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Book recommendations for rounding Van Isle?

2K views 17 replies 6 participants last post by  jackdale 
#1 ·
Hi all, my family continues to prepare and get excited about our upcoming circumnavigation of Vancouver Island in 2013. We are all big readers, and are hoping to have a good library of books aboard on local topics.

I'm reaching out to this esteemed bunch hoping for some recommendations for books of local interest. Could be on anything from sailing, natural history, human history, geology, you name it. Assume we have read nothing (although we have read a lot) and just toss out any of your favorites. Let's all assume we've all read the The Curve of Time, however.

What say you?
 
#2 ·
Well golly, I guess I'll have to look elsewhere for literary references, or at least my post did nothing to inspire any suggestions. Since posting this question I've read a lot of bibliographies and have no shortage of recommended reading. Still, it would have been nice to have books recommended by fellow sailors familiar with the area. Guess I'll stick to epoxy and grease posts!
 
#3 · (Edited)
#4 ·
Not sure why I missed the OP... Goes without saying that any Dreamspeaker guides that cover the trip are worthwhile, though expect some 'out of date' info. The original Pacific Yachting cruising guide for the West Coast is still going to be helpful, it's the newest of that now rather dated series.

The latest 'Docks and Destinations' books by Peter Vassilopolis will give good, recent info on marinas along the way, and his orignial 'Beyond Desolation Sound' is probably still a good reference. Marine Parks' Forever's marine park guide is an inexpensive guide to the various parks you may encounter.

I expect one would find the odd blog on the subject nowadays too.. with perhaps the most current info of all.

The BC Coastal Pilot is quite a book, and though intended mainly for heavier shipping will have good info on approaches and dangers along the way.

For fun a copy of BC Coast names and origins will be entertaining.

Take plenty of time and plenty of charts!! Is that this coming summers' plan?
 
#5 ·
Hi there Gentlemen, thanks to you both!

I'm a confessed guidebook lover and the last Dreamspeaker we need is for the Broughtons. Buying that will mean we own the set! I have a few grumbles with their guides, but overall I find them clear and mostly accurate. I'm aware of the others, and have read them all. I think we won't sail with too many other guidebooks, but certainly with all the paper charts, and two chartplotters and one GPS aboard.

But my question is mainly about pleasure reading. I'd love a good library of books on sailing the area, the human history and of course, natural history. Between Anthropology and Zoology degrees, I have interest in the whole range of life there!

We've now spent what feels like many years on the East Side of Vancouver Island up to Sonora Island, and one summer a while back I paddled my kayak solo from Anacortes to Port Hardy, so I have experienced further north and the particular pleasures of Johnstone Strait.

Anyway, thanks again for book ideas. Our departure date from Campbell River will be about July 14th, 2013. I will have taken Aeolus up to CR in the weeks prior to save us that 140 miles of familiar territory on our voyage around.

BTW Faster, I just saw your post on your stringers and must add my kudos for a job well done. So satisfying to make something stronger, and what wonders a coat of paint does!
 
#6 ·
I would also recommend the Canadian Hydrographic Service Sailing Directions.

I am not sure what route you intend after Campbell River, but Seymour Narrows is my least favourite as I like to spend as little times as possible in Johnstone Strait. I like both the Yucultas and Octopus Islands route, although the latter does result in more time in the Strait. I prefer to take Whirlpool Rapids to avoid Race Passage.
 
#7 ·
I sure plan to avoid Johnstone Strait too, both for weather and aesthetic reasons. We have 7 days to go from Campbell River to Port Hardy, where we will be dropping off some friends who join us for the first week. In that time, I think we have time to go back around the southern tip of Quadra and take the back routes to the Queen Charlotte Strait Area.

Thanks for your tips Jackdale. Anyone who has gone around as much as you has wisdom I appreciate hearing.

