questionable winter trips in BC

[ArgleBargle]

Hi

anyone have any experiences sailing to Barkley Sound or Jervis/Princess Louisa Inlet in the "off season" (Nov- Mar)?

cheers

[Faster]

Haven't tried that yet, but....

The Wickaninish Inn near Tofino does great business this time of year marketing weekend visits as "storm stays" - spend a few days in your room watching the rather impressive West Coast storms. I'd not want to be on the water anywhere near there then. It's simply a very inhospitable stretch of water this time of year.

Princess Louisa in winter is much more feasible. You'll miss the amazing views unless you get real lucky with the weather, but there'll be plenty of room on the dock! Probably be windiest in fine weather when winter outflow winds can build to gale force in all the coastal fiords. Exciting ride out of there, but a bit of a chore to get there perhaps.

Having that area to oneself does have some appeal!

[jrd22]

I agree with Faster about West coast of Van. Is in the winter. I don't know what size boat you have but even the big 80+' commercial fishing boats avoid being out there in a storm. We got stuck in Tofino for three days, 45 knots and 20-24' seas, and that was during summer.

There is a group of power boats that goes to Princess Louisa for New Years every year, so it can be done. Definitely want to pick a favorable weather window though, and count on it being wrong .

[ArgleBargle]

Hio

thanks for the responses

i've sailed to Princess Louisa a few times in the summer. its beautiful. thwarted in attempts to go to Barkley sound in the summer because of never ending significant westerlies that i had no interest in beating through.

i too have been (by land, not sea) to Wickaninnish Inn to watch storms in the winter. a great place, i agree. great beach. great restaurant.

never said i was planning to go to either place by sea, or even that it was smart, just wondering if anyone had been.

that being said, there are definitely more frequent easterlies this time of year (interspersed with westerlies to get home) and, looking at environment canada marine forecasts, it frankly seems easier to get to Barkley sound now than it did in july. (admittedly swimming not so good in december, tho)

perhaps one warm line to princess louisa would be the best idear, tho.

[Faster]

True, you do get more easterlies now.. and with time on your side you could do the trip out the 'easy' way.... Still be an interesting ride, I reckon! and then wait for another system to ride it home.

For the record though, we didn't find the Barkley Sound swimming situation too attractive in July!!

[ArgleBargle]

Faster:

your diplomatically phrased points about the "interesting ride" down the straight of Juan de Fuca and summer swimming conditions are well taken. Thanks. (how did captains Drake, Cook and Vancouver ever do it right?)

princess louisa it is!

Originally Posted by Faster

True, you do get more easterlies now.. and with time on your side you could do the trip out the 'easy' way.... Still be an interesting ride, I reckon! and then wait for another system to ride it home.

For the record though, we didn't find the Barkley Sound swimming situation too attractive in July!!

[Faster]

Originally Posted by ArgleBargle

Faster:

your diplomatically phrased points about the "interesting ride" down the straight of Juan de Fuca and summer swimming conditions are well taken. Thanks. (how did captains Drake, Cook and Vancouver ever do it right?)

princess louisa it is!

The exploits of all those early explorers have always amazed me... poking into places without charts (think Sand Heads, Spanish Banks, Columbia bar etc etc) in very unwieldy vessels. And how about the first time they stuck their noses into Porlier pass or Active? or the rapids up north...

If you go, when you go, have a great trip!

[seayalatermoonglow]

Princess Louisa in the winter is a must do.

I was there in Febuary on 2007 and it was spectacular at that time of year. When I was there the float was covered with about a foot of snow. The sky was clear and the mountains were snow covered. Every once in a while I would see small avalanches come down from the steep rocky mountains. At the particular time I was there, the sheet of ice started just about when you come around the steep rounded cliff on the port side before you can see the float. It was a thin sheet and as I passed through, these giant sheets would slide across and out of the way. It was no problem but having someone on the bow to break up the ice with a pike pole would be helpful. The ice did take a little bottom paint off near the water line but it wasn't a big deal. As Faster mentioned, the outflows can be a challenge. You won't get any VHF reception while there, so if your there a few days, you may be in for some surprising winds once you clear Malibu Rapids. It's unlikely you will run into any boats up there except the watchman at the lodge at Malibu Rapids.

Well worth the trip in the winter, I give it 5 stars out of 5.

[Livia]

In Jan 2009 we took a month trip and tried to go to Princess Louisa. We encountered slush prior to the rapids and then the inlet was completely iced over PRIOR to McDonald Island. We ended up at the Young Life Camp docks overnight because we couldn't get to the anchorages and were on the wrong side of the rapids with dark coming.

It *was* particularly cold that year and many other years people have made it in January.