Waggoner Cruising Guide

09/04/2025

LUXURY YACHT SINKS AFTER LAUNCHING
The following report is by Chris Nesi

A yacht worth nearly $1 million sank just 15 minutes after being launched in Turkey. The Dolce Vento eased into the water off the coast of Zonguldak in northern Turkey, lurched to one side and slowly sank into the depths. The 85-foot boat was launched after being delivered to its owner from Istanbul.

The owner, captain, and two crew members jumped overboard and swam to shore without injury, and the coast guard and port teams responded to set up a security perimeter around the foundering watercraft.

Officials at the shipyard said the cause of the sinking was under investigation, and that technical inspections of the yacht will be carried out to determine what happened.

08/23/2025

Coast Guard arrests captain of container ship in Seattle for boating under the influence.

SEATTLE - The Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) arrested the captain of the motor vessel MSC Jubilee IX for suspicion of operating the vessel while intoxicated following a boarding at Terminal 5 in Seattle, Aug 20, 2025.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound were notified by a Puget Sound Pilot aboard the MSC Jubilee IX, who reported the vessel’s captain was exhibiting signs of intoxication. The pilot and first mate operated the vessel during the transit from an anchorage near Everett, Wash., to Terminal 5 at the Port of Seattle without incident.

Upon mooring at Terminal 5, a Coast Guard boarding team and CGIS agents initiated a boarding and port state control examination. Crews administered a field sobriety and breathalyzer test to the captain, which found that he was impaired more than six times the legal limit for commercial mariners.

The captain was arrested and transported by CGIS to the King County Jail, where charges were referred to the King County Prosecutor for boating under the influence.

The vessel was detained by the Coast Guard until a relief captain was identified and confirmed. The vessel has since been cleared to resume operations.

"The Coast Guard is proud to ensure the safety and security of the maritime transportation system,” said Paul Shultz, Special Agent in Charge, CGIS Northwest Field Office. “The Pilot’s immediate intervention mitigated significant risks and ensured the safe passage of the vessel".

The MSC Jubilee IX is a 333 meter container ship operating under the Liberian flag.

The incident remains under investigation.

08/17/2025

U.S. COAST GUARD NEWS RELEASE

U.S. Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Washington State Park personnel rescued 12 kayakers in distress between Patos Island and Sucia Island Washington, Thursday, the afternoon of August 14.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound issued an urgent marine information broadcast at approximately 1:50 p.m., after being notified via VHF channel-16 that 12 kayakers, including six children, were in distress between Patos Island and Sucia Island and in need of assistance.

A Coast Guard Station Bellingham 29-foot response boat crew, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Federal Policing – Pacific Shiprider (RCMP) marine boat crew and the crew of a Washington State Park vessel who were patrolling nearby waters, responded immediately to rescue the individuals.

All 12 individuals were safely rescued and transported back to Orcas Island. No injuries were reported.

07/31/2025

SALMON FISH FARMS IN BC

The Canadian government has delayed the removal of open-net pen salmon farms in British Columbia, extending the deadline from 2025 to June 30, 2029. This decision, announced by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, aims to allow for a transition to closed-containment systems, either on land or in marine environments.

07/29/2025

TOTEM DEDICATION AT PORT LUDLOW, AUG. 4-10

Stop by Port Ludlow the week of August 4 to watch renowned Tsimshian carver David Boxley and his team work on the restoration of the iconic totem. The pole was originally carved in 1995, dedicated to the spirit of the community of Port Ludlow. Don’t miss the dedication ceremony on August 10, starting at 2:00 pm, including Native dancers and singers and remarks from David Boxley. The dedication ceremony is free.

Tickets required for the Cedar-Planked Salmon Dinner that follows the ceremony on August 10, which includes Fry Bread, Alder-Roasted Salmon with Lemon Butter, Wild Rice Pilaf, Grilled Local Vegetables, Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies, and Iced Tea & Lemonade for $33.00. Purchase tickets online at: https://portludlowresort.com/event/totem-pole-celebration/; the dinner takes place next to The Fireside Restaurant.

