When does the fog start in the San Juan Islands?-gctid816568

[Garchar]

I go to the San Juan Islands every year and see the fog start in August. Is there a bad time in the summer to go to the Islands when the fog is to nasty to cruise around the area? Garchar

[talman]

Fog generally burns off by 10 or 11 most days. We have only been forced (easily persuaded0 once to not go home because of fog. The summer fogs do not stick right to the water or to the sky always, either. You can see the tops of the mountains through the fog, or you can see other boats easily through the misty bottom.

We had fog over the week of the 4th, but it burned off very quickly.

[Kimosammy]

I bought a new radar system and have never needed to use it in the San Juans in Aug.

I'll be up there again, so don't worry about fog...:lol:

[SomeSailor]

Having Radar is a big plus in the islands, but like Tally says its a good excuse not to go home too.

[Garchar]

Thanks to all the BOC responses to the fog concern. Garchar

[yachtman]

This was taken the last week of july a couple of summers ago. It was foggy every morning until about 10-11 am

Sometimes we would head out and come to a fog bank we would have to hang out a hour usually eat breakfast. This picture was on the west side of james island we were anchored in Decatur bay for the night . 15 minutes earlier and you couldn't even see any boats I call the month of August fogust.

The later into August sometimes it can get pretty darn foggy a good part of the day. Sometimes ran across Rosario strait completely fogged in but only when I had radar.

Boats would sit along the fog bank waiting for someone with radar to come along and then I would get a trail of boats behind me. I wouldn't recommend that as there were times I crossed just in front of tugs pulling barges. Visibility was maybe 20 feet at times.





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[playdoughted]

Fog was pretty thick on Juan de Fuca early last Sat. July 8th. Blowing to the east, so imagine the San Juans got their share of it. In fact, remember hearing boaters asking for conditions on the outside of Deception Pass. Gone from Race Rocks by about 11 AM. Ted

[stargazerwa]

We have hit fog a few times in July and August. It's often not ubiquitous, it will be fogged in from Anacortes to Thatcher Pass, but clear North of Cypress to Obstruction Pass. If you listen to the radio you can often find the holes. I find three things are handy in the fog: Radar, autopilot (it steers so you can scan outside) and AIS (lets you know if your on a collision course and provides the name of the vessel so you can call them and make passing arrangements).

It helps to use your radar often, we mostly run from the pilothouse and if we do the radar is always on so we can "see" behind us.

[fishaman]

For some reason, the worst fog for us was always in Rosario Strait. Very little visibility until you finally see the bridge over Deception pass right over your head.. Then usually the pass itself and the inside route are clear. Radar definitely helps, as well as AIS.