Bella Coola

[Gene&Mary]

What is the stretch of water like between the top of Vancouver Island to the entrance to the inlet that leads to Bella Coola.

It looks like there are two routes to Bella Coola. Is one better than the other or in one way and out the other?

thanks

 

[amy and karl]

Gene&Mary,

We have made the trip from Port Hardy toward Bella Coola via Shearwater for refuel. We stopped just short of Bella Coola at Eucott Bay. Dean Channel is one of my wife's very favorite places. However, the inflow and outflow winds can be quite forceful. We have had a range of flat water to 6ft breaking wind waves in Dean Channel.

The crossing from Port Hardy to the bottom of Calvert island is mostly open water and demands respect and a flexible crossing schedule. We feel a comfortable crossing forecast would be seas of 2 meters or less with 10knot winds. As well as a flooding tide. Personally I believe it's what your perception allows you (and your crew) to be comfortable with.

We think you could spend a lifetime exploring the central coast of B.C. And with any luck we will continue to do so. We have been across the last three summers with our now 8 and 6 year old kids. Feel free to pm me with questions or specifics. Happy to talk boating anytime.

Karl

 

[duff]

The crossing from port Hardy to Rivers Inlet is a formidable body of water. the locals cross early in the morning even at two meters seas it can be interesting. as Far as the best way to Bella Coola A good friend of mine lives there and he tells me to take the Dean channel. The Burke Can be very rough and not many hiding place's along the way. if the weather kicks up. if you take the dean channel the little community of Ocean falls is very nice there is a nice hot spring east of Ocean Falls. and several inlets to get out of the weather We have seen Hump Backs and orcas in that area several times so that would be my choice. hope that helps.

 

[NewMoon]

We've not been all the way up Burke or Dean inlets to Bella Coola, but have "Crossed the Queen" (that's Queen Charlotte Sound, rounding Cape Caution between the Broughtons or Vancouver Island and the BC central/north coast) many times.

Here's a bit from our book:

Crossing the Queen

Beyond the more protected environment east of Vancouver Island, “Crossing the Queen” (Queen Charlotte Sound) to the BC North Coast represents a significant milestone for many cruisers. This open water crossing including some 30-40 exposed miles can provide a real challenge in winds and seas. It can be rather long but no big deal, or in the wrong combination of wind and tidal currents it can become a small boat’s worst nightmare.

Obviously you wouldn’t want to be out there in strong winds, but there’s more to the analysis than just wind speed. In our experience, one combination to be avoided is a strong ebb current flowing west with westerly winds greater than 12-15 knots. Similarly, a flood current with a southeast wind might not be a good choice. Small aluminum mail boats cross the Queen regularly, and they tell us that even 20 knot winds can be no great challenge, if not opposed to current. I’d stick with a max of 15. BC’s VHF marine weather gives actual conditions at key points, like Pine Island and Egg Island, which can really help you decide when to go.

In ”normal” weather, with wind primarily from the NW, calmer in the morning and building in the afternoon, a fast boat with an early start can avoid much of the challenge. But crossing at slow speeds you’ll be out there for quite a while, and you’ll want to pay careful attention to tides and weather. You don’t have to run all the way from Port McNeill or Port Hardy up to Rivers Inlet in one fell swoop. There are protected anchorages at Blunden Harbour, and closer to Cape Caution at Miles Inlet, Skull Cove, and others near Nakwakto Rapids.

There’s a special situation along the way you certainly want to avoid: wind from the west at the same time as a strong ebb current through the Nakwakto Rapids, flowing huge quantities of water from Seymour and Belize Inlets out through the narrow Slingsby Channel. This can set up a train of large and steep waves, starting in the mouth of Slingsby and continuing on westward for a mile or more in the open ocean. Check the Nakwakto current tables to see if this combination is likely, and if so steer clear, further out west than you might otherwise.