AT Cruising Guide A

George and Tara has spent considerable time and effort preparing the following cruising guides for our perusal. Both this one (A) and the one in the next post (B) can be extended at your discretion. They are presented as a jumping off point for discussion in preparing for our adventure. It is proposed that you have a read over them before the next meeting.

A Cruising Guide to Around Together 2007

Plan A

22-day cruise (19 travel days + 3 layover days)

* M = Nautical mile (Symbols and Abbreviations Terms, Fisheries and Oceans, Jan 1996)

** = optional large scale chart

“It is a legal requirement for mariners to use the largest scale chart available.” (Canadian Hydrographic Service)

Chart numbers can change as new charts are added to the system, so double-check that you have the right chart!

Day Date	Charts	Itinerary	M
Day 1 June 8th	3513-Strait of Georgia, Northern Portion 3539-Discovery Passage 3540-Approaches to Campbell River	Deep Bay to Gowland Harbour (optional, Henry Bay to Gowland 39M*) Notes: Recommend passing Cape Mudge Light between 1600-1630. Ebb tide 2-5 knots to Gowland.	49 M
Day 2 June 9th	3539-Discovery Passage 3543-Cordero Channel	Gowland Harbour to Chatham Lighthouse Anchor at Otter Cove (SE Chatham Point). Notes: Slack tide at 1900 hrs.	18 M
Day 3 June 10th	3543-Cordero Channel 3544-Johnstone Strait-Race Passage & Current Passage 3545-Johnstone Strait-Port Neville to Robson Bight **3564-Plans: Johnstone Straight	Chatham Point to Port Harvey Notes: HWs Knox Bay at 0936. Johnstone Strait currents weak and variable all day. Ebb tide all the way to Port Harvey.	38.5 M
Day 4 June 11th	3545- Johnstone Strait-Port Neville to Robson Bight 3546- Broughton Strait **3564- Plans: Johnstone Strait	Port Harvey to Port McNeill Notes: Depart no later than 0800. HWs Port Harvey 1122 LWs Alert Bay 1626 – currents are strong when opposing. Pass Alert and arrive Port McNeill before 1620. This is last place for provisions, fuel, and water before rounding tip of Island. Store closes at:…….. More info needed on Services, fees etc.	32 M
Day 5 June 12th	3548- Queen Charlotte Strait (Central portion) 3549- Queen Charlotte Strait (Western portion)	Port McNeill to Bull Harbour Notes: LWs at Port McNeill 0600. There can be a strong flood current in Broughton Strait until clear of Pulteney Point Light station (Malcolm Island), then becomes ½ knot. HWs Goletas Channel at 1315.	43 M
Day 6 June 13th	3624- Cape Cook to Cape Scott 3605(LC)– Quatsino Sound to Queen Charlotte Strait	Bull Harbour to Sea Otter Cove Notes: Cape Sutil to Cape Scott – stay 1.5 -2 M off shore. Bull Harbour is 22 M from Cape Scott and Sea Otter Cove is another 11.5 M. There are mooring buoys, but must raft 3-4 boats per buoy.	33.5 M
Day 7 June 14th	3624- Cape Cook to Cape Scott **3686- Approaches to Winter Harbour 3605(LC)– Quatsino Sound to Queen Charlotte Strait 3679- Quatsino Sound (exploring Sound?)	Sea Otter Cover to Quatsino Inlet Notes: Quatsino anchorage is behind Matthew Island or carry on to Winter Harbour. More info needed on Services, fees etc.	24 M
Day 8 June 15th	3680- Brooks Bay 3683-Checleset Bay 3604 (LC)- Nootka Sound to Quatsino Sound	Quatsino Inlet to Klaskish Basin (Brooks Bay) Notes: There are mooring buoys at Klaskish Basin. Keep 2 M off Lawn Point.	24 M
Day 9 June 16th	3683- Checleset Bay 3682- Kyoquot Sound 3604 (LC)- Nootka Sound to Quatsino Sound	Klaskish Basin to Checleset Bay (Walter’s Cove) Note: This leg takes you around Brooks Peninsula. Stay outside of Solander Island, but it is spectacular to see. Bird colony. Stay 1.25 M off Clerk Pt. due to a drying shelf. Two anchoring options: 1) Between Bunsby Islands where there are usually otters (sea otter reserve) 2) Continue from Clerice Pt. and additional 7.5 M to Kyuquot, (Walter’s Cove). Kyuquot (Walter’s Cove) – The community voted this as a “no alcohol zone”, even on the docks. Keep all crew below decks if having a toddy. There was a tame seal who swam and played with the kids and was treated as just another member of the community. Petroglyphs in area. 1999 Waggoner indicates that there is water, ice, groceries and a café available. More info needed on Services, fees etc.	31 M to Bunsby Islands 38 M to Walter’s Cove
Day 10	3682- Kyoquot Sound 3676- Esperanza Inlet 3604 (LC)- Nootka Sound to Quatsino Sound (3663- Esperanza – old chart #)	Kyuquot (Walter’s Cove) to Queens Cove (Esperanza Inlet) Notes: Travel via Nicolaye Channel outside the Islands to Gillam Channel leading into Esperanza Inlet to Queen’s Cove.	28 M from Kyoquot 35 M from Bunsby Islands
