Shelter Bay Yacht Club schedules several organized cruises each year. The yachting season kicks off with the annual Shakedown Cruise to Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes and ends with a fun cruise to Sucia Island. The featured cruise of the season is the Commodore's Cruise that may be an eight to ten day cruise visiting multiple ports.
Traditionally Shelter Bay Yacht Club has a Sucia Work Party Cruise in May where members volunteer their help maintaining the Washington State Park facilities on the popular island. Even with work to do, there are very enjoyable opportunities to socialize and get to know other members.
In June, there is usually a shorter cruise to a single nearby port. The June cruises have included Roche Harbor, Fisherman Bay on Lopez Island, Friday Harbor and other easily reached destinations.
Cruise organizers and port hosts plan the in-port entertainment and meals for each stop on the cruise. Members participating in cruises pay the costs of moorage and there is usually a minimal event fee to cover the costs of any meals or refreshments provided. Keeping our cruises fun and affordable has been a priority of the club’s leadership. There is always an emphasis on having fun and getting to know our fellow boaters better.
Cruise planning is done months in advance. The Fleet Captain (a position for which we don't currently have a volunteer) proposes the cruise destinations and dates, lines up port hosts and makes arrangements with marinas to block out a sufficient number of slips.