San Juan Islands

Imagine yourself aboard an historic tall ship sailing through the awe-inspiring San Juan Islands in northwest Washington.

- Jed Vaughn

The sky is blue, the sparkling waters are calm and a pleasant warm breeze caresses your face as the Schooner Zodiac departs the port of Bellingham at Fairhaven Village. All 24 passengers are on deck in anticipation of a fabulous first day of sailing, seafood and sightseeing.

This is the three-night, four-day annual Seafood and Wine cruise that takes place mid-summer and is one of the most popular excursions for the Schooner Zodiac. The 160-foot-long tall ship features four sails that can catch upwards of 7,000 square feet of wind, beautiful mahogany finishes, towering Douglas Fir beams and teak interior trim amid brass fixtures and instruments. The majestic and historic tall ship conveys a rustic yet luxurious feel throughout. It received a designation on the US National Historic Registry of Places in 1982.

Fresh oysters, unique recipes with tuna, salmon, shellfish, trout, and squid will be prepared over the course of the next four days. Paired with some of the finest vintage wines from the Pacific Northwest, the tall ship cruise provides an unrivaled culinary experience in food and travel through some of the most scenic landscapes in the country.

Caz Ludtke, who refers to herself as a “tall ship chef” and runs the food blog Seasoned at Sea, is already in the galley preparing for the voyage. Rob Newsom of Boudreaux Cellars, who’s providing the superb wine selection and owns the only “off-the-grid” winery in the country, has made introductions and outlines some the festive libations in store.

One of the big draws of the schooner cruises is the opportunity to participate in the raising and lowering of the sails, as well as alternating through the four main ship duties, which include helm, chart room, bow watch, and messenger. For sailing lovers, this is a unique opportunity, and many come for that reason in and of itself.