Nanaimo to Desolation Sound and Dent Island

Waterfall in Teakerne Arm, Desolation Sound



Our anchor "rabbit" in Prideaux Haven




Another beautiful evening in Prideaux Haven, Desolation Sound

May 3, 2011

The wind decreased overnight and we left Nanaimo's Cameron Island Marina at 0645 under partly cloudy skies. The weather buoy in Georgia Straits was favorable, only 10 knot winds and 2 foot seas. Three other vessels heading north beat us out, Ursa Major, Facing West and Island Spirit. Matheson's on Sea Jay left later.

The military exercise area "WG" or Whiskey Golf was closed, so we could cut across the area rather than go around. As we headed north, we changed our minds about staying a day in Pender Harbor and instead headed past Ballenas Island and west of Lasqueti and Texada Islands. We had forgotten that the winds are always brisk off of Qualicum Beach and today was no exception, briefly building to 18 knots with seas to 3 feet. However, we were through it in one hour and the seas returned to 1 foot and winds of 10 knots. Passing the north end of Texada Island, we headed back to the mainland shore, passing the town of Lund, up Thulin Passage and into Desolation Sound. We decided to return to our favorite anchorage in Prideaux Haven, where we were the only vessel anchored. By 1630 the anchor was set, just under 10 hours from Nanaimo.

Later that evening, which was a sunny reprise of last year's trip north, several other vessels came in and anchored in Melanie Cove, about ½ mile away.

After the Selene Rendezvous and the long day, we were ready to just spend a few days unwinding at anchor, so no gourmet dinner.

Since leaving Anacortes we have logged 160 nautical miles, 77 of those yesterday.

May 4, 2011 – Prideaux Haven

The winds remained calm overnight and we awoke to partly sunny skies and a very calm anchorage. The day was spent checking various boat systems, including a blown fuse on one of the battery chargers. All systems now seem to be operating normally. Light rain began in the evening.

May 5, 2011 – Dent Island

We pulled the anchor out of the mud of Prideaux Haven and departed at 0705 in light rain, but no wind. After a detour to see the waterfall in Teakerne Arm, we slowly worked our way up Lewis and Calm Channels to Yuculta Rapids. We were a little early, but went through anyway to avoid a large tug and barge approaching Gillard Passage from the other direction, who we could see on AIS. The maximum current we encountered was a little over 4 knots.

We docked at Dent Island Resort at 1200, and found out we were the first visiting boat of the season, although they have had a number of fly-in guests. There are 5 of those guests here tonight. We will depart at morning high slack tide (0700) and hope to make Port McNeill in one long day, but may stop at Port Harvey depending on the weather.

The log now shows 195 nautical miles since we departed Anacortes.