Small Boat Cruising in the Puget Sound
Created by the Port Townsend Pocket Yachters club and now part of Northwest Maritime Center's family of events, the Salish 100 has joined the Race to Alaska and the SEVENTY48 as one of the most unique and vibrant water activities in the Pacific Northwest. Salish 100 is 100+ boats cruising 100 nautical miles—the full length of Puget Sound—from Olympia to Port Townsend, WA.
Salish 100 is designed to bring people together in celebration
The fleet of small boats range from SCAMPs to Whitehalls, wherries, sharpies, melonseeds and flatiron skiffs; this includes a variety of smaller production sailboats and dozens of home-built sailing and rowing boats.
Along the route, small-boat skippers from across the states and other countries will experience everything the Salish Sea has to offer: currents racing through narrow channels, tide rips, sandbars, rocky shores, wonderfully protected anchorages, wind conditions ranging from flat calm to small-craft warnings, encounters with wildlife , and some new friendships that’ll last a lifetime. Many of the participants come from inland states to experience saltwater boating—tidal ranges of up to 14 feet—for the first time. Others drive thousands of miles to attend.
Salish 100 Details
Route
The Cruise works its way from Olympia to Port Townsend at 10-16 nautical miles a day, with overnight stops at:
- Henderson Inlet
- Penrose Point State Park
- Gig Harbor
- Blake Island State Park
- Kingston
- Port Ludlow
More information can be found in the 2023 Cruise Information Packet.
Join Us
Date: July 20-27
Salish 100 fills up fast, but we welcome all folks with interest and will be happy to add you to our waiting list if we are at our limit. All participants must apply and go through a vetting process based on the vessel's ability to meet basic safety requirements. Read the USCG Minimum Equipment Requirements it's a great resource laying out Coast Guard requirements for small recreational vessels.
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Apply to Sail with Us!
We welcome all small boat vessels (22' and under). If you do want to be part of Salish 100, apply below, but be sure to read the safety requirements. Salish 100 is about community, camaraderie and seamanship, but safety is our number one priority—it’s the only thing we actually take seriously!
While we expect all marine state parks to be fully open for tent campers, those who need to tent-camp ashore will need to take it upon themselves reserve campsites and book accommodations. Cruisers will also need to arrange their own moorage for each port in which they desire a slip.
We encourage you to sign up for updates on our Salish 100 Facebook Group and join Salish.io forum to engage with other past and future cruisers!
Application Process + Cost
Just remember, you and your small vessel (22' and under) are evaluated for suitability to Salish 100. It goes like this:
- You apply (yes!) with an event fee of $200. This fee includes a custom 2023 Salish 100 burgee, with all proceeds directly supporting programming at the Northwest Maritime Center.
- We review your application and you are either accepted or will be asked some clarifying questions or to make some modifications before you are accepted.
- If we cannot accept you at all, we will refund your $200 application fee.
You may have noticed our entry fee has increased. We've raised the fee this year to meet rising costs, reduce cancellations, and continue to improve Salish 100 based on feedback from previous years' participants.
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellations received in writing (email ok) 60 days before the event are refunded minus a 30% administration fee.
- Cancellations made less than 60 days prior to the event (May 21, 2023) will not be refunded.
- If we cancel the event for any reason except Force Majeure 100% of Payments can be refunded.
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- Fees already paid may be donated to Salish 100’s parent body, the Northwest Maritime Center.
- Fees paid can become credits used for Northwest Maritime Center Classes, rentals, etc. in the future. This does not include merchandise.
- Fees paid may be credited towards cruising the Salish 100 in 2024.
- Fees can be refunded, minus a 30% fee.
We have tried to make the policy as clear as possible, but if you would like further clarification please reach out to our registrar, verity@nwmaritime.org.
Equipment
Mandatory Safety Equipment
All boats in the Salish 100 are required to carry a VHF radio and monitor it at all times while underway.
- VHF radio (handheld is fine)
- Dock lines
- Sound signaling device
- Navigation lights
- Flares and/or a waterproof flashlight for signaling at night
- Approved PFDs for all, with whistles and sound signaling devices.
Know the laws. Depending on your boat type, you may be required to carry additional items.
Helpful link here.
Recommended Safety Equipment
We think this is smart stuff. If you have capacity on your boat, stay safe, stay prepared.
- Tide/current tables
- Nav lights
- Extra batteries and/or chargers with dock plugs
- Visibility—optically and radar
- A way to cook
- Sufficient floatation for a swamping, especially for open boats
- Radar reflector
- Sufficient water and food
- Adequate first aid supplies
- Charts and navigation equipment
- Redundant systems for safety, navigation, and emergencies
- Compass!!
- Phone
Cruising Supply Suggestions
- Keep warm and dry gear
- Small musical instrument
- Food and water, plus snacks, goodies, & beverages
- A notebook or journal for the memories
Support Vessels
Each year, several good samaritan mariners with power vessels come along for the fun, in order to provide support to the cruisers. They facilitate good communication, provide tows to boats when the wind won't cooperate, and add extra eyes throughout the fleet.
