The Shipping News

June 2006

Wow, Spring has come and gone and it is the first day of Summer and oh does it feel great! We love the summer solstice here in the San Juans. The warm humid air, the long days left open for lounging on the back deck and enjoying the majestic peaceful surroundings. Everything here moves at a different pace. Our staff wants to help you relax during your stay and help you enjoy the islands in any way we can. Look for our dock staff out and about every day in their red t-shirts. Our office is now open from 7:00am to 7:00pm everyday through Labor Day.

We have a wonderful new amenity here at the Port to help you with your summer cruising needs. M/V Pumpty Dumpty is here to save your day! When you check in for moorage, request a pump-out for the meager price of $5.00 and Pumpty Dumpty will take all your worries away. You can see what a fine ship she is! We still have all of our other options available at our base station and our two portable units.

For your listening enjoyment during your stay please stop by and join us in Fairweather Park between the Port’s main pier and fuel pier every Sunday afternoon to hear local musicians sing and play. Bring a blanket, bring a snack or do a little jig as you leisurely wander through. This is the 6th season of our Music in the Park Program and it gets bigger and better every year. This year we are offering at least four Friday nights of great music from 6:00 to 8:00pm.

Here at the Port of Friday Harbor we strive to make your stay a positive, memorable one. Please look for our dock staff or come up to the Marina office and we will find the answer you are looking for. Our Assistant Harbormaster Jeremy or I will do everything we can to help.

Tami, Harbormaster

February/March 2006

Hello Cruisers,
 
It is a crisp, but beautiful day here in the San Juans.  Spring is Springin’, the flowers are blooming, the trees are budding and boaters are coming out from the somewhat dramatic winter that is finally coming to an end.
 
March is the time we start thinking about the upcoming season.  The holidays have gone by and we all look forward to warm spring days and plan for our summer vacations.  Here at the Port of Friday Harbor, we go into full spring cleaning mode. We pressure wash the docks, paint and touch up our buildings, make sure our signs are neat and tidy and we take reservations so your family is guaranteed to have the vacation they need and deserve.
 
We start taking reservations at the first of the year and of course the July 4th weekend is the big one.  There are so many activities to enjoy and participate in, and it is so fun to have all the different types of boaters and cruisers in our small island community.  We accept reservations from May 15th through September 14th and we only reserve about 30% of our slips, so if you need to have plans set in stone make sure to give us a call.  The other 70% we like to leave on a first come first serve basis so cruisers can move at the leisurely pace we all love to enjoy on those long warm summer days.
 
This year we have a great line-up for our Summer Sunday Music in the park program and this summer we have added some Friday nights so you can enjoy a full weekend with us of music, fun and laughter.  This season we have a local company that would like to deliver to you your morning coffee and muffins so you can enjoy the peace and tranquility of the morning from the deck of your boat without brewing or baking.
 
The greatest feature we have added this season is our new pump-out service.  We have just purchased a new pump-out vessel and her name is Pumpty Dumpty.  When you come to check in, you can sign up to have our smiling staff take care of your most intimate boating need.  We will still have all of the other options open as well at our base station pump-out and our portable units.
 
Our goal at the Port of Friday Harbor is here to help you make the best cruising trip you can enjoy.  Our roving dock staff is happy to help you tie-up, make reservations at local restaurants, find transportation to get you to your next destination and get you all the information you need to make your stay a relaxing and enjoyable one. 

If there is anything you need please don’t hesitate to find me, the Harbormaster, or our Assistant Harbormaster Jeremy so we can help make your stay an enjoyable one.
 
We hope to see you soon,
Tami, Harbormaster

Photo by Steve Simpson - Moonrise over the marina, 12/15/05

December 16, 2005

Our webcam is working! Check it out & you can see what the marina looks like, right now!

November 21, 2005

Happy Holiday Boating Everyone, 
 
It’s another gorgeous sunny day here in Friday Harbor. The cruising could not be better and the air is clean and invigorating.  If you are looking to escape the crazy hustling bustling sidewalks and the rush of the traffic, get in your boat and cruise to the San Juans where the waterways are wide open. 

The window holiday shopping takes you back to days of old.  People arm in arm, warm delicious smells wafting out of coffee shops and the welcoming smile of shopkeepers inviting you in.

If you can't drop by, you can still see what's going on! We've added some new photos to a new gallery on our photos page, including pictures like the one above of gulls in the marina, by Sherry Krueger. Check them out!
 
There is so much to do and enjoy between now and New Year's.  Please check out our daily local newspaper; www.sanjuanislander.com - at the top of the page, click on “Things To Do” and you will find yourself with a list of activities/events/celebrations with dates, times, locations and what the festivities represent.  There are wonderful tree lightings, lighted boat parades - the list is endless.
 
