[Faster]

Adam

The biggest thing with that passage is making sure you're far enough offshore to avoid the massive shoals between Pt Roberts coal port and the Steveston Jetty, and from there to Pt Grey/North Arm. You need to be at least 5 miles off the beach between jetties. It's very deceptive and you have to trust your GPS/conning. There are some pilings and buoys marking the edges of the shoals watch for them.

We brought our son's new-to-them boat up last week, from Blaine. We had a terrific flood tide and did the trip in a little over 6 hours, mostly motoring in sloppy seas and little wind off the Fraser. 12-20 orca sightings were a big bonus - keep your eyes peeled at Sandheads. The Fraser river mouth can be bumpy.

If your going to West Van then Pt Atkinson is not an issue - but transient moorage is difficult if not impossible to arrange there. Going to Horseshoe Bay (Sewells) will be a better plan. Other than that the False Creek Harbour Authority provides transient moorage, and the False Creek Yacht Club may provide reciprocal moorage depending what club you belong to, and you'll be "downtown". If you do go that way continue to be watchful for shoals along Spanish Banks in English Bay.

Another option for transient moorage is Bowen Island (Union Steamship Company Marina), close to Howe Sound destinations but your guests will need to take the ferry (they could walk on)

Pt Atkinson can be rough when a westerly opposes a strong ebb - you can give it a wide berth to avoid some of that (but add distance obviously.)

If you're overnighting in Howe Sound, consider Halkett Bay, Port Graves on Gambier, Plumper Cove on Keats, or the marinas at Gibsons.

Have a great trip!