Transiting BC, WA-AK

Hunkydory":uxubltkf said:
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
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Those rules for transit by water through BC to Alaska are set out in the link I quoted in post #3. If those rules are still in effect, a US boat need not go from WA through BC to AK without stopping - just follow the rules.

OTOH, a US boat may not enter BC from WA, poke around in BC, and come back to WA - that would be touriing/sightseeing etc rather than transit.
 
I believe that honor goes to the 55' "Idlewild" from Canada who went over 4500 miles non stop form Cape Town S.A. to Australia.
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I used to know this guy. Ben Grey was a fellow bison rancher who wanted to sail around the world via the NW Passage. The clincher was that he wanted to start in Alberta, which he did cruising the Peace river and doing some portages overland in northern Alberta and the North West Territories before entering the Arctic ocean.

These damm bison ranchers are an eccentric bunch.

http://georgebuehler.com/Idelwild.html

https://explorersweb.com/everest_k2/news.php?id=252
 
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.

06+Take+out+at+Ft.+Fitzgerald+-+2005-06-16.jpg

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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

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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.
 
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.
 
thataway":2jqpjbe5 said:
Harvey, the race distance given by the R2AK is 750 miles--
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The alternative to the "Race to Alaska" this year is the WA360, which starts and ends in Port Townsend. It should be interesting for us since racers will need to pass close to Anderson Island.

Here is the plan, starting June 7, and racers must finish within two weeks. .

Start just off the Northwest Maritime Center dock in Port Townsend Bay
ROUND Olympia shoal in Budd Inlet
PASS WITHIN 1 NM of Goat Island in Skagit Bay
ROUND Bellingham outfall buoy Fl Y 10s priv
ROUND Point Roberts Buoy R "4" 4s BELL
Finish by landing on the dock at the Northwest Maritime Center

No fuel stops required, as power is by wind or muscle only.

I hope they keep the WA360 after they reestablish R2A, as my daughter wants to do it with me on our Hobie next year. Then, maybe the Everglades Challenge in a future year to warm back up.
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
You are welcome Jay. I am very much enjoying the conversation and learning a great deal. I believe Americans and Canadians have a great deal of ingenuity when it comes to figuring out how to make things work in difficult times. Not beat the system or break the law but rather think through the limitations and provide solutions.

When I was a teenager I used to do yard care for an elderly couple in their mid 80’s. He would tell stories of his adventures when he was a young man traveling to Alaska. When he was 19 yrs old which would have been about 1912, he took a combination of steamers and open skiff from WA to Skagway. Can you imagine the challenges then to get to AK. I regret not hearing more about his adventures.

That’s what we need today, less news and politics and more conversation about the spirit of adventure and overcoming challenges.
 
Newmoon,

So we make it through BC and into Ketchikan. Now, are we considered "international" arrivals into US and have to provide a negative Covid test?
 
chromer":2efjlvnw said:
Newmoon,

So we make it through BC and into Ketchikan. Now, are we considered "international" arrivals into US and have to provide a negative Covid test?
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Most likely you would have a negative COVID Test to go thru BC, at this time. You were only sojourners and didn't stop or make contact (the fueling should not be treated as a stop in an another nation.

To be sure--call Customs and Border in AK.
 
Hi Chromer,

Look at this web site for Alaska's rules:

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

It seems we would need to arrive AK with proof of a negative test (probably fairly recent - have not looked at that yet), or pay $250 to get one on arrival, and self-quarantine until the result comes back.

My guess is that by summer proof of vaccination might help, or may be required.

AK also wants a travel declaration and self-isolation plan. I have not yet looked at what exactly the travel declaration is.
 
NewMoon":iw71zh48 said:
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.
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Richard, I will plan on fueling at Shearwater & might use the nearby anchorage.

If the land route stays shut & this open it will become our plan to do the BC water route to Alaska with first making the Friday Harbor Gathering, then leaving from Jones Island shortly after. In past years when planning to do the Inland Passage from the San Juans, I purchased a cruising guide & good maps covering the entire stretch from the San Juans to Prince Rupert with routes made & anchorages planned. This trip would entail a somewhat different route & anchorages then planned before, but will be interesting & fun to plan again. We have made the Dixon crossing & have good information on it, but would be glad to receive anything more on it & especially Cape Caution along with your preferred anchorages, knowing you are very familiar with this transit & extremely experienced in cruising the PNW waters.

Jay
 
Just an update from the north side of the border. The Canadian Government just tightened the rules for entry of international travellers via land and air crossings. I haven't researched the water entry rules, but I assume they have or will be tightened again. The basics now are that you have to provide a negative Covid test with results in the past 72 hours before you can cross the border. Make sure it is the right kind of test as some tests are rejected. The restrictions feel like they are changing by the day and will get tougher before they get easier.

Another consideration will getting fuel in native villages. Last year some of the villages closed their harbours to anyone from out of the community and some may continue this practice. I plan to try and avoid these locations as much as possible if I am able to cruise this summer. If I do need to refuel in a native port, I will make sure that I call before I launch to ensure that I can get fuel there. A number of the First Nations here in Alberta are completely closed to outside visitors and have blockades at the entrances to their land.

I hope that you are able to find a way north this summer.

P.S. New Zealand which locked down hard and early just hosted a huge music festival with 30,000 people in the stadium yesterday and currently they are averaging only 2 new cases per day.
 
Peter & Judy":1si9jxbw said:
Just an update from the north side of the border. The Canadian Government just tightened the rules for entry of international travellers via land and air crossings. I haven't researched the water entry rules, but I assume they have or will be tightened again. The basics now are that you have to provide a negative Covid test with results in the past 72 hours before you can cross the border. Make sure it is the right kind of test as some tests are rejected. The restrictions feel like they are changing by the day and will get tougher before they get easier.

Another consideration will getting fuel in native villages. Last year some of the villages closed their harbours to anyone from out of the community and some may continue this practice. I plan to try and avoid these locations as much as possible if I am able to cruise this summer. If I do need to refuel in a native port, I will make sure that I call before I launch to ensure that I can get fuel there. A number of the First Nations here in Alberta are completely closed to outside visitors and have blockades at the entrances to their land.

I hope that you are able to find a way north this summer.

P.S. New Zealand which locked down hard and early just hosted a huge music festival with 30,000 people in the stadium yesterday and currently they are averaging only 2 new cases per day.
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I been working with some Canadian nationals in the US recently. Even for them, getting back into Canada is a big hassle. Last I heard you had to have two negative tests from two different kinds of tests and then you still have to quarantine in a facility that'll cost you about $2K. As a result, they only go back to Canada when they absolutely have to.

Yes, one of their complaints is that the rules keep changing.
 
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