Course: WINTER HARBOUR TO KYUQUOT SOUND
Distance: 60 nm
Stops at:
Winter Harbor
Quatsino Sound
Kyuquot/Walters Cove for food and fuel
Zeballos for food and fuel
Brooks Penninsula
Kyuquot Sound
Quatsino Sound
Quatsino Sound is the first of the major sounds on the West Coast. It offers protected anchorage, access to a road system and supply centres.
Quatsino Sound is a complex of coastal inlets, bays and islands on northwestern Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is the northernmost of the five sounds that pierce the west coast of Vancouver Island, the others being Kyuquot Sound, Nootka Sound, Clayoquot Sound, and Barclay Sound.
Quatsino Sound extends east from the Pacific Ocean. Near its entrance, on the north side, is Forward Inlet, which branches into several smaller inlets, including the Winter Harbour and village of Winter Harbour, British Columbia. Koskimo Bay and Koprino Harbour are located farther east into Quatsino Sound. Drake Island, which is named after Justice Montague William Tyrwhitt Drake, (Mayor of Victoria 1876-1877 lies near the eastern end of Quatsino Sound, and the long Neroutsos Inlet extends southeast from Drake Island. The town of Port Alice lies near the end of Neroutsos Inlet. East of Drake Island, Quatsino Narrows connects the eastern end of Quatsino Sound to Holberg Inlet and the smaller Rupert Inlet. Quatsino Narrows is a tidal rapids (which are also known in British Columbia as skookumchucks), with currents reaching 9 kn at flood tide.
Winter Harbour (above) is a welcome spot with two pay phones and a well stocked store. Including frozen and canned goods, bakery items, fresh produce, a liquor outlet, hardware and fishing supplies. Inner Quatsino Sound, leads to places like Holberg, Coal Harbour and Port Alice. All three places have road links to Highway 19 (Island Highway). Within the Sound are many good anchorage sites and it presents interesting boating as you make your way up and down the four different arms of this waterway. The outer section of Quatsino Sound offers places with anchorage and protection. They include Grant Bay, Nordstrom Cove, Mabbott Island, Harvey Cove, and Gooding Cove.
Brooks Bay, Brooks Peninsula and Checleset Bay:
Crossing Brooks Bay and getting around Brooks Peninsula can be quite a challenge. Within Brooks Bay are Klaskino Inlet and Klaskish Narrows, both are narrow and deep with no known anchorage sites. Klaskino Anchorage on Anchorage Island is sheltered with public mooring buoys and McDougal Island has Klaskish Anchorage. At the head of Klaskish, is the gorge entrance to Klaskish Basin, a very serene, unusual spot with public mooring buoys. This is a pleasant place to rest, to explore and to see wildlife. Jutting out from Vancouver Island is Brooks Peninsula, a forbidding and battered stretch of land that separates the cold northern water from the warmer southern waters.
Winds and water from the north and south seems to meet at Cape Cook and Solander Island. It can be a trying place for cruisers. Clerke Point the south end of Brooks Peninsula is where the waters and weather start improving. When cruising Checleset Bay the difference is noticeable. Make your way into Nasparti Inlet and calmer waters. Columbia Cove and Baidarka Cove both offer anchorage. To sail from Nasparti Inlet to Ououkinsh Inlet, you must get by rocks, reefs and islets, so plan your route carefully.
Continue south by either going out into ocean water or make your way through the Bunsby Islands (above) by way of Gay Passage. From this point, stay close to the coastline making your way to Walters Cove and Kyoquot Sound. The entrance to Walters Cove is tricky and following a local boat into the cove is best. This little settlement has a store and restaurant. Boaters can stock up on water, fuel and groceries. Anchor at the public wharf.
Kyoquot Sound:
In and around Kyoquot Sound (above)are many interested places where boats can anchor. The best and safest way into the Sound is by way of Kyoquot Channel, not Crowther Channel. An excellent and favourite anchorage spot with sea kayakers, sports fishing boats and cruise boats is Kyoquot Bay on Union Island. Other good places for anchorage within the Sound are at Surprise Island, Hankin Cove, Hair Harbour, Rugged Point and Dixie Cove. On leaving Kyoquot Sound, take Clear Passage to Tatchur Point and beyond.
No comments:
Post a Comment