Posts In The “Vancouver Island West Coast” Category

Weather window

Weather window

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…

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The Wild Pacific Coast

The Wild Pacific Coast

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….

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Christmas Cruise 2011: After the storm

Christmas Cruise 2011: After the 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…

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Christmas Cruise 2011: Julia Passage and Snug Basin

Christmas Cruise 2011: Julia Passage and Snug Basin

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…

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Christmas Cruise 2011: Jarvis Lagoon and Pipestem Inlet

Christmas Cruise 2011: Jarvis Lagoon and Pipestem Inlet

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…

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Christmas Cruise 2011: Seattle to Effingham Bay, Barkley Sound

Christmas Cruise 2011: Seattle to Effingham Bay, Barkley Sound

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…

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Circumnavigating Vancouver Island — PassageMaker, July 2005

Circumnavigating Vancouver Island — PassageMaker, July 2005

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…

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A Brief Foray into the Dangerous Waters of Nitinat — Pacific Yachting, August 2004

A Brief Foray into the Dangerous Waters of Nitinat — Pacific Yachting, August 2004

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…

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Up the West Coast of Vancouver Island

Up the West Coast of Vancouver Island

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….

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