Captain Ward Fay has been skippering professionally since 2001. He is looking forward to sharing his love of sailing with you. To contact Ward for more information, call 360-376-5581, or email wardfay@rockisland.com.
Prices include 8.3% Washington State sales tax
No charge for non-certified sailing instruction.
Your party will be the only passengers.
There is a limit of six passengers of any age.
$300 per three-hour tour.
For available dates and times, use the book now button.
*Any amount toward a $300, 3-hour private trip.
“Aura” is a beautiful 1948 wooden sloop, with a cockpit that will seat six comfortably. A typical San Juan Islands day sailing trip, on AURA with a nice windy day, starts in Deer Harbor on Orcas Island and continues through the Wasp Islands, across San Juan Channel to San Juan Island, back across the Channel and around Jones Island, then through Wasp Passage between Crane and Shaw Islands, into West Sound, then through narrow Pole Pass and back to Deer Harbor. The waters we sail in here are very calm and protected from large waves. Seals are often seen, sometimes porpoises, ospreys and eagles, whales rarely. You can bring whatever you want to eat and drink. Non-certified sailing instruction is included if you desire. Steering the boat and handling the ropes is a big part of the experience, but if you just want to relax and enjoy the view, you can. We highly recommend you stay overnight at one of the many fine lodgings available on Orcas Island, to give you more time to explore its wonders. The top of Mt. Constitution, an hour’s drive away, is a must-see for the tremendous view.
Tom Cunliffe on the miracle of sailing:
Worldwide Classic Boat Show Presentation – Tom Cunliffe & Traditional Boats of Northern Europe – OffCenterHarbor.com at 1:58:30, near the end.
“And finally, and this is the pure beauty of it, (Pardon the tear…);
To see a wonderful boat, sailing fine, and to see that wave, curling along the side exactly as the designers or the vernacular builders intended it to do, and to be a part of that is a glorious thing.
To hold a tiller, and to know that the strength of your arm is converting the flowing air, through the medium of the rig, the mast, the keel, and all importantly, the rudder, into forward motion.
What a miracle! An absolute miracle, and that catharsis is taking place through you. You, who was created in the image of God.
And there we are. That’s what it’s all about for me.”