Beyond Garrison Bay
May 26 - July 25, 2008
This cruise will provide AYC members who will be cruising the Inland Passage June-July an opportunity to meet, imbibe, break bread and cruise together rather than pass anonymously in the night. It is designed to compliment the published cruise schedule. For example, one could start at Garrison Bay, cruise the Gulf Islands to Nanaimo, cross Georgia St. and join the Princess Louisa Inlet Cruise and then rejoin this cruise at, or North of, Campbell River. It returns to Anacortes in time for maintenance and bill paying before the South Sound Cruise. Cruisers should feel free to join and leave the cruise at will, although in the event of breakdowns or other emergencies it would be helpful if at least two boats could be in radio contact at all times.
For those boats accompanying us, we will perform the duties of Cruise Captains. For those boats cruising independently that indicate a desire to meet along the way, we will act as coordinators and facilitators in that we will try to keep everybody advised of other cruiser's schedules.
The schedule from Garrison Bay to Campbell River to Shoal Bay is designed to get to Shoal Bay at a fixed time and to provide a structured beginning. The remainder of the cruise will be developed along the way to accommodate as many drop in, drop out cruisers as possible and to take into account such factors as currents and weather. We plan to cruise at about 8 kts and will try to keep daily legs below 30 nm unless we are crossing an open body of water and there is a weather window. We will either spend at least two days at each moorage or spend one day and then make subsequent legs shorter so that those who linger will have no trouble catching up. Impromptu pot lucks and happy hours will be scheduled aboard or ashore as desired. Attendance is optional.
The marinas are listed as stops for their prominence on charts and because many marinas north of Campbell River sponsor pot luck happy hours or dinners that provide an opportunity to meet other cruisers. However there are numerous coves along the route that could be added or substituted for the marinas if desired.
Inputs are requested and encouraged. Are you interested in joining the cruise at the start? Are you starting later or earlier than Garrison Bay and would like to join the cruise at some point? What activities, ports of call or routes are you interested in? Is the pace too slow or too fast? Obviously, the earliest inputs will have the greatest influence. Beginning with Campbell River, and until we see what degree of interest there is in this cruise and what the wants and needs are of those who are interested in this cruise, there are too many options to be able to be specific at this point in time. Consequently, what follows is one option and one that we will probably follow if we are cruising independently, or would recommend for those for whom this would be a first.
We have an extra set of paper charts from Nanaimo to Shoal Bay for loan to the first responder to the Garrison Bay to Shoal Bay leg.
DATES SCHEDULE May 24-25 Garrison Bay AYC Cruise May 26 Montague Hbr, Gabriola Is. Anchor or Buoy. Happy Hour planning meeting. May 27 Crab or bottom fish from dinghy. Dinner at Hummingbird Pub. May 28 Pirate's Cove, De Courcy Is. Anchor. May 29 Transit Dodd Narrows. 6:30 AM, slack before ebb (ebb flows North). 9:30 AM maximum ebb 3.2 kts. Noon, slack before flood. Cruiser's choice. May 30 Nanaimo. NYC Reciprocal, Government docks or anchor. Dinghy to Dinghy Dock Pub. Fuel upon departure. May 31 - June 2 Transit to Campbell River. One, two or three legs. Available intermediate stops are Schooner Cove YC reciprocal, French Creek, Hornby Is. or Comox June 2 Campbell River - Raft at Government Docks. Provision. R&R. June 5 Fuel at Discovery Bay Marina. Transit Seymour Narrows. 0620 slack before ebb. Ebb flows North. 1250 slack before flood. Cruiser's choice. Those choosing an early departure may want to fuel the day before. Anchor in Small Inlet. June 6 Anchor Thurston Bay or continue to Shoal Bay. June 7-9 Shoal Bay - Anchor or raft to dock. Crab. Pot Luck at Shoal Bay Pub. This would be a good place for other AYC cruisers to meet. If not, we may choose an earlier departure from Shoal Bay. June 10 Underway via Johnstone St. or Green Point/Whirlpool Rapids. Slack before ebb is mid-morning. Ebb flows North. June 11 Lagoon Cove (dock or anchor) - Crabbing & shrimping. June 13 Kwatsi Bay (dock or anchor) - Bottom fishing. June 15 Echo Bay (dock or anchor) - Dinghy to the bakery at Pierre's. There is a pig roast at Pierre's on Saturdays but must dock there both Friday and Saturday. Fuel and a decent grocery store are available at Echo Bay. June 17 Shawl Bay June 18 Greenway Sound June 20 Sullivan Bay June 22 Port McNeil - Fuel and provision. Anchor or raft to fishing boats. Dock space is usually not available to late arrivals. Pot luck. No memorable restaurants. June 24 Sointula (2 days raft at Public dock) - Shipyard with marine railway next door. Marine store at head of dock. Grocery Store. Dinner and/or brunch at excellent restaurant/bakery. Salmon and Halibut fishing nearby. June 26 - July 16 Port Hardy? The Broughtons? Serious Fishing? July 17 Campbell River via Johnstone St. July 25 Anacortes
In the event that it had been decided to go directly to Port McNeil from Shoal Bay, then the route home would be the reverse: thru Echo Bay, Lagoon Cove, etc.
A fish/shellfish license costs approximately $120, but there is no limit on the number of lines, although only one limit per license. Along the way there will be opportunities for fishing (salmon and bottom fish), crabbing and shrimping. Internet is available at most ports/marinas. Cost varies from free (Shoal Bay, Port McNeil) to a dollar (libraries) to $10/day (bbx.com). Email and VHF contact procedures will be provided later. Each captain is responsible to verify any navigation information provided herein.
Considering logistics, a fleet of 4-6 boats (not necessarily the same ones at any given time) traveling together at any one time would be the ideal. Fewer than that eliminates the need for a Cruise Captain. And, if there is no significant interest in others joining along the route, that eliminates the need for a coordinator.
Dick & Mary Kaufer
Mainship 34 Trawler, "MarDiGras"
dmkaufer@msn.com
(509) 886-2830 (home)
(509) 630-5676 (Dick's cell)
(509) 630-6066 (Mary's cell)