Posts In The “North America Pacific Coast” Category
Snow fell in the Puget Sound this weekend as part of a big winter storm that swept the country. We were anchored at Port Madison, on the north end of Bainbridge Island, when the white stuff started. Even though the temperature was several degrees above freezing, snow began building up quickly. It was a wonderful…
This year we spent Thanksgiving aboard in the South Puget Sound (the area between Olympia and Tacoma Narrows). With extreme high tides above 15 feet, we were able to explore the drying heads of several inlets: Henderson, Hammersley, and Eld. The weather for the most part was excellent—bright blue skies and little wind. Temperatures were…
Earlier today as we sailed out of Henderson Inlet, just north of Olympia, we heard the Coast Guard asking for assistance for a downed aircraft in Commencement Bay. At around 12:40 the vessel Grand Madison reported that it had rescued two people from the water, one an elderly lady slightly hypothermic. At 12:50 the Coast…
Spider anchorage and the surrounding islets make up the heart of the Hakai Luxvbalis (pronounced hack-eye looks-bal-ease) Conservancy Area at the edge of Queen Charlotte Sound. The complex waterways, sheltered anchorages, amazing scenery and diverse ecosystem are popular with pleasure boaters, kayakers and scuba divers. Popular, however, is a relative thing. A busy day in…
The Goose Group is at the edge of the edge, and feels that way. Reefs, off-lying rocks and underwater shelves surround the islands, and their low topography provides little wind shelter for anchoring. Evidence of fierce storms is visible everywhere. Stunted, windswept trees cling to land. Driftwood has been cast high onto the outer shores…
For decades, Vashon Islanders have steadfastly resisted any threat to their peaceful, quasi-rural lifestyle. The island is only a short ferry ride from Seattle and Tacoma—ferries run from both ends—yet the pace here is slower than in the cities. And that’s how the islanders like it
Very rough water off of Port Ludlow, WA this morning. We left Mats Mats Bay, WA at 8:15AM and started our trip back to Seattle and right outside of Matts Matts Bay we saw winds gusting to 52.9 kts (61 MPH). Here’s the weather station display from Dirona: Log entry from Dirona: 20070101 9:17AM (3204.6)…
We’ve spent Christmas and New Year’s afloat for the past several years. Sometimes we travel long distances to Desolation Sound or the Broughtons. Other years we just poke about Victoria and the Gulf Islands. Last year, we split the difference and cruised the Sunshine Coast.
With the Broughtons becoming such a popular cruising destination during the summer months, finding a private anchorage can be difficult. Drury Inlet, however, is among the least travelled in the region—you’re more likely to anchor alone here than most other Broughton locales. Navigation can be more challenging, but it’s worth the effort—the scenery is grand,…
Historic Esquimalt Harbour is an often overlooked but worthwhile destination. Here lie two national historic sites, several waterfront parks, two good pubs and secure anchorage. Also within reach is the 55-kilometre Galloping Goose Regional Trail, which extends from Victoria beyond Sooke. There’s enough to do and see at Esquimalt Harbour to keep you here for…
Smith Inlet was the last stop on our tour of mid-coast inlets. The waterway is not covered much in the guidebooks, so we didn’t know what to expect. We had left Rivers Inlet feeling that its tributary, Draney Inlet, would be our favourite locale of the trip. But we were wrong—Achlakerho Channel in Smith Inlet…
Draney Inlet is a pocket-sized gem located north of Cape Caution, just off Rivers Inlet. The landscape is dramatic and the anchorages are scenic and protected. At the head, the serpentine Lockhart Gordon Creek makes wonderful dinghy territory. And, best of all, we found much evidence of coastal logging history, including an old corduroy road…
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…
Last winter we read The Great Bear Rainforest (Harbour Publishing, 1997), Ian and Karen McAllister’s chronicle of B.C.’s raincoast from Knight Inlet to the Alaska border. Ian’s vibrant photographs inspired our summer cruise to the southern portion of this region: a tour of Seymour, Smith and Rivers inlets.
Fort Rupert lies in Beaver Harbour, just south of Port Hardy, at the northeast end of Vancouver Island. Many boaters pass by when visiting Port Hardy, but few ever stop here—Fort Rupert is not a destination in any of the cruising guides. Beaver Harbour does not look like much of an anchorage from the chart…
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Queen Charlotte Strait was expecting near-hurricane force winds of 60 knots. It was the third successive night of big December winds and it wasn’t over yet. We listened to the weather report as 30-knot gusts boomed into our anchorage in Cullen Harbour.
British Columbia’s glacial-carved fjords rival any in the world for magnificent scenery. However, their steep shorelines funnel and accelerate winds, while offering little shelter to the traveling boater. Jervis Inlet, which stretches 46 miles, fits this mold, with one anomaly that makes all the difference. Near the head is an opening so unobtrusive that Capt….
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…