Freshwater Frolic: Locks to Lakes Buddy Cruise

Freshwater Frolic: Locks to Lakes Buddy Cruise

February 15–22, 2026

Join your Commodore, Richard Servance, and Blue Heaven for a relaxed freshwater adventure following the Sweetheart Cruise to Edmonds.
Set your heaters and ready your lock lines—we’re swapping salt for fresh! On Sunday we’ll lock into Lake Union, then spend the week cruising, rafting, and relaxing at some of Seattle’s most inviting freshwater stops, wrapping with a Sunday lock-out home to Everett.

Planned Route (Weather & Availability Permitting)
Feb 15 (Sun): Through Ballard Locks → Tyee YC (rafting allowed). Blue Heaven will join the Goosebumps race and we can have a late lunch/early dinner at Ivars before docking at Tyee.

Feb 16–17 (Mon–Tue): Center for Wooden Boats (Lake Union) — guest moorage, explore downtown
Feb 18 (Wed): Meydenbauer Bay YC or Rainier YC (rafting allowed) or Andrews Bay anchorage nearby if slips are tight
Feb 19–20 (Thu–Fri): Kirkland City Docks — stage for race weekend
Feb 21 (Sat):  Overnight Kirkland or Seattle YC.  Blue heaven will race in the STYC Freshwater Race (Kirkland) before docking for the night.
Feb 22 (Sun): Lock out to saltwater → return to Everett or wherever your HomePort is.

What to Expect

• Short, easy day hops; winter conditions (chilly, damp, early dusk)

• Locks timing and bridge transits (no-wake zones throughout the Ship Canal)

• Raft-friendly reciprocals (Tyee, Meydenbauer, Rainier; Seattle YC/Queen City also allow rafting) and guest moorage at CWB/Kirkland

• Andrews Bay is the primary legal anchorage (72-hr limit); quiet hours and dinghy-landing rules apply

Notes for Participants

• Buddy cruise format: no formal reservations or group meals; we’ll share plans and adjust as space and weather dictate

• Be comfortable with independent winter cruising and flexible itineraries

• Recommended gear: reliable heat, good ground tackle, working nav lights, lines/fenders for rafting, and lock-through gear

• Handy extras: pump-out plan, shore power cords/adapters, VHF for coordination, awareness of local noise/anchorage rules

Interested in joining all or part of the route?
Email Richard at richard.s.nyce@gmail.com