Let us help lure you to our harborside village with our free night’s moorage with $100 worth of receipts from our fair Town.  Anything purchased between Thanksgiving and Christmas in Friday Harbor that totals $100 or more excluding alcohol and tobacco will get you the one night’s moorage on us.  Your free night must be spent between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The Port also has great tote bags, posters, hats, mugs and t-shirts that make great gifts, so drop by the office and check them out.  

We are available here at the Port office seven days a week, year round, so come by and see us this Holiday Season.
 
Fair Winds,
Tami Hayes
Harbormaster

Rainbow over the harbor last week. Photo by Barbara Rouleau.

October 28, 2005

Well, folks, fall is upon us again and boy does it feel good. The air is crisp and clean and the sun has been shining for a week. It is a wonderful time of year to come to Friday Harbor!

The docks are quiet, the Town serene and the colors are magnificent.  This is the time of year when all of the restaurants have their homemade soups and breads available, there’s no waiting or standing in lines and the atmosphere is cozy.
 
Every year we have many visitors around Thanksgiving time.  We want to let you know we have a great promotion to entice you to come and stay. Should you come for a stay between Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas and show us $100.00 worth of receipts from sales made in Friday Harbor at that time, your overnight stay is on us.  Of course, tobacco and alcohol are excluded, sorry, folks!  What a great time to gather up some extra Christmas gifts as well. There are many wonderful shops that are open this time of year, so you’re sure to find the perfect stocking stuffer.
 
Let’s not forget the services still available at the Port.  We are open seven days per week as are our restrooms and showers.  We have everything the boater could need but most importantly, we offer safe harbor for sailors with vessels of all shapes and sizes.  Come experience the tranquility of the harbor the way the locals do. Just call on 66A and enjoy our quaint harbor this autumn.    
 
Tami Hayes, Harbormaster

You'll notice the new fencing out on the breakwater, required by the Coast Guard.

September 14, 2005

It has been a spectacular cruising season so far this year, and it's not over yet.  We have had more people visit the Port than at this time last year.  But don't put those vessels away yet.  We have great cruising weather through September and into October.  The pace is leisurely, there is plenty of space and all of the local cuisine is still available.
 
We had wonderful turnouts for our "Music in the Park" program, which features local musicians from around the County.  If you have not spent a Sunday afternoon in our Fairweather Park on the water, make it a must for next season.  The program runs from the end of June until Labor Day, every Sunday afternoon. 
 
This time of year, when the gears shift from the busy summer season to the shoulder season, we have all of our pocket cruise ships that stop in Friday Harbor and give visitors from around the country and the world the opportunity to enjoy our beautiful little town. These ships require varying degrees of security and in order to allow people to visit we have had to create some fencing to comply with US Coast Guard requirements.  You may notice it when entering the harbor and approaching our breakwater, but it should not affect your stay in any way.
 
If you have spent time with us during this busy summer season, we thank you for coming to visit.  If you haven't come out to visit us yet, we are here seven days a week year round with all services available.  Stop by and say 'Hi!' 
 
Tami Hayes, harbormaster 

July 1, 2005

Well, things here at the Port are warming up for the summer - we hope you get a chance to come by this Fourth of July weekend to enjoy the marina, the Timebenders (they're back to play for the Fourth's dance), and the fireworks - see you there!

You probably heard - the San Juan Pilots Association proposed that the terminal at the airport be named after Roy Franklin who is and was a pioneer pilot in the San Juans. He started San Juan Airlines back in the 1950s and has been an activist in all things aeronautical aviation around here. The Port's Board of Commissioners voted to hold a hearing at their July 20th meeting for public comment before they vote on the proposal.

Brian Calvert (right) has served for 12 years as a commissioner on the Port's Board, and has announced he's not going to run for re-election this year in November's voting. A couple of folks have already announced they'll run for Brian's non-partisan spot on the three-person board.

One of the more tireless & energetic people you'll ever meet, Brian says he wants to spend more time with his wife Sasha and with his work for Friday Harbor Yachts.

Calvert's tenure included the development of Skagit Valley College/San Juan Center campus on airport property. Airport operations went into the black after operating at a loss for years. Changes around the marina included the development of Spring Street Landing with a building, aquarium, and embarking facility for small cruise boats, as well as the installation of public art - the House Posts and the Popeye sculpture.

Even with all that, Brian says he's most proud of his role in founding the San Juan Marine Resources Committee and the Northwest Straits Commission.

Hope your summer's off to a great start - see you down by the water!

Tami, harbormaster

May 27, 2005

The weather lately here has been cool and beautiful, with a lot of wind last week and threats of rain that didn't really materialize.

