Circumnavigating Vancouver Island

[Michael Davis]

In Port McNeill tonight. Spent the afternoon stripping my heat exchanger.
. Here I am using one of Bev’s knitting needles to clean the tubes.

 

[Michael Davis]

Every thing is cleaned and back together. I’ve run the engine up to temperature and all seems fine. Tomorrow will be laundry and grocery shopping and then we will be ready to move on.
our neighbour here is also on his way around the island so we may buddy boat for awhile.
Port McNeill Marina. Marina office

 

[Hello Below]

We are following in your footsteps Michael. Good to hear that you worked out your cooling system issues. Yup the spot prawns here in Lagoon Cove are as fresh and tasty as I remember from 6 years ago.

 

[Michael Davis]

July 12 we left Port McNeill to make a two day trip to Bull Harbour(could be one long day) with a stop in the Deserters Group. The entrance to the anchorage is pretty narrow but going in at low tide shows where all the hard spots are.
Lanikai, our buddy boat for this part of the trip enters Deserters
The entrance looks wider when the tides in.
A tour around in the kayaks
Deserters Group

 

[Michael Davis]

The trip to Bull Harbour, then to Sea Otter Cove was made in thick fog. A couple of pictures of Bull Harbour when the fog thinned a bit. We were the only boats there until late in the day when a couple of sport fishers came in.
The fog has thinned but you can’t see Vancouver Island less than a mile across Goletas Channel Bull Harbour
Sea Otter Cove

 

[Michael Davis]

July 16 The weather station was forecasting a NW gale today so we decided to make a run to Quatsino Sound. The wind was only 15 to 20 when we left and we did the 20 miles in 3 1/2 hours with the Genoa. Tonight we are in Pamphlet Cove , Drake Island Quatsino Sound.
Pamphlet Cove. Caught writing this

 

[Hello Below]

Michael, you’ve escaped the foggy weather here in the Broughtons. It’s been many a day since we have seen the tops of the mountains. Gale force winds forecasted today and tomorrow for the Johnstone Strait. Maybe that will blow the fog away. Please keep the posts coming.

 

[Michael Davis]

escaped the foggy weather

It was crystal clear coming into Quatsino yesterday. I think it’s the first time I’ve gotten a clear view of Brooks Peninsula. It seems every time we come around it’s been shrouded in fog and rain.

 

[Foswick]

I would take some of that gale off your hands. Down here, the wind is so still it's running backward. At least it's not hot and humid. Oh wait ....

 

[Michael Davis]

I would take some of that gale off your hands

The weather man said it was coming your way. When have they ever been wrong?.

 

[Michael Davis]

Home made tidal grid abandoned in Pamphlet Cove

 

[Michael Davis]

You think you are all alone at the edge of the world, then suddenly another boat shows up. I think the world is getting smaller.
Atisha is a fifty year old steel boat built in Belgium, home port is Hobart, Tasmania Australia and is on a four year journey around the Pacific.

 

[Hello Below]

Nice to see that seasoned sailors, as they most certainly are, take the time to visit our backyard sailing grounds.
Thanks Michael.

 

[jssailem]

We had the disturbed sea state on the Juan d’Fuca Strait today. But anemic wind. It was a day to test tidal theory. I found some areas tgat were very helpful, and others to avoid when the tide is in Ebb.

 

[Michael Davis]

Moved from Pamphlet Cove to Julian Cove. Last time we were here there were five boats today we have it all to ourselves.
Less than an hours run from Pamphlet

 

[jssailem]

Beautiful water.

 

[Hello Below]

Enjoy Michael. You’ve earned it.

 

[jssailem]

Hey crew.
I just got this forecast from Rufus looking at PNW weather. Foretells nice days and fun nights.


Monday July 21

Models suggest that we are at the front end of an extended period of fairly pleasant conditions. Admittedly, for some folks, there may be too many ‘morning marine cloud’ days, but overall, the afternoon high temps looks to be comfortable for outdoor activities. Will that last into early August? Let’s take a peek. Sip on.

The cool air mass that swept over the PNW this past weekend will slowly departing, leaving behind a ‘fair weather pattern’ for a couple of weeks.

• This week, July 21-25:turning a bit warmer each day, with temps in the pleasant 75-84 degree range, overall. Fri the 25th will present slightly cooler temps brought on by an increasing onshore flow. Breezy afternoons.
• This weekend Jul\y 26,27:A tad cooler than normal, yet pleasant. Morn’n clouds may go with your Mug start-up.
• Week of July 28-Aug 1:Looking to remain on the cooler side of Summer; dry & windy afternoons, esp along the coast.
• 1st weekend of Aug 2025: This portion of the forecast gets dicey. Meaning, recent solutions indicate a strong ‘fall-like pattern’ of clouds & moderate rain; other runs suggest continued mild conditions & dry.
  • A major aspect of a fall-like pattern on the charts is the Pacific Summer High pressure dome shifting farther to the NW corner of the Gulf of Alaska. We’ll hold off on pegging such a forecast until another series of model solutions arrive.
• Week of Aug 4-8: Actual outcome depends on the position of that Pacific High - wx could continue damp or remain in the summer mode, per normal. Rinse your Mug and get it handy.

 

[Hello Below]

John after more than 2 weeks in cool, damp and foggy weather in the Broughtons we are heading South in search of warmer climes. I put up with this weather for 6 months in the rainy season. I’m not happy experiencing the same in July and August. It looks like @Michael Davis and Sea Gypsy made the correct decision going around the West coast of the Island and not lingering on the East side.

 

[Michael Davis]

Julian Cove to Varney Bay. We motored over to Atkins Cove to have a look. A couple of nice beaches, reported good holding and good shelter in a northerly but open to the south.
We motored through Quatsino Narrows and a quick stop at Coal Harbour for a fuel top up and lunch at the new restaurant and grocery store.
we are now anchored in Varney Bay and plan to kayak up the Marble River tomorrow.
Looking back toward Coal Harbour from Varney Bay Marble River estuary. There are drying mud flats when the tide is out.