From Klaskish Inlet to Columbia Cove, our passage took us around the oddly-shaped Brooks Peninsula The forecast yesterday called for winds to soften to northwest 10 to 20 knots, except southeast 10 to 20 knots south of the Brooks Peninsula, with one to two metre seas easing by midnight:  It was finally time to make our rounding.  Like Cape Scott at the northern end of Vancouver Island, the...

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Approaching Klaskish Inlet There are only so many hours in the day and fewer still when the wind doesn’t blow, so we left Anchorage Island Friday morning before the sea state had a chance to whip up and made our way down to Klaskish Basin.  The anchorage received highmarks from all three cruising guides we’re using for this trip, leading us to believe that it’s a “must-see”.  But...

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The entrance to Klaskino Anchorage behind Anchorage Island We left Pamphlet Cove Wednesday morning under clear skies and motor-sailed to our next destination, Klaskino Anchorage on the southeast side of Anchorage Island in Brooks Bay.  Located between Kwakiutl Point and Cape Cook, Brooks Bay is a large open roadstead lined by high, rugged mountains.  Waves break against the numerous unmarked reefs and rocks that litter the coastline leaving...

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Quatsino Sound Next up:  Varney Bay where I wanted to explore the canyons and caverns of the Marble River by dinghy.  So after a quiet night in Pamphlet Cove, we upped anchor this morning to time our transit through Quatsino Narrows, where the currents can run up to nine knots, at slack tide.  The entrance to Varney Bay is somewhat tricky.  A submerged rock lies well off the...

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Quatsino Sound  With the sun shining and a beautiful day on tap, we upped anchor and made way for nearby Winter Harbour where the promise of hot showers and fresh produce was calling our names.  Once a commercial fishing outpost, Winter Harbour has suffered over the years from the ups and downs in the fishing industry . . . and it shows.  At one time it was difficult...

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Approaching Quatsino Sound Still moored in Sea Otter Cove, we waited until high tide and departed around one o’clock for North Harbour, Quatsino Sound – a 25 nautical mile run along the coast.  I could feel the butterflies building as we prepped the boat to leave . . . and for good reason.  Not only is entering and exiting Sea Otter Cove difficult, the Pacific Coast is nothing...

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We were a little surprised that we weren’t alone when we arrived in Sea Otter Cove yesterday evening: There were two other sailboats, travelling together, already moored in the bay.  One of the couples stopped by when I was taking Sally to shore and told me about a short trail on the southern beach that leads to San Josef Bay.  “Short” appealled to David who normally has no interest...

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A bull orca in Queen Charlotte Sound We were up up early to depart Fury Cove by seven o’clock . . . all of us except Sally who has become increasingly difficult to rouse.  Like most teenagers, she prefers to sleep until noon (she gets that from her father).  But with a little coaxing (and possibly dragging) we got the job done and departed for Sea Otter Cove...

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Walking on the beach with Sally on Calvert Island We left Sea Otter Inlet Monday morning and made our way down to Pruth Harbour on Calvert Island for a few nights.  The Hakai Institute, which now owns the property, has an unsecured wifi signal for boats anchored in the bay to use and David wanted to get the most current and complete weather picture that he could before...

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Leaving the docks in Ocean Falls Good-byes are our least favourite thing about cruising.  But we have to leave sometime, whether it’s today, tomorrow or the next day:  It has to be done.  So after four great days in Ocean Falls, we reluctantly left the dock this afternoon.  The docks were busy again this visit and we met a lot of interesting people, one of whom is the...

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