Sisters Rocks, approximately .4 miles south of the western pass under thee Hood Canal Bridge, most recently sunk a 65-foot yacht in 2019. The rocks, though marked by a lighted nav beacon, are awash at high tide. For boaters who pass under the bridge on the west side, it is recommended to give the rocks a wide berth, and to have proper charts on hand.
Clements and Danger Reef is comprised of multiple small elongated reefs, which are located north-northwest of Sucia Island. This wilderness reef system is completely submerged and has a size of 4.75 acres when exposed. Marked with a lighted nav aid beacon and a nav buoy, it is recommended to give the area a wide berth, and have proper charts on hand. This is another of the reefs on the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee's "11 Most Frequently Hit Rocks or Reefs in the San Juans" list. Image courtesy All Aboard Sailing.
Popular Prevost Harbor, part of Stuart Island State Park, has dangerous reefs both inside and outside the harbor. In recent years, the reef at the western entrance struck and sunk MV Norwester, the classic yacht formerly owned by John Wayne (pictured below). More commonly hit is the reef northwest of the state park dock inside the harbor (second image below). There is also a reef that extends off the western tip of Satellite Island, and another just southeast of that. Prevost Harbor reefs have long been on the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee "11 Most Frequently Hit Rocks or Reefs in the San Juans" list. Boaters should exercise caution and keep proper charts on hand when in the area. The rock and reef strewn eastern entrance is not recommended for transiting without detailed local knowledge.
Parker Reef, lying approximately one-half nautical mile north of northern most tip of Orcas Island, has long been on the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee's "11 Most Frequently Hit Rocks or Reefs in the San Juans" list. Although marked with a lighted nav aid beacon, Parker Reef extends in every direction and has caught boaters trying to "cut corners". It is recommended to give Parker Reef a wide berth, and have proper charts on hand.
Mosquito Pass on the northwestern corner of San Juan Island is a popular "short cut" for many boaters to Roche Harbor. However, one of the "11 Most Frequently Hit Rocks or Reefs in the San Juans" lurks near the southern entrance to the pass. Lying just below the surface, South Henry Rock has caught many a boater over the years who cut inside green Mosquito Pass Buoy #1. Boaters are advised to follow the nav aids and keep proper charts on hand.
Klas Rock, at the entrance to Mats Mats Bay, and Colovos Rocks southeast of the entrance, have been the site of numerous groundings over the years. Boaters should be aware of the danger and have charts on hand to avoid hitting these rocks that are awash at high tide.
Most of the neaar shoreline in Port Townsend is a voluntary no-anchor zone. This is a protection area that indicates where eelgrass meadows are located and encourages boaters to anchor outside of this sensitive habitat. These zones are voluntary. Some voluntary no-anchor zones are marked by informational spar buoys and others are virtual and marked on navigation apps or onshore signs.
Thhe entirety of Garrison Bay is a voluntary no-anchor zone. This is a protection area that indicates where eelgrass meadows are located and encourages boaters to anchor outside of this sensitive habitat. These zones are voluntary. Some voluntary no-anchor zones are marked by informational spar buoys and others are virtual and marked on navigation apps or onshore signs.
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