How far it is, and what you have to time on the way. 92 passages measured along charted tracks rather than in straight lines.
Common questions
How far is it between ports in the Salish Sea by boat?
TidePush holds 184 passages covering 92 distinct port pairs, each measured along a charted track rather than in a straight line, so the mileage is what a boat actually runs. The full list is on this page, grouped by where you are starting from. The longest single passage in the library is Port Townsend to Neah Bay at 79.7 nautical miles.
Can you sail from Vancouver to Seattle in one day?
No. It is about 125 nautical miles, which is close to eighteen hours at seven knots, against roughly fourteen hours of daylight at midsummer — so no departure exists that gets a typical cruising boat in before dark, on any date. US customs must also be cleared at your first landfall, so it is not a legal single hop either. The passage is normally done in two days with a night at Roche Harbor or Friday Harbor, which is how TidePush plans it.
Which passages have tidal gates that have to be timed?
74 of the 184 routes transit at least one named gate — a rapid, narrows or pass where the stream decides whether and when you go through. Each route below names its own. A gate is a place the boat arrives at, so on a passage with more than one they rarely slack together, and the departure becomes a compromise between them.
What does the star beside a route name mean?
It means the passage has more than one current to time, so the cast-off is a trade rather than a single right answer. One star is two currents, two stars is three, three stars is four or more. A current counts when it is a named gate the route transits, or a station driving at least eight miles of the route at 0.6 or more of full strength along your course.
Do these distances include the detours around islands and headlands?
Yes. Every distance here is measured along the route TidePush actually integrates, waypoint to waypoint on charted water, and each track is checked against a coastline model so no leg cuts across land. A straight line between two harbours is usually shorter and is not a passage.
Every route, by where you start
92 distinct passages between 184 planned directions — every route is planned
both ways, and the distance is the same either way, so each pair is listed once. A star marks a
passage with more than one current to time.
To and from Shilshole — via San Juan Channel and Cattle Pass
Port Townsend to Friday Harbor is 30.3 nautical miles. One gate to time: Cattle Pass.
Port Townsend to Deer Harbor, Orcas Island is 33.1 nautical miles. One gate to time: Cattle Pass.
Shilshole Bay to Friday Harbor is 59.4 nautical miles*. One gate to time: Cattle Pass. A further stretch of the passage runs on another current with its own slack, which is why the departure is a compromise.
Shilshole Bay to Deer Harbor, Orcas Island is 62.4 nautical miles*. One gate to time: Cattle Pass. A further stretch of the passage runs on another current with its own slack, which is why the departure is a compromise.
Shilshole Bay to Reid Harbor, Stuart Island is 68.9 nautical miles*. One gate to time: Cattle Pass. A further stretch of the passage runs on another current with its own slack, which is why the departure is a compromise.
To and from Shilshole — via Rosario Strait
Port Townsend to Cap Sante, Anacortes (Rosario) is 29.1 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Shilshole Bay to Cap Sante, Anacortes (Rosario) is 58.4 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Shilshole Bay to Echo Bay, Sucia Island is 72.6 nautical miles*. No named gate, but more than one current governs the timing, so the hour still matters.
To and from Shilshole — via Haro Strait
Port Townsend to Roche Harbor (Haro) is 39.9 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Port Townsend to Sidney, British Columbia (Haro) is 46.5 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Shilshole Bay to Roche Harbor (Haro) is 69.3 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Shilshole Bay to Sidney, British Columbia (Haro) is 75.9 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
To and from Shilshole — via the Swinomish Channel
Everett to La Conner (Swinomish) is 32.7 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Everett to Cap Sante, Anacortes (Swinomish) is 42.5 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Shilshole Bay to La Conner (Swinomish) is 47.8 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Shilshole Bay to Cap Sante, Anacortes (Swinomish) is 57.6 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
To and from Shilshole — Admiralty Inlet
Shilshole Bay to Port Townsend is 31.6 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
To and from Bainbridge (Eagle Harbor)
Blake Island to Eagle Harbor, Winslow is 5.8 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Bremerton to Eagle Harbor, Winslow (Rich Passage) is 10.5 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Eagle Harbor, Winslow to Poulsbo (Agate Passage) is 14.8 nautical miles. One gate to time: Agate Passage.
