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colbysmith
Joined: 02 Oct 2011 Posts: 4545 City/Region: Madison
State or Province: WI
C-Dory Year: 2009
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Traveler
Photos: C-Traveler and Midnight-Flyer
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 1:14 pm Post subject: 2018 Inside Passage South |
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I'm planning to cruise north of the San Juan Islands, into what I believe is the south end of the Inside Passage, right after the Friday Harbor gathering this May. Actual plans for now are to stay in the Seattle area the immediate weekend following the FH gathering, to visit with my brother and then get my wife off on a flight back home, then cruising for about 3 weeks beginning May 27-28. Plan to be pulling the boat out and trailering back home around June 23-24. I've never been in this area before, other than on land in Vancouver and on a big Alaskan Cruise ship. So would be nice to find a few others interested in doing this adventure. Particularly others than are familiar with the area. I do not have any set itinerary yet, but have marked numerous recommendations on my charts. In the mean time, I'm looking for recommendations or suggested routings, so started this thread. Colby |
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hardee
Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 12632 City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sleepy-C
Photos: SleepyC
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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Colby, How far north are you planning, or looking at? North past Port Hardy (N end of Vanc Island), or are you planning on going around the corner Northward at Cape Caution?
Harvey
SleepyC
_________________ Though in our sleep we are not conscious of our activity or surroundings, we should not, in our wakefulness, be unconscious of our sleep. |
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colbysmith
Joined: 02 Oct 2011 Posts: 4545 City/Region: Madison
State or Province: WI
C-Dory Year: 2009
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Traveler
Photos: C-Traveler and Midnight-Flyer
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Harvey, will definitely not past Prince Rupert. But looking at the charts I'm thinking more than likely not any farther north than Port Hardy. Seems to be a lot of areas between the San Juans and that north end of Vancouver Island. Right now I've been plotting some places looking at a list that Richard Cook had uploaded on one of the threads some time ago. Places like Annetter Inlet, Gabriola Narrows, Silva Bay, Dodd Narrows, Desolation Sound area, Chatham Channel, Lagoon Cove, Broughtons, Port McNeill, Port Hardy. The list keeps going towards the north as it's one he had put together for the entire Inside Passage I believe. I've just briefly read about those places as I found the coordinates to plot. Using the "Exploring the South Coast of British Columbia... book. I've also got those books for the Central and North Coasts of B.C., and SE Alaska. Seem like pretty good reference material. Soon I'll probably read a little closer on each place and see if I can come up with some kind of itinerary unless someone has one to offer. Colby |
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kaelc
Joined: 19 Jul 2017 Posts: 411 City/Region: Saanich
State or Province: BC
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Island Magic
Photos: Stil-Afloat
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Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like an amazing trip, keep us posted. I'm no expert at the Gulf Islands but not that we have a comfortable boat we are learning fast. There is a lot to do on the Southern Gulf Islands and I have been fishing around Victoria for the last couple years so if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. If you can stretch your trip Canada Day is July 1st and this is a great party http://www.saturnalambbarbeque.ca
We spent the last couple weekends on the Gulf Islands; Poets Cove, Pender Island and Minors Bay, Mayne Island and Fulford Harbour, Saltspring Island. Poets Cove is a great little resort with moorage, hot tub/heated pool included for about $40 CAD depending on the season. Minors Bay is a great place to visit on a Saturday morning when things are opening and happening but a little slow the rest of the week.
Looking forward to your explorations north, I was born in Courtenay (near comox) but haven't spent a lot of time on water up there in the last 20 years but that is changing this summer! |
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JamesTXSD
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 7445 City/Region: from island boy to desert dweller
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: "Wild Blue" (sold 9/14)
Photos: Wild Blue
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Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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Depending on your time allowance, a trip to Princess Louisa Inlet and Chatterbox Falls is a beautiful area. From there, back down the inlet and north to Desolation Sound would give you a spectacular 3-week trip.
Good luck with the plans. If you decide to do any whale watching along the way, it is now 100 meters minimum distance in Canada (half of what it used to be, and more in line with US regs). Desolation Sound abounds with great anchorages, beautiful scenery, interesting hikes. |
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hardee
Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 12632 City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sleepy-C
Photos: SleepyC
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Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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JamesTXSD wrote: | Depending on your time allowance, a trip to Princess Louisa Inlet and Chatterbox Falls is a beautiful area. From there, back down the inlet and north to Desolation Sound would give you a spectacular 3-week trip.
Good luck with the plans. If you decide to do any whale watching along the way, it is now 100 meters minimum distance in Canada (half of what it used to be, and more in line with US regs). Desolation Sound abounds with great anchorages, beautiful scenery, interesting hikes. |
Plenty to do there and maybe not get up past Campbell River.... but then.... there is more.....Always more.
As to the whale watching, From Nanaimo on north, the WW's are on VHF 7 and welcome you to listen in. Great bunch up there.
Harvey
SleepyC |
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JamesTXSD
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 7445 City/Region: from island boy to desert dweller
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: "Wild Blue" (sold 9/14)
Photos: Wild Blue
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Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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OOPS! I should have said 200 meters in Canada, which is twice what it used to be, and in line with the 200 yards in US waters. Pardon my dumbass attack. We are in AZ, and I have been working with adolescents... I feel the gray matter shutting down. |
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ssobol
Joined: 27 Oct 2012 Posts: 3370 City/Region: SW Michigan
State or Province: MI
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: SoBELLE
Photos: SoBelle
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JamesTXSD
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 7445 City/Region: from island boy to desert dweller
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: "Wild Blue" (sold 9/14)
Photos: Wild Blue
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Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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That first link was from 2006 and is outdated. A couple years ago, I wrote the whale watching guidelines sidebar that was in Waggoners Cruising Guide. Having worked in the whale watch industry, I am familiar with the federal US, WA, and Canadian guidelines. Canadian officials recently set new guidelines to more align with US legal distance to be maintained from the Orcas... sorry for any confusion my first post may have made.
