⛵ Washington State — Sailing Resources
Washington State has one of the richest sailing communities in the United States. Puget Sound's protected waters, the San Juan Islands, and the Inside Passage create world-class year-round sailing conditions. From the bustling marinas of Seattle to the remote anchorages of the San Juans, Washington sailing is exceptional.
Washington State Sailing — Detailed Resources
Washington has the most developed sailing resource pages of any state on this site. Use the links below to jump directly to each topic.
Complete guide to all major Puget Sound marinas — Shilshole Bay, Port of Everett, Des Moines, Port of Poulsbo, Kingston, Bremerton, Port Orchard, Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Olympia, Port Townsend, Anacortes, Bellingham, and more. Includes slip counts, addresses, phone numbers, and Dockwa links.
20+ yacht clubs organized by region — Seattle & Central Sound, Kitsap Peninsula, Gig Harbor & Tacoma, Everett & North Sound, Anacortes, Bellingham, Port Townsend. Includes the Grand Fourteen clubs with reciprocal moorage details.
SAMS and NAMS-accredited marine surveyors serving the entire Puget Sound region — Edwards Marine Survey, Currents Marine Survey, Allport Marine, Merrick Marine, Kingspoke, Pacific Rim Marine, and more. Includes SAMS vs. NAMS explained and what to expect from a survey.
Professional hull cleaning divers (Bainbridge Divers, Sound Divers, Friday Divers in Poulsbo, Dave's Dive Services), topside detailing services, DIY hull cleaning methods, Washington State in-water cleaning regulations, and sacrificial anode guide for Puget Sound.
Sail Northwest (Shilshole), Seattle Yachts, Irwin Yacht Sales (Seattle & Portland), Edmonds Yacht Sales, Northwest Yachtnet, Elliott Bay Yacht Sales, Marine Servicenter, Wright Yachts (multihull specialist). Full directory with addresses and websites.
Which VHF channel to monitor in which part of the Sound — Central Sound (Ch 14 "Seattle Traffic"), Strait of Juan de Fuca & San Juans (Ch 5A), Washington State Ferries (Ch 13 & 16), marinas (Ch 16 → 66A/68), and Canadian border crossing procedures.
Boatyards experienced with keel removal, bolt replacement, and keel stub repair — Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard, Seaview Boatyard (Seattle & Bellingham), Salmon Bay Boatyard, Marine Servicenter, Cap Sante Marine (Anacortes), Port Townsend Boat Haven.
Additional Washington State Resources
Sailing Resources
- NMTA — Northwest Marine Trade Association — Seattle-based; WA & OR marine industry
- Port Townsend Marine Trades Association — 100+ marine trade businesses at Port Townsend Boat Haven
- Fisheries Supply — Seattle; best marine chandlery in the Pacific Northwest
- Longship Marine — Poulsbo; used sailing hardware on the waterfront
- Race to Alaska (R2AK) — starts in Port Townsend; 750 miles to Ketchikan; human or wind power only
- WA Sailing Clubs — US Sailing
Weather & Navigation
- NOAA Seattle Forecast Office — Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca marine forecasts
- NOAA Tides & Currents — Puget Sound has complex tidal patterns; always check before transiting narrows
- PredictWind — best sailing weather routing for the Pacific Northwest
- VTS Puget Sound — USCG — official vessel traffic service information
- WA Boater Education Card