@Virginia and I visited Deer Harbor Marina on Orcas Island, checking for a marina for the Pacific Northwest meetup next summer. Orcas Island is an hour ferry ride from Anacortes WA on one of the Washington State ferries.
I had previously called West Sound Marina, also on Orcas Island, inquiring about their facility. They said they had mostly permanent moorage there. They could perhaps handle six boats, but ten boats was not possible, so we do not consider them a good prospect for next summer.
Deer Harbor Marina is well equipped to handle a sailboat rendezvous. Amenities include a "party barge", general store, bath house with showers, fuel dock, and pumpout station. There are two restaurants nearby.
Island Pie is at the top of the marina ramp and
Matthews Smoke House is a half mile walk. The Waggoner Guide also has a write up about
Deer Harbor. There is also
on shore lodging nearby for those not traveling by boat. Of course, an internet search will tell you even more.
We liked Deer Harbor a lot. It was quiet and feels more like Genoa Bay than Anacortes (the last two rendezvous locations), although Deer Harbor will be busier this summer.
One drawback for Deer Harbor Marina is the price of moorage. It will be about $2.60/ft next summer, in line with Roche Harbor Marina prices. Port of Anacortes and Port Townsend marina prices are closer to $1.60/ft.
We suggest the weekend of July 21-23, 2023. Tides are more moderate that weekend so navigating the island currents won't be as challenging.
And, as we said before, we are suggesting this as a possible rendezvous location. If you are interested in Deer Harbor, please post a reply. If there are others who would like to be the organizer for a different destination, please chime in with your alternative.
Deer Harbor Marina starts taking reservations for all of next year starting January 1, so we should decide on a location in the next month.
