Our usual refuge after a crossing of Georgia Strait is Smuggler Cove. Slightly further along, Secret Cove has a good selection of food and drink, as well as excellent showers and some good restaurants.
The area known as "Whisky Golf", between Vancouver Island and the mainland, is set aside for use as a live torpedo testing range. We are forced to detour around the zone when it is active, which can add hours to the crossing. The United States navy has an agreement to share use of this area, so the sight of large warships is not uncommon.
Approaching the Sunshine Coast, just south of the Thormanby Islands. Our usual track crossing Georgia Strait is from either Porlier Pass or Gabriola Passage, depending on when slack water allows us to get through the passes. Our usual target is Merry Island. If the winds and currents cooperate, we don't even have to tack. If they don't cooperate with us, it's a long slog up the coast. With the full fetch of Georgia Strait, it can get quite rough along here.
Beating up to South Thormanby in a nice breeze, one reef in the main and easy sailing.
Smuggler Cove. The very narrow entrance channel, lined by large rocks looming under the surface, is a little intimidating the first time through. Once inside, the wind and waves dissipate and the boat floats calmly in a secure haven.
Smuggler Cove is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the sunshine.
Smuggler Cove is usually crowded during the summer months, this September day there were few visitors.
Our favourite spot to drop anchor gives us a tremendous view across Malaspina Strait to Texada Island.
Across Welcome Passage, nestled between North and South Thormanby Island, is Buccaneer Bay. Fine sand beaches make it seem almost tropical, especially on a hot day.
Pender Harbour is one of the major centers for sportsfishermen on the BC mainland. It boasts many marinas and such luxuries as fine restaurants, hotels, and stores. It makes an excellent home base for boats going to and from Princess Louisa Inlet, Lasqueti and Texada Islands, and other points in the Jervis Inlet area. The supermarket and well-stocked liquor store are accessible from the government dock in Madeira Park.
At the Malaspina Strait end of Jervis Inlet lie Nelson and Hardy Islands, which provide a welcome break from the interminable trek alongside Texada Island. Blind Bay, in between the two islands, has several nice anchorages.
The view from our little nook in Ballet Bay, looking over Nelson Island. This is our "hurricane hole" for when things are ugly out on Malaspina Strait.
The scenery along the mainland shore from Jervis Inlet to Desolation Sound is not as breathtaking as other parts of the trip. Frankly, it's boring.
The waterfront most of the way up is lined with houses, ranging from cottages to castles. We generally go right up the middle between the mainland and Texada Island, but on this trip we skirted the shoreline. Unlike other parts of the coast, the water is shallow quite far out. We gave ourselves a nasty surprise by coming across a kelp-covered shallow spot not obvious on the chart. When you are a long way off the shore, suddenly being in seven feet of water, surrounded by giant waving kelp, is startling.
Lund and the Copeland Islands are the last stopovers before Desolation Sound.
Lund is the end of the highway, and has enjoyed a rejuvenation in recent years. Kayakers use the launch ramp as the beginning and end of their trip through Desolation Sound. The finest hot cross buns on the west coast are found at Nancy's Bakery.
The Copeland Islands provide sheltered anchorage along the northerly end of the route. Most boats tie up behind the islands which line Thulin Passage, to mitigate the effects of wash from passing boats. Calm at night, the waves from the hordes of high-speed powerboats make the daylight hours very rocky.
