Picture: tide rips in Johnstone Strait.

We'd always heard about the fierce NW winds and tide rips in Johnstone Strait but never before experienced it. I guess it's better to head north earlier in the year when the winds are southerly! After going through Seymour Narrows without incident we anchored at Chatham Point and watched the cruise ships go by as the sun set behind the mountains. The next morning we woke to screaming winds. We left the anchorage and rounded the point into Johnstone Strait into the worst tide rip we've ever seen. Osprey was bucking up and down and bouncing into the waves. There wasn't a prayer of sailing as at times we only made 2 knots under power against the waves but with the current! We finally made it to Port Neville, anchored for the afternoon, then left with the evening tide. Much quieter! We motored to Port Harvey, a beautiful little bay with mountains beyond.