Nanaimo to Squirrel Cove

Area Whiskey Golf. Area Whiskey Golf is a large semi-rectangular area of the Straits of Georgia just north of Nanaimo where the Canadian Navy practices with their submarines and torpedoes.  Normally, when such practices are going to be going on, they make an announcement over the VHF radio "Area Whiskey Golf will be active from 0800 to 1700 today." They probably made that announcement on the day we left too. We didn't hear it... we left Nanaimo on the morning of the 7th of May. From Nanaimo to our days destination at Lasquetti Island is 3 1/2 to 4 hours directly through Area Whiskey Golf. This would have us taking the wind and waves on our aft quarter and running pretty much down wind and wave. It wasn't to be.

We were about 1/3 of the way across when a large range patrol boat hove up in front of us blue and red lights flashing. We were left in no doubt that Area Whiskey Golf was active! Told to turn around and head back the way we'd come, we had to head up along Vancouver Island's eastern shore until we'd cleared the active area then turn towards Lasquetti Island and Boho anchorage. The range controllers (Winchelsea Control) did monitor our progress and let us know as soon as we could proceed without interfering with the activities in the area. Unfortunately, that put both wind and wave on our beam. Seems like the Straits of Georgia start the day fairly calm then, as the day goes on wind and wind-driven waves start to build. Winds were 10-15 kts (not too bad) but the waves had built up to 3-4 ft and were causing us to roll considerably. Poor Deja was very sick even though we'd administered Dramamine to each of them before we'd left, it was apparent that on longer days, we'd need to re-administer another dose. The trip which should have been a downhill run of 3 1/2 to 4 hours turned into a rolly 5-hour drone.

After a night at Boho Anchorage, we continued north with an overnight in Sturt Bay on Texada Island (a very well protected cove with lots of curious sea lions and active ducks) and a stop in Westview to top up the fuel and gasoline tanks. Then on to an overnight in the Copeland Islands where we arrived early and ran a line ashore to keep us from swinging. Within a couple of hours several other boats came in to anchor too. What a show! Two trawler style boats spent the better part of 2-hours dragging their anchors around the cove, trying to get them hooked while backing at at least 10 kts! Then, rowing ashore with a stern line only to  find that they were too far away from shore for the line to reach so, back to the boat, let out more anchor rode, row back to shore with the stern line, by now, the boat's drifted away in a completely different direction so the guy has to try to pull it around with the stern line while trying to keep his dinghy from getting away and working his way up the bank to a tree around which to run the stern line. At first it was kind of funny to watch... then it was just painful.

Next day we went into Desolation Sound and made our way up Grace Inlet to a little anchorage where we could just kick back and wait for Monday when we wanted to head over to Squirrel Cove store and mail off my letter to Juneau. Last time we were in Squirrel Cove was in August. There were hundred's of boats anchored there. The place was a parking lot. (See our Trip Log #28 from 2007) This time we were there for 5-days due to electrical problems and alone most of the time. Much nicer experience this time. We were able to take the dinghy over to the community store (about 2-miles) and do some shopping, let the dogs run free on one of the islets in the middle of the Cove and not have to curse people speeding around blasting their PA systems.

See our next entry for details of the Great Electrical Meltdown!

David and Christine and Sibs
SV Raven
Juneau, AK

Presently lying Squirell Cove, BC