Name: Schooners North
Address: 685 Spring St, Friday Harbor, US-WA, 98250
Telephone: 360-378-2224
Price range: $$

At your Service

Sailing at its finest

Schooners North is dedicated to making your sailing voyage unforgettable. Our classic wooden vessel is beautiful to behold, sturdy and seaworthy. Our friendly crew is comprised of experienced sailors. Both the crew and our schooner are Coast Guard inspected and certified. We invite you to experience sailing the way it was really meant to be. Plan your next sailing trip with us and prepare for an experience of a lifetime. You'll be treated as a special guest of our sailing family from the moment you're welcomed aboard.

The Spirit of Spike Africa

Why preserve a classic schooner?

Since the Stone Age, every generation has made incremental advances in the art of wooden boat building. Without our care, the skills developed over millennia, will not be maintained, advanced or passed on as they were in a world when men spent careers working on wooden vessels in the yards. Our wooden boats are important. These boats and the art and skills that they represent must be preserved.Our wooden boats are important. These boats and the art and skills that they represent must be preserved.

There's a bit of history in every voyage

Welcome aboard Spike Africa

She was built forty years ago by a working tall ship sailor, Bob Sloan. Bob was known and respected throughout the Pacific for his lifetime of experience on sailing vessels. He drew Spike's lines to be true to the design of working schooners of centuries past. This proven formula combines beauty and grace with sturdy seaworthiness. It is this harmony of form and function that gives Spike Africa her timeless elegance. Bob's goal in building Spike Africa was to create a working Schooner to provide a living for them both. He succeeded on all counts. The schooner Spike Africa was a treasured friend and successful partner until Bob passed away.

Bob named the boat for Spike Africa

his best friend and a seaman renowned as a living legend of the sea. Spike, the man, was known up and down the West Coast as the President of the Pacific Ocean.

Since her launching

Spike Africa has worked as a freighting schooner on the West Coast, Mexico and Hawaii. Besides hauling freight, she towed and salvaged boats, worked as a floating fuel dock and served as a support boat for some of the most important 1970's and 80's yacht races. She has won honors in her own racing career, and has starred in films such as "Joe vs. the Volcano" with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, TV shows including Hell On Wheels, Baywatch, Hotel, and numerous national advertising campaigns.

Spike Africa has been universally praised as one of the most beautiful schooners built in modern times

Combining the functional elegance of the 19th century coasting schooners with unobtrusive touches of modern luxury.

Starting in 2009

Spike Africa's current owners have taken her through a complete refit. Many long time admirers of Bob and Spike participated. They brought world-class skills in wooden boat building, rigging, finishing, and mechanical systems. From keel to topmast, every part of Spike has been renewed, replaced, or upgraded as required to bring her into Bristol condition. The goal of the restoration was to bring her back from a foundering derelict, give her a new life and to maintain the traditional character of every detail just as Bob Sloan envisioned.

Info

Schooners North sails from the small town of Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands, Washington.

The San Juan archipelago is a group of small fir tree covered islands in Northwest Washington State on the Canadian border.

The waters surrounding the islands are teaming with wildlife including the iconic Orcas as well as Humpback whales

several species of dolphins, otters and a myriad of bird species including many bald eagles. The waters among the islands are well sheltered, peaceful and interesting sailing.

Our islands are in the famous rain shadow of the Olympic peninsula giving us shelter from much of the Northwest's rainy weather.

It is very common to look up into a 50 mile wide, clear blue window of sky above with storm clouds on every horizon.

Day Trips

Sail the Magnificent San Juan Islands and Salish Sea

Enjoying the San Juan Islands from the deck of a beautiful Schooner gives a special perspective into this lovely area of the Salish Sea. Our cruises share the waters with whales, porpoise, seals and sea lions, otters and a plethora of sea birds. Learn about them and their habitat from our onboard naturalists. Relax and enjoy the natural beauty and breathtaking scenery, or take part in running the ship. Our experienced and friendly crew is always happy to share their knowledge and love of sailing. We offer day sails on our Coast Guard inspected vessel departing from Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island, throughout the season from May through October, including full day, half day and evening sails. We also offer multiple-day adventures, special events, and your private sailboat charter. For more information, and availability email or call Schooners North at info@schoonersnorth.com or 360 378-2224.

Half & Full Day Sails

These three and six hour sails depart from and return to the Spring Street Landing dock in Friday Harbor, right next to the ferry landing.

