Change of Latitude in the Pacific Northwest

Change of Latitude in the Pacific Northwest

Who: Don/Debbie/Katie Baxter/Sarah Leu
Port: Bellingham, WA

To Egmont

29 December 2014
Our quest on this winter cruise is through treacherous Malibu Rapids to Princess Louisa Inlet, one of the prettiest spots on the entire BC coast. It is a bit remote, far inland, up a fiord. Princess Louisa reminds us of Yosemite Valley, flooded with sea water to 1,000 feet. If skies are clear, it is stunningly beautiful, including the trip up the fiord as mountain tops appear, covered in snow. We planned to celebrate New Year's in this special spot.

Today, we departed Vancouver for Egmont, a small town next to Skookumchuck Narrows. Skookumchuck is a first nations word that means very large tidal rapids. It is. This is the largest tidal rapids on the entire Pacific Northwest Coast. Current can run up to 17 knots. It is a popular spot in the summer for white water kayakers

We left Vancouver with Deception just as the sun started to lighten the eastern sky. It was hard to see logs for the first 30 minutes. Poor Mary did not feel well. Perhaps it was something that she ate. She remained below while Irwin, Debbie, and I took Change of Latitude under the Lions Gate Bridge in the First Narrows, the entrance into Vancouver. Deb took some great photos of Vancouver as we left and then the bridge. We were off on our quest!

The winds were about 20 knots, gusting to 35-40 as we caught the outflow winds from Whistler Mountain coming down Howe Sound. They came from our starboard and generated a bit of roll. A large BC ferry showed up on AIS, coming out of the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal in Howe Sound. It was coming our way at 21 knots. Brian and Carol in Deception were going to clear the ferry. I checked our CPA (Closest Point of Approach) on AIS and our chart plotter and it indicate 650 yards. We accelerated a bit to 11 knots and cleared by over 800 yards. Whew!

We headed closer to shore to avoid the winds and things calmed down a bit. Once we passed Howe Sound, the winds lessened and we had a smoother ride. We entered Welcome Passage off of the Strait of Georgia. George Vancouver was welcomed here by first nations people on his way to Desolation Sound and points north. Things become much calmer as we, too, were welcomed into these gentle waters. Deb and Irwin took turns at the wheel and we headed up Malaspina Strait, past Secret Cove and Pender Harbour to enter Agamemnon Channel. Skies were clear as a high pressure system settled in and we made our way to Back Eddy Marina near Egmont. Good friends Glenn and Karen Parker, owners of Grand Adventure, were here waiting to join us on the trip to Princess Louisa. It was cold as the sun had gone behind a mountain but our space heaters keep things a bit above 60 degrees in our main cabin. I registered and Brian invited everyone aboard Deception for drinks and appetizers. Afterwards, we came back and Debbie made chicken breasts and rice with bread and wine. It was delish. Mary was feeling a bit better and even had a little dinner. She was tired though. We all were. We headed to bed, to get ready for an early start.
Comments
Vessel Name: Change of Latitude
Vessel Make/Model: Grand Banks CL 42
Hailing Port: Bellingham, WA
Crew: Don/Debbie/Katie Baxter/Sarah Leu
About: We live on the East Coast but enjoy wilderness cruising in the Pacific Northwest.
Extra: We enjoy crabbing, shrimping, fishing, and clamming. Some of us are crazy enough to swim in Northwest waters during the summer.

Change of Latitude in the Pacific Northwest

Who: Don/Debbie/Katie Baxter/Sarah Leu
Port: Bellingham, WA