Totem Pole History. The totem pole was originally commissioned by Pope & Tabot to tell the story of Port Ludlow through six symbolic figures:
• Eagle – representing the land before human habitation
• Bear – honoring the ancestors of the S’Klallam people
• Two Men in Locked Arms – mill owners Pope & Talbot
• Lumberman – representing the sawmill era
• Beaver – symbolizing the modern building phase
• Six Figures at the Base – community strength and unity

Totem Pole 30th Anniversary Celebration & Restoration

07/26/2025

NEWS RELEASE - U.S. COAST GUARD
Northwest District

A U.S. Coast Guard aircrew medevaced a man from a fishing vessel approximately 180 miles offshore of Astoria, Oregon, Thursday, July 24. A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-295 Kingfisher crew from 19 Wing Comox in British Columbia, provided assistance overhead with weather reporting and communications. The man was safely flown to Astoria where he was transferred to EMS.

07/24/2025

U.S. COAST GUARD LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS:

Admiralty Inlet - Hood Canal/General/Marine Events, WA. 7/26/2025 - 7/28/2025 (daytime transit only) 2025 Tribal Canoe Journey departing Skokomish, WA en route to Port Gamble, WA with a stopover at Pleasant Harbor.

Lopez Sound, WA. Cypress Reef Junction Day Beacon MISSING

San Juan Channel, WA. Twin Rocks Day Beacon MISSING

Saratoga Passage, WA - Oak Harbor/General/Hazards to Navigation. Mariners should use caution transiting Oak Harbor channel due to reports of significant shoaling on the west side of the channel between Oak Harbor Shoal Lighted Buoy 5 and Oak Harbor Buoy 7.

Shilshole Bay, WA - Lake Union/General/Bridges/Temp Deviation Bridges. The deviation will accommodate the Lake Union 10K running event. To facilitate this event, the draws of the subject bridges will be authorized to be kept in the closed-to-navigation position from 0730 to 1030 on 10 Aug 2025. Vessels that do not require bridge openings may continue to transit beneath these bridges during the closure periods. For more information contact Kit Loo at (206) 684-3669 or [email protected].

Puget Sound, Admiralty Inlet, WA. Marine Events 7/23/2025 - 7/28/2025 (daytime transit only). 2025 Tribal Canoe Journey departing Shelton, WA en route to Port Gamble, WA with stopovers at Nisqually Reach, Commencement Bay, Alki Beach, and Port Madison, WA; Lummi Bay, Fidalgo Bay, La Connor, and Tulalip, WA.

El Capitan Passage, AK. North Island Day Beacon MISSING

Icy Strait, AK. Pinta Rock Lighted Bell Buoy 2 MISSING

Keku Strait, AK. Buoy 14 MISSING

Peril Strait, AK. Wayanda Ledge Buoy 10 MISSING

07/23/2025

The Northwest Viking Ship Valkyrie - scheduled to transit Deception Pass - July 25

Viking Ship Valkyrie will be making her maiden voyage through Deception Pass on July 25 at 10:45 am during slack tide. You can view the transit from the bridge or at beach parks below the bridge - Viking Horns Welcome.

Valkyrie will be stopping briefly at Coupeville en route to Poulsbo. Plans are to recruit and train local staff in order to begin offering tours and excursions in the near future. Reservations will be handled through their website at northwestvikingship.com and their online schedule will be populated with events.

07/14/2025

SPECIAL BBQ EVENT AT PRINCESS LOUISA

The Princess Louisa International Society is hosting a special barbecue lunch at the picnic shelter at the head of Princess Louisa Inlet on August 13, 2025, for all attendees visiting the park.

Activities will include a cultural program presented by the Shishalh Nation, as well as updates on recent improvements and future plans for the park. A special highlight of the day will be the installation and dedication of a commemorative park bench for the Macdonald Island Landing, honouring Park Ranger Ming Neal for her amazing 24 years of dedicated service, her commitment to preserve the park, and her always warm and welcoming greeting to visitors.

All events take place at the Macdonald Shelter at Chatterbox Falls. The BBQ starts at 11:30am followed by the Cultural Program at 12:45pm. Don’t miss the special recognition for Ming Neal at 3:15pm.

Please send your RSVP via email to [email protected] if you are planning to make this part of your summer plans. Tom can be reached at (206) 465-5622 with questions.