Day 11 (optional 1-day layover)	3676- Esperanza Inlet 3675- Nootka Sound 3604 (LC)- Nootka Sound to Quatsino Sound 3603 (LC)- Ucluelet Inlet to Nootka Sound Old Chart #s 3682- Kyoquot Sound 3662- Nootka to Esperanza 3663- Esperanza 3674- Clayquot Sound	Queens Cove (Esperanza Inlet) to Friendly Cove (Nootka Island) This day has two options: 1) Circumnavigate Nootka Island by going inland around Nootka Island. The inner passage will bring us to the community of Esperanza and on into Tahsis Inlet approximately 4 M south of the community of Tahsis. Gold River can also be reached from here but it is a 43 M round-trip. 2) Travel outside along the SW side of Nootka Island, outside of Banjo Reefs and enter Nootka Sound to Friendly Cove. There are anchorages behind Strange Island before Friendly Cove as this may be a good place to layover. Caution: Tsowwin Narrows, Tahsis Inlet can reach 3 knots at times. Esperanza Inlet For a side trip to Zeballos, it is 13 M return from the junction of Esperanza Inlet and Hecate Channel, Steamer Point. The community of Esperanza in Hecate Channel has fuel, excellent water, small store, showers and laundry (Waggoner, 1999). It is also the home of the Nootka Mission. In 1937, the Shantyman Mission began as a hospital here. The mission began in Ontario in 1907 to serve shanty dwellers in outlying areas. A few miles along we enter Tahsis Inlet and it is only 4 miles to Tahsis or turn south towards Friendly Cove. There are numerous anchorages in the area, west side of Strange Island. Friendly Cove Here you will find a lot of BC’s early history with Captain Cook. The church is supposed to be worth seeing as it contains beautiful stained glass windows donated by Spain. You can walk over and climb the Nootka Lighthouse. More info needed on Services, fees etc.	Inside route: 30 M Outside route: 32 M
Day 12	3675- Nootka Sound 3674- Clayquot Sound (Millar Channel to Estevan Point) 3603 (LC)- Ucluelet Inlet to Nootka Sound	Friendly Cove (Nootka Is.) to Hot Springs Cove (Ucluelet Inlet) Notes: Travel south to round Hesquiat Peninsula. Upon rounding the peninsula, is Hesquiat Harbour and Rae Basin, home to Cougar Annie. Anchor at Hot Springs Cove and go for a dip. Hot Springs Cove The hot springs are a busy tourist attraction with guided tours and water taxis from Tofino. The pools are small with room for 1-2 people. Early morning or evening dips may be more favourable. More info needed on Services, fees etc.	41.5 M
Day 13 (optional 1-day layover)	3673- Clayquot Sound (Tofino Inlet to Millar Channel) 3685- Tofino 3603 (LC)- Ucluelet Inlet to Nootka Sound	Hot Spring Cove to Tofino Notes: From Hot spring Cove, 3 options exist: 1) From Hot Spring Cove cruise inland around Flores Island to Ahousat Village (16 M) and then carry on to Tofino (29 M). 2)From Ahousat circle around Meares Island to Tofino. This will take an extra day (28 + 23 M) 3) The outside route is Clayquot Sound around the bottom of Vargas Island and up its east side to Tofino via Templar Channel (30 M). Watch for whales! Tofino Tidal currents are a factor that must be considered more than any other area. The Government dock downtown is known as a “whisky dock” due to its proximity to pubs – i.e. Noise. There is very limited moorage at all docks and lots of junkers to raft up to. More info needed on Services, fees etc.	1)16 M to Ahousat and 29 M to Tofino 2)28 M to Ahousat & Meares and 23 M to Tofino
Day 14 (optional 1-day layover)	3673- Clayquot Sound (Tofino Inlet to Millar Channel) 3671- Barkley Sound 3670- Broken Group 3603 (LC)- Ucluelet Inlet to Nootka Sound 3602 (LC)- Approaches to Juan de Fuca Strait 3646 (Plan) – Barkley Sound/Bamfield	Tofino to Ucluelet/Barkley Sound/Bamfield Notes: Two options with additional travel to Bamfield: 1) Ucluelet Depart Tofino via Templar Channel, Cox Point. Flashing (5) Yellow Buoy to Amphitrite. WHIS “y” 42 to mouth of Ucluelet Harbour. More info needed on Services, fees etc. 2) Barkley Sound/Broken Island Group Anchorages are numerous. There is a large, protected anchorage between Dodd’s and Turtle Islands. Port Alberni Yacht Club also has a station at the northeast corner of Fleming Island. Check charts and guides for other anchorages. More info needed on Services, fees etc. Bamfield Notes: Carry on from Barkley Sound to Bamfield via Trevor Channel. If it is windy, Grappler Inlet offers better protection. Poett Nook is another alternative. More info needed on Services, fees etc.	24 M
Day 15	3602 (LC) – Approaches to Juan de Fuca Strait 3606- Juan de Fuca Strait	Bamfield to Port Renfrew (Port San Juan) Notes: If continuing into Snuggery Cove, add 3 M. Government dock and breakwater. More info needed on Services, fees etc.	44.5 M
Day 16	3606- Juan de Fuca Strait	Port Renfrew to Sooke Notes: Travel 33.6 M to the mouth of Sooke Harbour and add 1.5-2 M to the anchorage. More info needed on Services, fees etc.	33.6 M
Day 17	3461- Juan de Fuca Strait (Eastern portion) 3462- Juan de Fuca Strait to Strait of Georgia 3410- Sooke to Parry Bay (Race Rock Plan) 3411- Sooke Harbour	Sooke to Tsehum Harbour (Sidney Peninsula) Notes: During this leg, stay outside Race Rocks and inshore along Vancouver Island to stay north and out of the outbound vessel traffic lane until Trail Island. Mayor Channel, Baynes Channel, Johnstone Reef (V29), Darcy Shoal (U1) and Sidney Channel.	41 M
Day 18 & 19		Good passage home to Deep Bay. You are on your own! 652 M traveled so far with approximately 75-80 M more depending on your route.