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I'm looking to do a single-handed sail from my home port of Point Roberts up to West Vancouver next Tuesday or Wednesday in preparation for taking some guests sailing around the Vancouver area. I figure West Van is ideal for transient moorage, due to quick access to southern Howe Sound for a short day sail and the northern Gulf Islands for an overnight sail, and also due to reciprocals. Also I will get to try out my Nexus card for the first time 
I've only been this way once before, about a year ago, and it was pretty much seat-of-your-pants sailing. No plan, just went for it. Worked out, but I enjoy the planning part more nowadays
My plan would be to get out just before dawn (low slack) and arrive in time for the evening high slack. I don't have charts for the area at home at the moment (they're on the boat), aside from some medium-scale photocopies with poor coverage
I do have a Current Atlas, however.
So I'm looking for advice from folks, specifically about the sail into the West Vancouver area, the harbors and marinas there, etc. For example, I hear the waters off Point Atkinson can be nasty.... best to traverse at slack? If I can choose slack or daylight for the approach, but not both, what's my best bet? What are some good failsafe points in case I don't make / can't see / can't get into a marina? My main restrictions are (a) I'll be sailing solo, and (b) motor is a 10 hp outboard, so would rather not be fighting currents if I can avoid it.
Thanks in advice for comments! Hopefully I'll have some good photos to share next week (along with photos of some recent repairs!).
I've only been this way once before, about a year ago, and it was pretty much seat-of-your-pants sailing. No plan, just went for it. Worked out, but I enjoy the planning part more nowadays
My plan would be to get out just before dawn (low slack) and arrive in time for the evening high slack. I don't have charts for the area at home at the moment (they're on the boat), aside from some medium-scale photocopies with poor coverage
So I'm looking for advice from folks, specifically about the sail into the West Vancouver area, the harbors and marinas there, etc. For example, I hear the waters off Point Atkinson can be nasty.... best to traverse at slack? If I can choose slack or daylight for the approach, but not both, what's my best bet? What are some good failsafe points in case I don't make / can't see / can't get into a marina? My main restrictions are (a) I'll be sailing solo, and (b) motor is a 10 hp outboard, so would rather not be fighting currents if I can avoid it.
Thanks in advice for comments! Hopefully I'll have some good photos to share next week (along with photos of some recent repairs!).