Leaving Echo Bay and the Broughtons at the end of our August cruise up from Nanaimo. Short flight to Port McNeil; best day of that week to fly out
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The only way to fly.
- Thread starter Kings Gambit
- Start date
This was the Friday following the Wednesday & Thursday gale that blew through Queen Charlotte and Johnstone straits. We were told that's what cleared the air. So pretty up there! Just Admiral & me, and pilot.
We did a 7 n.mi. stretch in Johnstone Strait Thursday morning leaving Forward Harbour. Along our northside of the strait we saw to only about 21-22 kt. Motoring, of course, in a Hunter 45 CC, w/full enclosure. Very nice.
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It was, but there was a lot of smoke around until our last two days. Admiral and I were guests on a boat that was part of a fleet, all travelling more-or-less together. All but two of seven nights were spent at marina docks. Last year when we chartered for two weeks, only two of the 14 nights did we spend at a marina dock. The last night at Coal Harbour in Vancouver so me crew of six could all have dinner together at Cardero's
. One other night at Powell River so the keel could be inspected after we had made "contact" with a flat rock leaving Waiatt Bay.It could be a very long round-trip from Everett. The best travel strategy for making distance in my view is to get going early; e.g., 0530 to 0630, and make your 30 or 40, even 50, n.mi. by early to mid-afternoon. Anchor, rest up, have dinner, and then in the rack by 2130. Get going again the next day. Try to make most of the day on the favorable tide even if the wind is against, & make early rapids when and wherever possible. This is not the schedule for someone who wants a "relaxing" vacation with lots of play time at each site. Make the weather end of the trip first and fast; return with more leisure time. Power boaters basically do better on this travel strategy than we do on sailboats unless you potentially have 9 kt of hull speed.
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@Kings Gambit that strategy is sensible to accomplish a visit within 14 days. It is how I have ventured into the Gulf Islands. I’ve found 30 to 40 nm per day a good limit when solo.
The plan I have is to retire. Then the need to “get there” in a limited time becomes less. Changing the vacation from 14 days to 30 or 45 .... at least that is the plan.
The plan I have is to retire. Then the need to “get there” in a limited time becomes less. Changing the vacation from 14 days to 30 or 45 .... at least that is the plan.
If luck or fortune favors the foolish, I'll have the Bavaria there in the PNW next summer for a two-year stint.
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