Pender Harbour to Shoal Bay

May 3, 2016

Our 0500 planned departure for Princess Louisa Inlet was delayed since we were all tired and the wind and rain made a departure before daylight less than appealing.  Several hours later we checked the weather forecast, which had deteriorated.  A strong wind warning was in effect for the Strait of Georgia north of Nanaimo and was predicted to continue the rest of the week.  However, the winds were to remain light until evening.  

We scrubbed the side trip to PLI and made a dash for Gorge Harbor where we tied up at 1500 under sunny skies, but with brisk NW winds.  Gorge Harbor was not fully open, but we spent a peaceful evening playing Mexican Train.

May 4, 2016

Looking at the weather forecast, with gale warnings in Johnstone Strait, predicted to increase later in the week, we made the decision to continue immediately through the back rapids.  The high slack tides were to occur late in the afternoon, complicating planning for overnight stops.

Shortly before 1100 we cast off the lines and headed for Yuculta Rapids, circling just south of the rapids for about 45 minutes, along with two other yachts also playing the waiting game.  At 1515 the predicted currents were down to 3 knots in Yuculta, still 5 knots in Gillard, but dropping, so we headed into the rapids.  The swirls and eddies were not too bad, but we avoided Gillard, using Barber Passage instead.  Dent was nearly slack as we passed Devils Hole.  By 1640 we had tied up to the public dock in Shoal Bay, our stop for the night.

Ted Marx enjoying the spectacular scenery in Shoal Bay

We were the only visiting boat that night and after paying for moorage enjoyed a beer on the sundeck with Mark MacDonald.  Returning to Spirit we put out some crab pots and then were treated to a spaghetti dinner prepared by Ted.