On my kayak trip in 1996 I faced daily headwinds of 25-40 knots around Chathan Point all the way, every day, to Port Hardy. Just horrible for paddling, but won't be much nicer in a sailboat motoring! I'm not sure how much less the winds will be on the northern routes, but at least there is less fetch.
 
#8 ·
I like to go through the Yucultas and then to Blind Channel.

I have posted some info here http://www.sailnet.com/forums/pacific-northwest-alaska/75514-north-broughtons.html

They have free wifi and that gives me a chance to check the Environment Canada Marine web site. (Pacific - South Coast - Forecast - Environment Canada) for both a forecast and the current conditions. The web site conditions update hourly. I watch Fanny Island which is where I will enter the Strait. I often check the weatherfax to see what is coming in the next few days. Downloading grib files will give a sense of the next week. I get usually get a cell connection to check the site again after I get into Sunderland Channel after going through Whirlpool rapids.

I then will bail out of the Strait at Havannah Channel which will get me into the Broughtons. Knight Inlet can get similar conditions to Johnstone Strait, but the route to Tribune Channel is quite short.

If you need to get Hardy quickly stay at Lagoon Cove (just get there in time for the potluck) or Potts Lagoon and then enter the last part of Johnstone Strait by going through Baronet Passage. I get get to Hardy from here is a day.
 
#9 ·
Do you have Voyages to Windward by Elsie Hulsizer? They are a Puget Sound couple who spent a lot of time on the West Coast, going up the 'hard way'...
 
#10 ·
Helpful advice Jackdale, thanks. And Faster, yes, it's a great book that I have read through several times. She is a good writer and they have some good stories to tell. Their experiences off Estevan Point are memorable, IIRC.

My wife is most concerned about doing this:
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/images/smilies/puke.gif

So we will have all the usual over-the-counter and prescription meds for her equilibrium!
 
#12 ·
Hi Marty, right now she is at Bainbridge as I brought her down here for the fall to do some projects that took a lot of time. But at the end of January we are moving her back home, where she belongs, to Friday Harbor!

Wouldn't be surprised if you have seen her/us up north. Down here we don't get out much because A. I've been working on the boat, and B. there is no place much worth going to in a few hours sail (Blake being nice, but small.) Up in the San Juan's and in BC we are out year round and Aeolus is frequently plying the waters. Stuart Island and Jones are favorites, with occasional trips to Spencer Spit and others. Often in the Southern Gulf Islands. And then in summer we have been up Georgia Strait to Desolation Sound for many years now.

Jog any memories? See Stories of Aeolus- Our Gulf 32 Pilothouse for pictures of her.
 
#13 ·
I think I figured out the where or what I thought I had seen before. In Edmonds was a Gulf 27 with the name Aeolus, along with another Gulf 32 with a different name, and I was confusing ALL the above along with your boat! I know, a bit crazy and goofy, but sometimes when similarities like this occur.......all you hear in the back ground is the do do do do do do from that tv/movie show that is escaping my brain, and as soon as I hit enter, it will go rom tip of tongue, to my brain to my finners that will not be typing!....grrrrrr.....

Oh well.

Marty
 
#16 ·
Thank you Livia, these look like excellent recommendations, and have bibliographies I can use as well! The female author has written other books on women in BC which would be good for me, and my two sons, to learn about.

Any other favorites out there like these for a book worm family going around the big island?
 
#17 ·
Perhaps a call to the Vancouver Island Regional Library system? The librarians there are generally very nice. I found an email for them ref@virl.bc.ca I'm sure if you explained what you were doing, and it was for your kids, they would be helpful.

Another very easy thing to do would be to stop by a bookstore at your first major BC port (sidney is full of bookstores) and ask them. If they are selling books to you you'll get a handful of recs!
 
#18 ·
Another very easy thing to do would be to stop by a bookstore at your first major BC port (sidney is full of bookstores) and ask them. If they are selling books to you you'll get a handful of recs!
Tanner's !!!!!!!!!!

Or in Victoria - Munroe's
 
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