Eagle Harbor, Winslow to Cap Sante, Anacortes (Rosario) is 61.6 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Eagle Harbor, Winslow to Friday Harbor is 65.1 nautical miles*. One gate to time: Cattle Pass. A further stretch of the passage runs on another current with its own slack, which is why the departure is a compromise.
Eagle Harbor, Winslow to Victoria Inner Harbour is 69.3 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Eagle Harbor, Winslow to Roche Harbor (Haro) is 72.5 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Eagle Harbor, Winslow to Echo Bay, Sucia Island (Rosario) is 75.8 nautical miles*. No named gate, but more than one current governs the timing, so the hour still matters.
Eagle Harbor, Winslow to Sidney, British Columbia is 79.0 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
To and from Edmonds
Poulsbo to Edmonds (Agate Passage) is 14.8 nautical miles. One gate to time: Agate Passage.
Edmonds to La Conner (Swinomish) is 40.4 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Edmonds to Cap Sante, Anacortes (Swinomish) is 50.2 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Edmonds to Cap Sante, Anacortes (Rosario) is 51.7 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Edmonds to Victoria Inner Harbour is 59.5 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Edmonds to Roche Harbor (Haro) is 62.6 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Edmonds to Echo Bay, Sucia Island (Rosario) is 66.0 nautical miles*. No named gate, but more than one current governs the timing, so the hour still matters.
Edmonds to Sidney, British Columbia is 69.2 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
To and from Everett
Shilshole Bay to Everett is 21.4 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Poulsbo to Everett (Agate Passage) is 28.3 nautical miles. One gate to time: Agate Passage.
Blake Island to Everett is 30.7 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Everett to Port Townsend is 34.2 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Everett to Cap Sante, Anacortes (Deception Pass) is 43.5 nautical miles. One gate to time: Deception Pass.
Everett to Friday Harbor (Deception Pass) is 52.8 nautical miles. One gate to time: Deception Pass.
Everett to Friday Harbor (Admiralty) is 58.0 nautical miles*. One gate to time: Cattle Pass. A further stretch of the passage runs on another current with its own slack, which is why the departure is a compromise.
South Sound
Blake Island to Shilshole Bay is 10.1 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Shilshole Bay to Poulsbo (Agate Passage) is 12.6 nautical miles. One gate to time: Agate Passage.
Bremerton to Shilshole Bay (Rich Passage) is 16.2 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Gig Harbor to Shilshole Bay (Colvos) is 26.4 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Olympia to Gig Harbor (the Narrows) is 28.1 nautical miles. One gate to time: Tacoma Narrows.
To and from Tacoma
Tacoma to Gig Harbor is 6.6 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Tacoma to Blake Island is 17.7 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Tacoma to Shilshole Bay is 25.4 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Olympia to Tacoma is 31.6 nautical miles. One gate to time: Tacoma Narrows.
Strait of Juan de Fuca — Victoria
Port Townsend to Victoria Inner Harbour is 36.8 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Shilshole Bay to Victoria Inner Harbour is 66.1 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Strait of Juan de Fuca — Neah Bay
Port Townsend to Neah Bay is 79.7 nautical miles***. No named gate, but more than one current governs the timing, so the hour still matters.
To and from Vancouver
False Creek, Vancouver to Snug Cove, Bowen Island is 11.4 nautical miles. No tidal gate: distance and daylight are the whole answer.
Coal Harbour, Vancouver to Snug Cove, Bowen Island is 11.6 nautical miles. One gate to time: First Narrows.
Silva Bay, Gabriola Island to False Creek, Vancouver is 24.2 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Silva Bay, Gabriola Island to Coal Harbour, Vancouver is 26.8 nautical miles. One gate to time: First Narrows.
Nanaimo, British Columbia to Coal Harbour, Vancouver is 35.4 nautical miles. One gate to time: First Narrows.
Coal Harbour, Vancouver to Pender Harbour is 47.2 nautical miles. One gate to time: First Narrows.
Echo Bay, Sucia Island to Coal Harbour, Vancouver is 47.4 nautical miles. One gate to time: First Narrows.
Sidney, British Columbia to Coal Harbour, Vancouver is 48.7 nautical miles*. 2 gates to time: Active Pass, First Narrows.
