Sailing a Schooner on Elliott Bay

“The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea.”
― Isak Dinesen (aka Karen Blixen)

A defining feature of Seattle is the abundance of fresh and saltwater.

Naturally, any trip to the area involves the bay or lakes in some way- whether that’s just viewing from a high-rise building, taking a dip in the cool shallow waters, or slipping out over the depths on a sturdy vessel.

I’ve always had an attraction to bodies of water-
especially the oceans.
^{(But honestly, a fountain will do for me in a pinch)}

There’s something about the wide, open water stretching ceaselessly across the Earth and the mysterious world below the surface that creates a kind of electricity that I can’t get enough of.

I relish a chance to breathe in salty sea or crisp mountain lake air. It’s energizing and calming all at the same time.

Of course, any trip I take to a coastal city like Seattle is going to involve the water- even if it’s frikk’n freezing.

Dodging cold rain showers that are a usual feature of the Pacific Northwest, Andrew and I were able to book an afternoon sailing on Seattle’s Elliott Bay aboard the aptly named Bay Lady on a chilly day in October.

Bay Lady is an 85-foot gaff-rigged schooner with an 87 foot mast and 2,500 square feet of sails- making her the largest public sailing vessel on the US West Coast.

Bay Lady is a “tall ship” meaning she’s a large, traditionally-rigged sailing vessel with at least two masts.

To be clear, she’s a big lady.
And we had her practically all to ourselves.

Captain Noah and his crew of delightfully interesting characters made a simple wind-powered loop around Elliott Bay into an enchanting experience to remember. With three 2-hour tours offered daily (midday, afternoon, and sunset) there is ample opportunity to enjoy the bay!

The friendly crew regaled us with their tales of sailing the 33-year old ship up the coast and into her current home in Puget Sound, living onboard for the entire journey, battling through storms, and sleeping beneath the stars on deck.

Chatting comfortably with the crew as they pointed out wildlife in the water around us, we were invited to help hoist the sails and even steer if we were interested.

(Obviously, steering privileges were only granted in the open water away from any possibility of collision, and my general lack of ability to properly hoist a sail was kindly overlooked and remedied by the pros. It’s a good way to warm up, even if I’m essentially useless!)

Drinks (champagne, please!) and snacks were available along with
two onboard bathrooms to keep things comfortable.

Adding to the lovely sailing experience,
the views of the city from out on the bay are spectacular.

Sure, you can book speedy motorboat tours of the sound and zoom in and out of coves like a bat out of hell if that’s your thing, but there’s something earthly and romantic about sailing on the quiet wind and taking in the views as they pass slowly by. It gives the wave-throwing motored monster boats a vulgar flavor in comparison.

Taking a smooth sail on an enormous vessel like the Bay Lady makes for a perfect date night or a floating party with 80 of your closest friends.

No, it’s not an über fancy yacht experience, but it’s comfortable, friendly, fun, relaxed, unexpected, and affords some of the best views in the city. 10/10 will do it again.

A quote on the Bay Lady’s website sums it up nicely:

“Sail aboard this incredible tall ship and be transported in luxury back to the age of exploration in the Puget Sound, where the thunder of cannons echoed in the air and traditional sailing craft explored our picturesque shorelines.”

Yeah. It does feel kinda like that.
Oh- and did I mention Bay Lady has a (very tiny) working cannon?

Anchors Away…