Our course is determined by the wind and currents. Heading up San Juan Channel, we sail between Shaw and San Juan Islands, passing Yellow Island, with it's astounding variety of wild flowers in the Spring, and Jones Island, both are state parks accessible only by boat. On full days we'll likely pass Spieden Island on our way to Haro Strait where we often encounter whales when they're in the area. When we sail a southerly course from Friday Harbor we'll go around Turn Island, another island park, and toward Lopez Island and Griffin Bay on the south end of San Juan. On a full day we'll sail through Cattle Pass and on to Haro Strait, with panoramic views of the Olympic Peninsula and if we're lucky, see whales.

Half day (per person) $75.00

Full day (per person) $120.00

Evening Sail Cruises

The perfect way to unwind after a full day of fun in the San Juans

Let Schooners North make it the beginning of a romantic evening or a relaxing end to a busy day. Evening sails last for two hours and we encourage you to bring your beverage of choice and a snack. We'll be covering the same waters as the half and full days, just not quite as much of it. children 2 and under are free.

Evening sails are (per person) $39.00

Multiple Day Adventures

We love our friendly Canadian neighbors and enjoy visiting Victoria and their beautiful Gulf Islands

Spike Africa sets out on multiple-day adventures throughout the season. The sheltered waters of the Salish Sea present endless sailing opportunities. From busy seaports such as Victoria and Vancouver, to quiet lagoons, to sailing with the Orca whale, adventure awaits. Sailing with us can be a learning experience as well as pure pleasure and relaxation. If you choose, we welcome you to participate in the sail handling and a shift at the helm. Open sailboat charters are available to individuals or groups. A great opportunity to meet happy people. There is nothing like a peaceful sail to brighten your spirits. Call our office for the latest information. New multi-day cruises are forming all the time. 360-378-2224. Private Charters are also available to individuals or groups. Private Sailboat Charters allow you to set your own itinerary according to your individual interest. Visit our private charters page for more information. Or call us at 360-378-2224.

Private Sailboat Charter

You don't have your own 80′ schooner?

Not a problem, you can have ours, with a full crew at your disposal, and we'll be sailing on your schedule and your itinerary. There are so many great reasons to make our boat your boat for a day or for several; weddings and wedding parties, bachelor parties, family get-togethers, romantic get-a-ways, birthdays, corporate retreats, any special occasion that calls for something extraordinary and unforgettable. When you charter our schooner for your own special occasion we'll do all we can to make it a once in a lifetime experience. With our local knowledge we can help you plan your event and destination. We have gourmet chefs to handle catering, and Spike has a full galley to help with food preparation and serving. We sail from San Juan Island, however, other pick-up and drop-off locations can be arranged. Contact our Special Charters Representative for pricing and availability at info@schoonersnorth.com

Burials at Sea

A burial at sea is a dignified and beautiful way to pay your respects to a loved one that has passed away

We realize that if you are requiring this service it is a sensitive time, and we'll do all we can to make it a positive experience. Federal regulations require that the ceremony be performed at a minimum of three nautical miles from land. Haro Strait, which lies between the Islands and the magnificent Olympic Peninsula is easily reached and returned from in a day and is the only local area that will allow us to sail far enough off shore to perform the ceremony. We can help with the permit process, and with your accommodations while you're on the island.

Overnight Island Explorations

The San Juan Archipelago

The San Juan Islands have several marine state parks that can only be reached by boat. We'll be sailing to these lovely gems this summer and grabbing a mooring buoy or dropping anchor then heading to shore for some hiking and exploring. We'll end the day cooking dinner and telling stories of our adventures around a campfire before turning in aboard the Schooner or camping ashore.

(per person) $375.00

(per day) $375.00

Your Special Event

Let us make your wedding, party, family adventure, company gathering, or other special time an extraordinary experience that you and your guests will always remember. We can accommodate creative events from corporate team building to private memorial services. Whatever your occasion, planning it on a classic vessel will guarantee to make it special. Call 360-378-2224 for more information about our special events.

Orca Quest

Join us on an a full-day "Orca & Wildlife Quest" to sail safely and quietly amid these beautiful residents of the Salish Sea. Food is provided by the best restaurant in Friday Harbor, The Cask & Schooner. Call 360-378-2224 for more information.

Meals & Beverages

Bring your own snacks and beverages or box lunches are available through the Cask & Schooner Public House & Restaurant. All box lunches include sandwiches served on fresh Bakery San Juan Giovani Bread, salad, sweet treat, San Pellegrino sparkling water, napikins & utensils. Sandwich choices may include the following: smoked salmon, drunken chicken, skirt steak, smoked ham, veggie or a rustic blt. Also available for an additional cost are: Stumptown coffee, tea, Dry soda, rootbeer, ginger beer, Growlers, wine and hard cider. Please proved 24 hour notice, payment is due upon order, please mention any dietary restrictions and pick up is at 10am.

Schooners North

About Us