It's time to start planning for the summer, isn't it? There are a few things coming up on the calendar already I thought I'd share with you.

First, I want to tell you June is a great month to come visit Friday Harbor. The weather is usually nice and the traffic is still low, since school is not out. Look for our red t-shirts and sweatshirts on the dock - they are the staff color this summer!

That said, it'll be a little different around the Marina on June 23-26 when 80+ boats converge for the Uniflite Rendezvous, one of the largest of the year around here. The guest moorage is already all signed up for for that weekend!

For the Fourth of July, the street dance is set for behind the office on Front Street from 5pm to 10pm or just before the fireworks begin. We haven't confirmed the band just yet, but this is becoming one of the most-expected "new traditions" around here for the holiday.

Each summer, Chinmayo schedules our Summer Sunday Music Program for the park near the marina. This summer's lineup:

July 3—One More Time Jazz Band
July 10—Solar Siblings (Trio)
July 17—Dubious Brothers (Trio)
July 24—The Smugglers (Country Music)
July 31—Mark Minkler & Friends
August 7—Matt, Morgan, Mark (Fiddle Tunes)
August 14—Argyle StreetJazz Band
August 21—Uncle Otto
August 28—Dos Amigos

 We do not have the bands picked for the three Friday nights, but the dates are July 29, August 5 and Aug 12, Show times are from 6pm—8pm.

See you there!

Tami, Harbormaster

 

April 8, 2005

Hope your spring is off to a great start!

I wanted to tell you something you may not have known. Besides running the marina and airport, the Port also leases retail space to a number of local businesses. Along the waterfront, those businesses stretch from Downrigger's Restaurant to the Yacht Club to the Sail Loft.

We've seen some changes over the last couple of months. Kim and Michelle Smith sold their lease to Jeff Granville of Granville Marine in Anacortes. The Smiths will still operate Tanbark Marine over on Lopez Island, serving all the islands - we'll miss them! Peter Whiting sold Northwest Charters to Bill and Deanna Jenkins, his service managers. Charters Northwest will focus on rentals and charters, and plans to discontinue the brokerage.

Bill and Colleen Wright have done business with the Port for the last few years, with their kayak launch in front of the Yacht Club and their whale watching boat launch from the Spring Street landing. Now they've moved the office for San Juan Safaris in next to Charters Northwest, under Downrigger's.

Something completely different - Opening Day is set for May 8th this year (yes, we know it's Mother's Day - bring her!). Hosted by the San Juan Island Yacht Club for recreational boaters, event organizer Rich Peterson says this decades-old tradition celebrates the beginning of the boating season. This year's parade will begin at 2pm from the Marine Labs after a brunch (they're not going to have the post-event potluck, as in previous years).

Be sure and come watch; if you want to know more about participating, call Rich at 378-8758.

Tami, Harbormaster

February 15, 2005

Keeping up when it's slow...

You know, I'd love to tell you all the cool things that are going on around here, and how lively and energetic things are, but...it's not. That's why we call it the slow season.

There are ways to keep up with what's going on around here, though. If you want to check out what's happening here on the island, here are some places to start:

Island Cam: Check out the marina from this popular site, or see what the ferry lines look like with their sister site at Ferry Cam.

News you can use: A good place to start is with the San Juan Island Update, which is a kind of "what's going on in town" kind of newsletter. The island's only daily online news is at the San Juan Islander, while the "paper" newspaper is the Journal of the San Juan Islands. The Roche Harbor news often updates events and people as they happen in the village there.

Do you just need information about the island? The easiest-to-use resources include the San Juan Island Web Directory (a comprehensive listing of almost all the sites on the island, including community links), the San Juan Visitors' Bureau site, and the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce.

Of course, you have to check the ferry schedule and the weather, but you probably already have those listed with your "favorites."

Check out those sites and see what you think!

Tami, Harbormaster

January 6, 2005

Wow! I hope your New Year is off to a great start - ours is!

Over the holidays we had a lot going on here at the Port. We had our own Christmas tree lighting, the Lighted Boat Parade, the Santa ship...and a lot of visitors! This is a great time of year to come by the Port - there are slips open, it's not as crowded during the winter, and you have the whole town of Friday Harbor to yourself. Many of our "regulars" tell us this is their favorite time of year to sail. 

This past week, we started the new year right. Between Christmas and the first, we had 125 visiting boats.  You know, long weekends during the off season make for great visits to Friday Harbor. The Community Theatre, Pelindaba Lavender Store, the movie theater, and the bowling alley all offer different types of entertainment. Pubs, bistros, restaurants and shops are always open. 

We have started taking reservations for the 2005 boating season. Call early to reserve your special family weekend, they go fast!

Tami, Harbormaster

Click here to read previous entries to our online newsletter
(2001-2004)