Roche Harbor to Coal Harbour, Vancouver is 54.1 nautical miles*. 2 gates to time: Active Pass, First Narrows.
Coal Harbour, Vancouver to Egmont is 58.2 nautical miles. One gate to time: First Narrows.
Friday Harbor to Coal Harbour, Vancouver is 61.2 nautical miles*. 2 gates to time: Active Pass, First Narrows.
Sunshine Coast — Sechelt Inlet and Egmont
Pender Harbour to Egmont is 14.0 nautical miles. No tidal gate: distance and daylight are the whole answer.
Porpoise Bay, Sechelt to Egmont (Skookumchuck) is 17.8 nautical miles. One gate to time: Sechelt Rapids.
Egmont to Chatterbox Falls, Princess Louisa is 33.7 nautical miles. One gate to time: Malibu Rapids.
Gulf Islands — Nanaimo
Pirates Cove, De Courcy Island to Nanaimo, British Columbia (2nd stage) is 11.0 nautical miles. One gate to time: Dodd Narrows.
Sidney, British Columbia to Nanaimo, British Columbia is 43.1 nautical miles. One gate to time: Dodd Narrows.
Reid Harbor, Stuart Island to Nanaimo, British Columbia (via Bedwell) is 46.3 nautical miles. One gate to time: Dodd Narrows.
Deer Harbor, Orcas Island to Nanaimo, British Columbia (via Bedwell) is 54.3 nautical miles. One gate to time: Dodd Narrows.
Friday Harbor to Nanaimo, British Columbia (via Bedwell) is 56.1 nautical miles. One gate to time: Dodd Narrows.
Strait of Georgia
Nanaimo, British Columbia to Hornby Island is 35.1 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Nanaimo, British Columbia to Powell River (inside Texada) is 49.2 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Nanaimo, British Columbia to Lund (outside Texada) is 62.0 nautical miles. One current governs the timing.
Desolation Sound
Tenedos Bay to Prideaux Haven is 4.3 nautical miles. No tidal gate: distance and daylight are the whole answer.
Refuge Cove to Prideaux Haven is 7.1 nautical miles. No tidal gate: distance and daylight are the whole answer.
Squirrel Cove to Prideaux Haven is 9.7 nautical miles. No tidal gate: distance and daylight are the whole answer.
Lund to Refuge Cove is 9.8 nautical miles. No tidal gate: distance and daylight are the whole answer.
Lund to Grace Harbour is 10.3 nautical miles. No tidal gate: distance and daylight are the whole answer.
Lund to Squirrel Cove is 11.5 nautical miles. No tidal gate: distance and daylight are the whole answer.
Powell River to Lund is 12.3 nautical miles. No tidal gate: distance and daylight are the whole answer.
Lund to Tenedos Bay is 12.4 nautical miles. No tidal gate: distance and daylight are the whole answer.
Lund to Prideaux Haven is 14.3 nautical miles. No tidal gate: distance and daylight are the whole answer.
Lund to Gorge Harbour is 14.9 nautical miles. No tidal gate: distance and daylight are the whole answer.
Refuge Cove to Toba Wilderness Marina is 16.8 nautical miles. No tidal gate: distance and daylight are the whole answer.
The rapids — Surge, Yuculta, Gillard, Dent
Octopus Islands to Big Bay, Stuart Island (Hole in the Wall & Yucultas) is 8.3 nautical miles*. 2 gates to time: Hole in the Wall, Yuculta Rapids.
Refuge Cove to Octopus Islands (Surge Narrows) is 20.1 nautical miles. One gate to time: Surge Narrows.
Campbell River to Chatham Point (Seymour Narrows) is 20.4 nautical miles. One gate to time: Seymour Narrows.
Refuge Cove to Big Bay, Stuart Island (the Yucultas) is 20.8 nautical miles. One gate to time: Yuculta Rapids.
Refuge Cove to Dent Island Lodge is 24.3 nautical miles**. 3 gates to time: Yuculta Rapids, Gillard Passage, Dent Rapids.
Prideaux Haven to Dent Island Lodge is 31.2 nautical miles**. 3 gates to time: Yuculta Rapids, Gillard Passage, Dent Rapids.