Michael - Just took an opportunity to throw in another sea story and didn't mean to expound on being more careful. I'm really envious of your being able to take this trip and wish I could. Seems we always get stuck on making our longer trips at the end of the season instead of the beginning, and then it becomes a rush instead of being able to just take ones time. Not what I call a relaxing way to cruise.
Speaking of Gwaii Hanas (still have a hard time getting over the name change), I didn't realize they have a session one has to take now before going there. The last time we went they had just started requiring prior approval to visit the site at Anthony Island so we didn't go there. We did go to the hot spring and they gave us what they called a passport there but since then I understand it is no longer valid because they raised the bar.
Speaking of sea stories, there was a boat called Dark Star named after a rock group (or maybe song) from Vancouver that crossed Hecate Strait to Queen Charlotte City. It was a large ferro, a schooner of about 65 feet, but very nice condition and we were tied up behind him in Queen Charlotte City. The interesting story part was it was a really rough crossing and the skipper (the lead guitarist) got extremely sea sick and his wife took over the helm duties. In the meantime the heavy anchor became unlashed, swung back and forth, then eventually broke one of the two 3/4" SS rods to the bowsprit. Talk about averting a disaster....