6THE CRUCIAL PASSAGES
Though any part of the route can be made very easy or very difficult by
weather and sea conditions, there are four major passages along the route.
The Strait of Georgia
The crossing of the Strait of Georgia may be avoided by staying on the
eastern side of the Strait. This will not eliminate the discomforts of rough
conditions in the Strait, for there remain severa l long coastal passages.
Moreover, this eastern route wili take a newcomer away from the scenic and
attractive Gulf Islands area. Several nice anchorages would be missed.
As a rule, sailing vessels and large powered craft may cross the Strait
almost any time, though in bad weather the trip may be very uncomfortable.
SmaI1 craft are well advised to wait far suitable conditions to make the
crossing easier.
The weather holds the key to the conditions that wi1l be met on crossing
the Strait. Forecasting the weather is a ehancy business but in these waters
there are some generaI conditions that can be expected.Good summer weather has settled northwester1y winds. They tend to be 1ight
in the early morning, rise during the day, and die down after about 1700 hours.
At night a heavy dew on the deeks is a good indicator of sueh a periodo Thus
the early morning or the evening hours are the most suitable for travelling.If the northwesterlies do not diminish in the evening this is because a
high pressure area has stayed in position for two or three days. Crossings can
be uncomfortable at this time due to the build up of seas, so it is best to
wait out the weather and enjoy the Gulf IsIands.Southeasterly winds presage rain and storms. They vary in intensity and
while each storm seldom lasts more than 24 hours, severa l successive fronts may
extend this period over severa l days. Weather reports can usually give one an
estimate of the strength of the disturbance. The lighter winds can allow
travel, albeit in rain or overcast conditions, whi1e the heavier storms should
be treated with eaution. In summer there are genera1ly more good travelling
days than bad, and most waiting periods are usually of short duration.
In crossing the Strait of Georgia between Nanaimo or Silva Bay and Welcome
Passage a special note should be made regarding the area label1ed as "Whiskey-
Golf" on the charts. This area is set aside far Canadian and U.S. Navy torpedo
test purposes. Its full extent may not be marked on many charts and older
charts may not show it at alI. The direct route across the Strait passes
through this zone. If one strays into the area without clearing with
Winchelsea ContraI on VHF Ch. 16, one will be speedily apprised of the error.
If permission is granted to cross the area when no tests are schedu1ed, one
may be requested to calI again when clear of the zone. Tests are not carried
out aver mueh of the summer and are usually limited to between 0700 to 1730,
but the zone is reserved and must be cleared for passage.