Charles and Margo Wood - Charlie\'s Charts North to Alaska

7

The usuai route from Silva Bay to WeIcome Pass ean be easily arranged to

pass around this area. One ean make su re by allowing for a sIight southerly

dog-leg, or by proeeeding about 13 miles north of Nanaimo to south of Ballenas

Islands and crossing via Lasquetti Island. Similar return routing is neces-

sary. These routes are the safest way to avoid unnecessary encounters with

officialdom, and in faet, provide the most suitable slants for the erossing.

Mid-Section Passes

The main pass into Johnstone Strait from the Strait of Georgia is via
Campbell River and Discovery Passage. The tides can run to 15 knots at springs
through Seymour Narrows. Further north, either Race or Current Passage (where
tidal eurrents may reaeh 7 knots) must also be passed before Johnstone Strait
is entered.

Before entering Seymour Narrows the influenee of the strong tidal currents
can be noticeable. ~ith the flood (south-flowing) opposed by southeasterly
winds a heavy race occurs off of Cape Mudge and Willow Point. In faet, with
any strong wind opposing either stream the various races and eddies can become
quite dangerous.

Furthermore, loeal travel between harbors near Diseovery Passage (even

outside the narrows) can be greatly affected by the strong tidal currents

unless one is travelling at or near slack water. The current sweeps past the

entrances to Quathiaski Co ve and Gowland Harbor at a fast rate; if one has been

fishing and not watching the tide tables it can be a chore working back to

anchor. This is the voice of experience! The Quadra Island Ferry also gives

one an indication of these currents as one watches its attitude as it crosses.

The foregoing aside, the passage can be made without difficulty if done at

or near slack water or going in the direction of the turning tide. The 25

miles of the Passage can be done in one run, and a favara bI e tide often carried

right to Alert Bay.

Alternatively, one ean choose the series of passes beginning with Yuculta

Rapids, Gilliard Passage, and Dent Rapids and proceed through Greene Point

Rapids and Wellbore Channel before entering the finai portion of Johnstone

Strait through Chancel10r Channel. This is the favored route of most smal

vessels. It i8 a more interesting route, and though the various rapids can

attain impressive velocities, if the first rapids are entered just before the

turn of the tide it is often possible to carry one tide through the entire

series. If this 1s impossible, there are many anchorages indicated in this

guide in which to wait until the rapids are again passable with the regular

change of the tide.

Queen Charlotte Sound

The passage between the north end of Vancouver Island past Cape Caution to

the entrance of Fitz Hugh Sound is perhaps the most crucial of the open water

passages. This body of water, Queen Charlotte Sound, has a well-deserved bad

reputation. The effects of ebb currents flowing northward from the inlets, a

shal10w basin (as little as 20 fathoms), and an orientation that funnels the