Tom Captain, President
Princess Louisa International Society
Photo: Lorena Landon

NOTE: Boaters can tie-up at the 350-foot dock at the head of the Inlet, or make use of one of the five mooring buoys. Additionally, there are four mooring buoys behind Macdonald Island in the Inlet. Boaters can dinghy between the two sites. See the 2025 Waggoner Cruising Guide, pages 294 and 295, for more details related to visiting Princess Louisa by boat.

07/13/2025

Our Last Day—Summer 2025 Waggoner Flotilla

When you sign up for a flotilla, you expect routes, reservations, some shared meals, and scenic anchorages. What you don’t expect—what can’t be promised—is the community that forms.

Over 22 days and 800+ nautical miles, strangers became companions. We weathered storms, fixed engines, climbed mountains, and laughed over potlucks and coffee runs. We shared boats, dock lines, and pieces of ourselves.

Today, in rainy Petersburg, we hike one last trail together, to Raven’s Lookout. We climb through muskeg and mist to 2,000 feet, taking in one more view before the journey shifts.

Back in town, we gather at Inga’s Galley for lunch—awarding certificates, sharing stories, and recognizing the moments that made this trip unforgettable. Not just for the miles, but for the growth, grit, and heart everyone brought.

We raised glasses to:
🌊 “Best Hostess,” who fed our souls
🎣 “Hali-best Fisherman,” who shared their catch
🗺️ “Beacon in the Fog,” who guided others
⚓ “Aspiring Captain,” who soaked up every skill

And so many more. Laughter and tears came easily.

Tonight, we circle around one last potluck table. The goodbye hugs are longer. The connections are lasting. Just a few weeks ago, we were names on a list. Tonight, we are friends. Family, even.
This is what makes a flotilla more than a boat trip. This is the part that stays.

– Whirl Wind, standing by 1-6, 6-9

07/12/2025

WAGGONER SUMMER FLOTILLA
Wrangell to Petersburg and Le Conte Tour

Not everything goes as planned—and this morning, "Celebrate" got an early knock from the slip’s permanent moorage owner. Departure moved from 8 a.m. to 7, and just like that, we were off with the others.

By mid-morning, all our little white boats converged at the mouth of Wrangell Narrows, slipping through in perfect formation—current on our side, timing just right.

Docking in Petersburg felt like a polished performance. Weeks of tricky tie-ups had paid off. A couple hours later, we were back on the water—this time as passengers for a tour to Le Conte Glacier.

Captain Dan of Seek Alaska took the helm and swept us away into LeConte Bay. Sea lions barked, waterfalls splashed, ancient petroglyphs emerged—and then came the ice.

Massive blue bergs appeared, then thick sheets of ice, a frozen labyrinth. Dan read the field like a story and found a path forward.
We crept deeper into the bay. Silence. Seal pups on frozen rafts. Light bouncing off the water like magic.

And then—the glacier. Just a glimpse at first. We edged closer… and just in time. Cracks. A crumble. Then an entire corner dropped.
Time stopped. An iceberg erupted from the depths, rolling and crashing. A wave charged toward us. We laughed, cheered, gasped—utterly alive.

On the ride back, some of us dozed off, still floating somewhere between awe and dreams. Now in Petersburg, we’re ready to rest. Tomorrow, we celebrate becoming Inside Passage Navigators.
But tonight—we let the glacier echo in our bones.

-Whirl Wind

07/11/2025

Waggoner Summer Flotilla
July 7, A Day of Rest in Wrangell
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One of the best things about small towns? Sleepy mornings. Wrangell greeted us with fog, a soft drizzle, and that cozy kind of quiet where even the birds take their time.

I joined the captain of Sentindo Bem for a stroll in search of coffee. On our way, we stopped by Etolin Harbor to send off Betsy Bee’s crew. It was one of those tender goodbyes, full of hugs and promises to visit again. Lady Driver Taxi swept them away into the mist, and we stood there for a moment—damp with drizzle and emotion—before continuing on to Java, the only café open on this peaceful, cruise-ship-free Monday.

The town was still dressed in red, white, and blue—stars and stripes waving from the 4th of July celebration. The rest of the day unfolded gently: boats went on tours, some wandered with no plans, others departed for the next port. Ice cream was enjoyed, Thai food devoured, and fries shared.

That evening, we regrouped aboard Sentindo Bem for Captain’s Hour. We looked back on how far we’ve come, and dreamed about what still lies ahead. The journey may be winding down—but these friendships are just getting started.

-Whirl Wind