Posts In The “Vancouver Island West Coast” Category
A storm warning was in effect, with winds expected to reach 40-50 knots in the afternoon. More systems were on the way. The only obvious weather break coming up in the next few days was a several-hour window starting sometime after midnight, when winds would be 15 knots or less. We weren’t pressed for time…
A southwesterly gale was well underway as we approached Ucluelet. 6-8′ waves were rolling through and crashing into the shore on either side of us. The buoy in Carolina Channel, to our west, was disappearing completely behind the waves. The calm weathers we’d experienced early in the trip had given way to storm after storm….
On Christmas Day, the barometer fell nearly 20mb in 24 hours and Environment Canada was predicting big weather: Storm warning in effect for West Coast Vancouver Island South. Wind west 25 to 35 knots diminishing to northwest 15 to 25 early this evening then backing to southwest 15 to 25 late this evening. Wind increasing…
The first time we encountered surface ice on saltwater was back in 2002, on a winter trip to Desolation Sound and Princess Louisa Inlet. We had to break ice to reach Chatterbox Falls. We’ve since seen ice on saltwater many times on our winter cruises, from as far north as Blunden Harbor to the south…
Winter boating has its challenges, but one of the many rewards are the waterfalls. Flows that might be non-existent or just a trickle in summer gush and roar in winter. Teakearn Arm in Desolation Sound Marine Park is a good example. In the summer one waterfall tumbles lazily over the edge from Cassell Lake. In…
We first planned a Christmas cruise to Barkley Sound in the fall of 2003. That November, however, we attended a presentation by Cliff Mass on the difficulties of forecasting northwest weather. Mass gave several examples of major storms that had, with little warning, swept up the Pacific Coast and pounded Barkley Sound with storm and…
Many trawler owners believe the west coast of Vancouver Island is only for ocean-capable boats. And until recently, we were among them—believing the west coast was not a place for our 40-foot trawler, Dirona. Then, in summer 2003, we cruised the Inside Passage to the north of Vancouver Island, getting some open-ocean experience in small…
We’ve never outgrown that youthful reaction to being told not to do something because it’s dangerous. Invariably, we must try. This is partly how we came to be west of the treacherous Nitinat Narrows on Vancouver Island’s southwest coast, gauging the risk of entry. The Nitinat Narrows are situated midway along the shoreline known as…
It wasn’t until last summer that we even entertained the prospect of cruising the west coast of Vancouver Island. It’s completely exposed to the Pacific Ocean and receives some really nasty weather. Even on very good days there is a constant ocean swell, and on very bad days ships go down and lives are lost….