Destinations The Central Coast

Fury Cove

Sunday, November 23, 2014TheCambrians


We made our first trip to Fury Cove last season after spending a month or so cruising the Central Coast while we waited for northwesterly winds to set in along the West Coast of Vancouver Island.  We arrived late in the afternoon and had an early departure planned for the following morning, which gave us just enough time to take Sally, the dog, to shore a couple of times.  I’m almost embarrassed to admit it, but we weren’t impressed and we had no real desire to come back.  As far as we were concerned, Fury Cove was merely a stop along the way.


But it’s so much more than that.

The Good

Fury Cove sits within the boundaries of Penrose Island Provincial Marine Park and makes an excellent base to explore the area by kayak or dinghy.  If you don’t have much time, at the very least you have to step outside the anchorage and visit the west side of Fury Island where secluded white sand and shell midden beaches with incredible views await you.  The only access is by water, which is exposed to Fitz Hugh and Queen Charlotte sounds, so settled conditions are a must.  But even if you have to wait a day or more to get there, you won’t be disappointed. 

Inside Fury Cove, the anchorage is well-protected with the added benefit of being able to see the weather conditions outside in Fitz Hugh Sound.  The anchorage is large enough to accommodate more than 20 boats comfortably and holding is good in sand in mud in depths of 5 to 15 metres (16 to 50 feet).  However, when 40+ knot southeasterly winds moved through the area earlier in the season, a couple on a sailboat told us that while they were safe, Fury Cove was uncomfortable.  And in the case of strong southwest winds, we personally wouldn’t want to be there.





The Bad

“Bad” is probably an exaggeration for most people, but Fury Cove is a popular anchorage and it’s not unusual to find 10 to 20 boats inside, especially during the busier months of July and August.  The good news is there’s plenty of room to swing.


And the Ugly

Entering Fury Cove can be a little tricky, especially on a day when the wind is blowing from the southwest and there’s a corresponding ocean swell.  But the channel, which is located to the south of Cleve Island, is wide and has plenty of depth.  When approaching, it’s important not to confuse the main channel with Breaker Pass to the north between Fury Island and Cleve Island, which is narrow and shallow but passable during settled conditions – though, in our opinion, unadvisable for cruising boats.

The entrance to Fury Cove itself is a third of a mile beyond Cleve Island and, although shallow, has 3.7 metres (12 feet) at zero tide and free from obstacles mid-channel.  I want to restate that, despite the fact that Fury Cove offers good protection in most weather, we would seek an alternate anchorage during stormy conditions.  



Waypoints of Interest

Main Approach:          51°28.629’N, 127°45.553’W
Anchorage Approach: 51°29.064’N, 127°45.275’W
Anchorage:                51°29.225’N, 127°45.617’W

Disclaimer:  This blog article is not to be used for navigation.  It is solely an opinion based on our personal experience in Fury Cove during settled weather conditions.  What worked for us at one particular time is no guarantee or indication that it will work for others.  There are no services in the immediate area and any boat that enters should be self-sufficient.

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