Since this thread is about Colby getting in some PNW cruising time, I just wanted to let folks know about changes so not to run afoul of the law. The current status of the Southern Resident Killer Whales is pretty dire due to their lack of food source, so it appears that NOAA, WDFW, and their Canadian counterparts will be enforcing those viewing distance regulations more vigorously.
The cruising to be had in the San Juans, Gulf Islands, and north from there is spectacular! The wildlife viewing is very special. Great scenery and anchorages to be had, and his three week cruise should be a delight.
Enjoy! |
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colbysmith
Joined: 02 Oct 2011 Posts: 4545 City/Region: Madison
State or Province: WI
C-Dory Year: 2009
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Traveler
Photos: C-Traveler and Midnight-Flyer
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Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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I'm looking forward to cruising the area. I'm hoping there might be a few others at the FH gathering that are looking to do the same! But either way, I'll be heading north for a few weeks. Looking to enjoy the scenery and the serenity. And get a little more "ocean time" under the belt before heading up to Alaska the following summer! Colby |
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colbysmith
Joined: 02 Oct 2011 Posts: 4545 City/Region: Madison
State or Province: WI
C-Dory Year: 2009
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Traveler
Photos: C-Traveler and Midnight-Flyer
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 12:26 am Post subject: |
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As it’s getting closer I’m firming up my plans a bit more. My wife will be able to stay with me until May 29th and we decided to forego pulling back in to visit with my brother after the Friday Harbor gathering, so my wife can see more of the islands and I can get a little farther north. We are looking at her flying out of Victoria early on the 29th and then I’ll continue up the east side of Vancouver Island. Any suggestions on the best marina to use for easy transportation access to Victoria’s International Airport? Also does Canada have a Crab Season and will it be open during May and June? |
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NewMoon
Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 430 City/Region: Holladay
State or Province: UT
C-Dory Year: 1991
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Cindy Sea
Photos: Cindy Sea
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 8:51 am Post subject: |
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Hi Colby,
I've stayed at the Port of Sidney marina, and at Van Isle in Tsehum harbour. Both convenient to the Victoria airport. Van Isle is more protected if there's a lot of S or SE wind.
If I read the regs correctly, Dungies are open all year.
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/docs/SFG-GPS-2016-eng.pdf _________________ Richard Cook
Dream Catcher (Nordic Tug 37, 2016 to present)
New Moon (Bounty 257, 1998 to 2016)
Cindy Sea (CD 22 Cruiser, from 1991 to 1998)
"Cruising in a Big Way" |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20803 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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Colby if you want to get further up the Island than Sydney, I would look at the Bus service showing the stops. This runs at least several times a day, more from the major stops. This would allow you to be almost at any point on the East coast of the Island up to Campbell River. There may be other buses. We have had folks who took planes or ferry to Victoria use this, and then take a local taxi to the marina.
Another option we used with out kids, and for Marie, although a bit more expensive, is to fly directly from or to the boat via Kenmore Air or Harbor Air Seaplanes. Their float planes will land, you dinghy to the plane, and off the guest goes. But I don't believe that either has any true amphibians, so they could not land at the Victoria terminal--could be nearby, and then taxi or Uber to the airport.
You could also rent a car for 24 hours, drive down, stay overnight in a motel near the airport etc...This is another mode we often use. _________________ Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL |
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kaelc
Joined: 19 Jul 2017 Posts: 411 City/Region: Saanich
State or Province: BC
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Island Magic
Photos: Stil-Afloat
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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colbysmith wrote: | A Also does Canada have a Crab Season and will it be open during May and June? |
Yes, definitely open. We have been getting a few keeper Dungenous and lots of rock crab. I would use at least two traps as it is slower than in past years. Keep in mind 6.5 inches for Dungenous, which is larger than needed in WA. |
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colbysmith
Joined: 02 Oct 2011 Posts: 4545 City/Region: Madison
State or Province: WI
C-Dory Year: 2009
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Traveler
Photos: C-Traveler and Midnight-Flyer
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: | I've stayed at the Port of Sidney marina, and at Van Isle in Tsehum harbour. Both convenient to the Victoria airport. Van Isle is more protected if there's a lot of S or SE wind.
If I read the regs correctly, Dungies are open all year. |
Thanks for that info, and the link. And thanks to Kaelc for confirming the crabbing. Looks like I'll be taking my new crab ring with me! (And may I ask what you are using for bait with the crabs?)
Going thru this thread again, along with one I started earlier when I planned on doing Alaska this year, to pick out places I want to see.
And Dr.Bob thanks for your comments too. Don't think I want to spring for floatplane service, but I'll look into the buses. I still have an Amtrack refund pass if they are associated with Amtrak. Naniamo looks like the next big community up the island. I haven't booked her flight yet, and perhaps I should look at what else is available, but I suspect as far as larger international airports go, Victoria is the only one on the island.
Lastly, Pat mentioned Blain as a port to use, and I just looked at the map and see it is fairly north even of Bellingham yet. Any other advice or thoughts on this one? Seems a bit farther from the San Juans, but might make more sense for when I'm coming back from cruising. Cost might be cheaper to for parking the rig for a month.
Colby[/url] |
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