Transiting BC, WA-AK

Peter & Judy · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:50 pm Post subject:

This just out on the Canadian News today. A negative Covid test would be required before essential travellers enter Canada now and then a 14 day quarantine. I am not sure how boating to Alaska for a vacation could fall into essential, but maybe there would be a way. The rules are always changing and as I mentioned in my earlier post they are moving toward more restrictions than less. My understanding of the 14 day quarantine rules are that you must stay in place and be able to receive and inspection or phone call daily to verify your location for 14 days. They have just upped to quarantine for anyone who tests positive with a Cover-19 variant or is in close contact to someone who does to 24 days. Thats a long time to sit in a C-Dory watching the anchor.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/negative-test-land-1.5906962

Hunkydory · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:16 pm Post subject:

Peter & Judy, From my reading, the transiting to Alaska through the BC waters of the Inland Passage has completely different rules than land or air travel, as the rules are separated into travel by land, air & water with different requirements for each. As you say the rules could change & in my experience the Custom Personal at the Border have the last say, so before making an attempt, I will be doing my research & keeping tabs on the regulations with knowing at the last moment entry may be denied. At present it doesn’t appear to have to be for an essential reason to transit by boat through the BC inland Passage to Alaska.

Jay

Peter & Judy · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:27 pm Post subject:

Jay,

I hope that you can find a way through. Last summer the coastal waters were closed to legal entry, but maybe if you had a plan to go without stopping you might make it work. Stopping for fuel in Port Hardy might be the clincher. They have also recently banned all Cruise Ships in Canadian waters until 2022. I think we are in for another year of winging it as far as plans go. I am working on multiple plans for this year and if I have the shelve them, then I am ready to go for next year.

Peter & Judy · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:35 pm Post subject:

Jay,

Here is a link that i found on the Government of Canada website. My reading is that if you are a resident of Alaska you might have a loophole.

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/pb-pp-eng.html

thataway · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:06 pm Post subject:

We are used to very lax regulations between the US and Canada. Most of the World is not like this. When you reach a country, you fly the 'Q" flag and request free Patique:

NewMoon · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:26 pm Post subject:

Peter & Judy · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:36 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:52 pm Post subject:

If one goes to the Bedwell Harbor site, it says "*Important Notice: Service at this location has been temporarily suspended until further notice."

As for the phone reporting at entrance--what about cell phone to CBSA as you enter Canadian waters, or just before?

Certainly one would want to have very clear directions before leaving the San Juans (or other US ports) if outfitted to go by vessel directly to AK., especially if a fuel stop were necessary. With the sailboat and hull speed of 7 knots, plus hitting passes at proper times, it could easily take 15 days to get to AK accounting for weather and such, even with enough fuel range.

Peter--I wondered if you knew Ben Grey? Those of us on the Trawler form followed him very closely as he made the trip--including the "wheels" part of it. Getting to the launch: 55 HP, 1000 gallons of fuel, 400 gallons of water, and 11' beam.

hardee · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 6:42 am Post subject:

The Race to Alaska winners, (sailboats), did the trip from Victoria, BC to Ketchikan in 4-5 days. They started from Port Townsend and the PT to Vic BC leg was usually a 3-4 hour run for those boat.

They did not stop in BC. Well at least not the winners.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

thataway · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 10:59 am Post subject:

Harvey, the race distance given by the R2AK is 750 miles--often it is actually more because of tacking. The fastest boats are all out racing boats, running 24 hours a day. I would not want to run areas in the PNW at night in a C Dory. Perhaps more importantly the cut off time is 25 days.

If the "PT to Victoria is 40 miles, and the boats are doing it in 4 hours that is 10 miles per hour--pretty fast for even the best of racing sailboats. They would have to have a favorable current. Sure thee are some sailboats which can average over 10 knots, but they are not in the R2AK.

Hunkydory · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 11:44 am Post subject:

With a very good weather pattern, the trip from Jones Island in the San Juans to Ketchikan, Alaska, 660 miles, could be made in 33 hours of daylight travel at 18 knots or approximately 20 mph. That is only three, 11 hour runs. Still lots of daylight time left over for fuel stop or stops & locating good anchorages. I would plan on a fuel stop in Port McNeil, then 130 miles later at Bella Bella or Shearwater top off again & make the complete trip on plane. If no fuel available at Bella Bella, Shearwater or Hartley, then we still could make it on plane with our extra fuel, the 330 miles from Port McNeal to Prince Rupert. Of course highly unlikely a weather scenario of the type needed would corporate, so in my estimation, the trip could likely be done in 5 to 10 days, but I have literally waited weeks just to go out into the Open Gulf of Alaska near Pelican, Alaska to explore the outside coast of Chichagof Island down to Sitka, Alaska, so no guarantees with time, when weather is the deciding factor. With some good books & ample food & water, weather delays would only create some relaxing time at anchorage.

robhwa · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 11:44 am Post subject:

NewMoon · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 2:44 pm Post subject:

My cruising buddy, who lives in Sidney BC, just spoke with a CBSA person in Victoria. She said the rules for transiting through BC to SE AK are very much as the Canada website describes (see post 3), though they could change of course. It seems likely we may have to show a recent negative COVID test, for example.

Some additional items CBSA mentioned on the phone:

If you plan to transit to through BC waters to SE AK, make a written plan for your trip, including where you plan to anchor each night, where you will stop for fuel, and how you will stay isolated while in BC. CBSA assumes a six-knot boat to estimate how many days it would take, so there's no need to be in a great hurry.

Bring enough food/supplies (things that are allowed into BC - no potatoes, only so much alcohol....) to make it though BC to Ketchikan. Or, make arrangements with one of your fuel stops like Port McNeill to go shopping for you and deliver supplies to you at the fuel dock. You may not stay at a marina, or go shopping yourself. Don't stop at any small native communities like Klemtu or Hartley Bay.

Check into Canada in person at a CBSA office (Sidney, Victoria, Nanaimo, for examples) and provide them your written plan. After checking in, you do not need to call in to stop for fuel or to anchor.

Anchoring each night, follow your plan, as weather etc permits, until you cross into SE AK. Then call CBSA to check out of BC.

Look at this web site for Alaska's rules:

https://covid19.alaska.gov/travelers/

I think I have covered it fairly well, but I may have forgotten or mis-stated something. You certainly will have to check the rules for yourself.

Hunkydory · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 5:35 pm Post subject:

Richard, much thanks for the additional valuable information. I sure would appreciate you giving me a PM or on this thread if you hear of or come across any more additional information. If land border crossing remain closed then JoLee & I will likely attempt the Inland Passage route through BC to Alaska if it remains open as now. Is Bella Bella or Shearwater considered a First Nation town & if not, do you think fuel would be available there?

Ken, much thanks to you too for starting this thread. I would not now know of this option if you hadn’t done so.

Jay

NewMoon · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 5:53 pm Post subject:

Hi Jay,

Bella Bella is very much a First Nations place. It's a sizable town, pop about 2,000 IIRC, with an airport, on Campbell Island. Shearwater is mainly just a marina on Denny Island, with little population. Both have fuel and water, though in dry years Shearwater sometimes has very little potable water to spare. If you stop for fuel and want to stay overnight, there's a protected anchorage called Kakushdish just east of Shearwater.

Jay, if you decide to do the Inside Passage through BC, let me know. Can't party down together, but we might anchor in the same cove!

Also, search for posts about rounding Cape Caution, or shoot me a message.