A sailboat approaches the John Wayne Marina. The guest float is nearest the jetty breakwater. This north end of the marina can be a busy area, with both a launch ramp (foreground) and a fuel dock. Photo by Migael Scherer

This beautifully designed marina at Pitship Point may come as a surprise compared to the rustic feel of Port Townsend or the industrial busyness of Port Angeles. The unlikely image of the cowboy hero John Wayne in Sequim Bay comes of the late actor’s own passion for cruising Pacific Northwest waters. His boat, the Wild Goose, anchored here frequently. After his death, his family donated land to the Port of Port Angeles specifically for this marina. The result: well-groomed docks, landscaped public walkways and a service building that rises gracefully from the gravel shore. The entire facility is polished without seeming primped and remarkably suited to its serene setting. The marina is completely protected by a stone jetty that encircles it like a scythe.

Moorings and Anchorage
The concrete guest float is immediately in front of you as you enter, with tie-ups on both sides. This outer float is also open to the public for fishing and crabbing. Additional guest moorage is directly beneath the harbormaster’s office, which is located in the large, blue-roofed service building. Total guest moorage capacity is about 22 boats. The marina does not take reservations.

If you prefer anchoring, the wide cove outside and south of the jetty offers protection in 5 to 10 fathoms. Take care to keep off the steep shelf. This anchorage has an unfortunate western view of the road, an RV park and the marina parking lot, but in other directions the scene is open and lovely. You’ll hear the highway noise from here more clearly than from the marina itself.

Getting Ashore
Find a place for your dinghy on the guest floats and be sure to check in with the harbormaster, even for a short-term stay. South of the breakwater, you can beach your skiff in the area adjacent to the marina parking lot.

For the Boat and Crew
The fuel dock is inside the jetty, just west of the outer guest float. Water is available on all guest floats; talk to the harbormaster if you need electricity. Showers and a laundromat are located in the main service building. Here also, on ground level, is the Dockside Grill. It’s a long walk northwest into the town of Sequim, some three miles or more along West Sequim Bay Road to the sprawling strip of malls and motels. More pleasant is the walk along the marina promenade, inhaling the fragrance of honeysuckle in summer. Pitship Point itself, at the head of the outer guest float ramp, is a public park with picnic tables and paths. Picnic tables are also near the south parking lot.

There is no longer a store at the John Wayne Marina.

Sailor, writer and teacher Migael Scherer, who divides her time between Seattle and Lopez Island, is the author of “A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands,” published by International Marine/McGraw-Hill. The guide can be purchased online through Armchair Sailor Books & Charts, Captain’s Nautical Supplies, Amazon and other retailers.

About Migael Scherer

Sailor, writer and teacher Migael Scherer, who divides her time between Seattle and Lopez Island, is the author of “A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands,” published by International Marine/McGraw-Hill. The guide can be purchased online through Armchair Sailor Books & Charts, Captain’s Nautical Supplies, Amazon and other retailers.

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