly with an agent. He gave me the straight and current poop in a simple phone call. It made me realize how much I had gotten away from talking to people who actually run the show. Now if I can get certain people to quit texting for hours on end when picking up the phone is more expedient anyway.
Note: this is a very old post I am re-posting so some prices will be off.
Suggested Cruise to Victoria BC with Whale Watching and San Juan Islands Stop Overs This article is for first timers to the San Juan Island area and has the answers you may be looking for. Timeless advice to make your first trip a fun success.
places to launch and stay on your boat
distances between stops
customs and immigration
alternate planning
what to expect
basic boating information
Study this map and familiarize yourself with names and places.
Lets start this Cruise at Cornet Bay in Deception Pass State Park (Your going to Canada and back, did you remember to bring your passports and Children ID's? the rules are changing)
Boat launch at Cornet Bay (Deception Pass)
Day one, you arrive at Deception Pass and its probably late in the day and your tired, so lets plan on spending the night right here on the boat securely tied to the dock at Cornet Bay. You will pay a launch fee and $10/day parking, plus 50 cents a foot for spending night at dock. Pay at the self serve kiosk. If your not sure of when your coming back simply estimate, leave a note explaining, the ranger will understand. The ramp is very good, all tide. The parking is huge, you will not have a problem.
There is a park store, but you should have done your provisioning in Anacortes.
Heading westward facing an incoming current, (another ten minutes and we wouldn't have the speed to overcome the 7+ mph current)
Day two, leg #1, our destination is Friday Harbor, but first you must time the pass. You should already be familiar with the tide levels and times at Deception Pass (download a page from any of of dozens of sites including NOAA) so cast off at high or low tide. You can be half an hour early or late, this gives you a one hour window. (it takes just ten minutes to reach the pass from the dock) If you are catching a falling tide (current is going out to sea) you can be very late but standing waves may scare you and the crew as you take a fast sled ride and shoot out into the Strait of Juan De Fuca. If you are late and head out on a rising tide, your boat may not have enough speed to overcome the in rushing torrent, and your stuck until the next slack water. The pass is not a problem, it is narrow with the fastest water for only about 250 feet, but slow sailboats can meet their match every four to six hours.
In the San Juan's, you will either #1, already be at the dock with your boat, or #2, coming at the dock with your boat. All the other skippers are in the same situation.
The runabout or daysailer or forty footer all have windage and current issues, and when it is crunch time, things happen fast.
The driver of the smallest vessel may have decades of experience, and the person with the largest yacht may be a newbie over his head in bells and whistles. In all cases the considerate proper boater will get out there and be helpful when a fellow boater is coming in.
Here are some basic tips some of us use when docking:
Explain to your crew ahead of time exactly what you are doing, and what you expect them to do.
Prepare your fenders, dock lines, and boat hook ahead of time.
Sometimes it is wise to drive up and make a full stop out a ways to judge the wind and current.
Put on pfd's - at the dock is where most drownings occur.
Having a plan, also includes an abort action should things go awry.
If someone is on the dock offering to help --- hand them a rope.
When the next boat arrives, get out there and be helpful.
For us, one of the best parts about cruising the San Juan's is not having to make any reservations or depend on anyone else. After a quick stop at the store for food, we just go, and then let the relaxing begin the moment we cast off. Four days, five days, ten days, I quickly leave everything behind, (including the wine and Hershey bars by mistake) all my thoughts are of traveling and carefree times.
However, many times my plans are waylaid by life's little curves and family events. Life curves that I have little control over, and family that - well that just takes precedence over my cruise plans.
Case in point, it took me four years and three tries to finally see in person the flag lowering ceremony held each balmy summer evening at Roche Harbor. One time I missed the cruise altogether, and another time a boat dragged anchor into us just minutes before the cannon went off. When I did get to witness the entire show it was just by happenstance that we were there, for I had given up and mostly forgot about the cannon firing sundown ritual. So when this baby replica of a middle age artillery piece blasted a hole in my thoughts, and its muzzle flash lit up the manicured lawn, I was taken by surprise to say the least. Oh I may have yelled or screamed just a little but no one heard me. The blast was not really deafening but very loud never the less, took me by surprise and captured everyone's attention. Then the returning echoes bouncing off Henry Island from across Roche Harbor drowned out all evidence of my heavy breathing and rapid heart beat. What did he just babble? (how to relax?)
About the most important point I can make is that you should not let customs check-ins impact your plans. Except for the obvious route planning details, its not a big deal. Some places in Canada you can check in after hours using a special phone on the dock.
You will need to check in with Canada customs when you enter Canada; you will need to check in with US customs when you come back to the US. When you depart either country you don't do anything except leave.
There are some rules that you or your crew may stumble over, and they apply going into both country's.
When you enter Canada and come back to the US, you must not stop anywhere (no parks, gas docks, bathrooms, nothing) until you have checked in, even if it means traveling hundreds of miles out of your way.
You may pass through without checking in if you don't stop anywhere. This means you can sail over the international property line, circle around and come back, and no one cares. It also means you may sail all the way to Bellingham (skipping Roche) to check in, but you may not stop anywhere, (even to get fuel at Orcas) You may run all the way to Alaska, just don't stop without checking in.
"Checking in" means to go to a port of entry where they have a customs facility and tell them.
When you arrive at the red painted customs dock everyone must stay on the boat, only one person goes to check in. (no, your crew may not run down to the bathroom until after you're checked in)
Bring with you to check in; birth certificates, visas, passports, name of boat, names and ages of all on board, name and registration number of boat.
They will ask you questions; where you live,where you been, where you going, purpose of visit, how long, etc.
You can't stay at the red painted customs dock, after checking in you will need to move on, sometimes at Roche Harbor for instance the boats will be stacked up circling, waiting for a spot at the check-in dock.
That's it, real simple, fast, and very inconvenient if you now have to back track miles and miles to your favorite island, but that is why we plan our route.
Rules and requirements probably are changing as you read this, so you should probably make some phone calls or search online for new info.
Not checking in at all, may have severe consequences. In today's heightened alert, they take things seriously, but it is not difficult to check in.
Click below to see Sidney BC Marina for checking in
