Circumnavigating Vancouver Island

Jan 5, 2017
2,411
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
After a day kayaking the Marble River we left Varney Bay , out through Quatsino Narrows and decided to try Atkins Cove.IMG_0620.jpeg IMG_0619.jpeg IMG_0616.jpeg IMG_0613.jpeg Kayaking Marble River

IMG_0622.jpeg IMG_0621.jpeg Quatsino Narrows joins Quatsino Sound with Hobart and Rupert Inlets. Currents run to 9 knots.
IMG_0623.jpeg Atkins Cove
 
Jan 5, 2017
2,411
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
From Atkins Cove we ran the 6 1/2 miles to Port Alice. Rumble Beach Marina has laundry and showers and new docks. It’s a short walk to a good grocery store and liquor store. Great small town.

IMG_0625.jpeg IMG_0624.jpeg Atkins Cove at low tide. There is an inner basin as well but would trap us until the tide was high enough. Nice spot.
IMG_0626.jpeg IMG_0627.jpeg Rumble Beach Marina

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jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,298
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
The one challenge I see when on the inland waters of Western VI coast is access to news. I think Starlink might help solve that issue.
 
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Jan 5, 2017
2,411
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
The one challenge I see when on the inland waters of Western VI coast is access to news. I think Starlink might help solve that issue.
We were anchored in the Bunsby Islands for that quake. A boat we’ve anchored with a couple of times was in the next bay over, they have starlink and got the warning. They sat up all night in the cockpit with life jackets on waiting for the wave. We, on the other hand with no VHF or cell reception slept the sleep of the innocent. Some irony there I think.
connectivity is so good out here that I received these warnings Aug. 7
 
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Jan 5, 2017
2,411
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
We moved a little closer to Winter Harbour in anticipation of making the next transit. East Cove in Koprino Harbour was a pleasant stop.
IMG_0632.jpeg IMG_0633.jpeg IMG_0634.jpeg
 
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Jan 5, 2017
2,411
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
The weather was great the next morning but gales were promised over the next few days so we made the decision to round Brooks and head south to better weather.
IMG_0635.jpeg On our way to Brooks. IMG_0636.jpeg Solander Island in the distance. IMG_0638.jpeg
once around Brooks we headed to Columbia Cove. Amazingly we were the only boat here. But not for long.
IMG_0642.jpeg Columbia Cove. IMG_0641.jpeg Alone IMG_0646.jpeg but not for long.
 
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Jan 5, 2017
2,411
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
Our trip from Columbia Cove to the Bunsby Islands was three hours of motoring in flat calm.
IMG_0650.jpeg nothing but water between here and Asia. So calm and flat.
IMG_0652.jpeg Some rocks defy reason
IMG_0655.jpeg IMG_0656.jpeg IMG_0659.jpeg All alone,
IMG_0663.jpeg IMG_0662.jpeg But our friends from Columbia Cove soon showed up
 
Jan 5, 2017
2,411
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
The next step is to Kyuquot Sound. Sun Gypsys fuel tank is only 35 usg so I like to top up wherever possible. Fair Harbour has the only fuel in Kyuquot Sound so we bypassed Walter’s Cove and headed to the fuel stop. Fair Harbour has fuel, a small convenience store and moorage for small fishing boats. It’s a large harbour but has no really good anchorage so we made our way back to Dixie Cove for the night. Our friends from Columbia Cove and the Bunsbys came into Dixie sometime after us and it was from them we learned of the earthquake and how they spent the night.

IMG_0670.jpeg Dixie Cove. IMG_0671.jpeg IMG_0672.jpeg
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,298
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Len, what are you saying. Better to not know the Apocalypse is happening?
 
Jan 5, 2017
2,411
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
IMG_0686.jpeg We got an early start from Dixie Cove and headed for Esperanza Inlet. Motor down Clear Passage but got some good sailing with the inflow winds in Esperanza ( up to 8.4 knots with just the Genoa ). Sailed up to Zaballos but there was no room for us and as it was still fairly early we explored back to Hecate Channel and ended up anchored on 9 metre ledge in McBride Bay.
 
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Jan 5, 2017
2,411
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
The next morning we motored through Tahsis Narrows and down Tahsis Inlet to Bodega Cove.
.IMG_0686.jpeg IMG_0685.jpeg IMG_0684.jpeg IMG_0687.jpeg Bodega Cove
 
Jan 5, 2017
2,411
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
After a couple of days kayaking around Bodega Cove we decided to position ourselves better for the next jump. Just a short run to Santa Gertrudis. This is a great little anchorage, only room for a couple of deep draft boats but lots of room for small power boats.
IMG_0700.jpeg And only 1/2 mile from Nooka light and Friendly Cove IMG_0693.jpeg
 

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Jan 5, 2017
2,411
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
Aug 7 to bring us up to date was Santa Gertrudis to Hootla-Kootla in Sydney Inlet. We bypassed Hotspring Cove to miss all the tourists but we are using their Cell tower from across the Inlet.
IMG_0699.jpeg IMG_0698.jpeg IMG_0697.jpeg IMG_0696.jpeg
 
Nov 21, 2012
742
Yamaha 33 Port Ludlow, WA
Hey Michael, I'm a couple of weeks behind you. I'm leaving Port Hardy today and heading for Bull Harbor. Looks like a good weather window to round Cape Scott on Saturday. I'll explore for a few days before I round Brooks Peninsula.
 
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