North of Desolation Sound planning

Go Aweigh2452

Go Aweigh2452

Active Member
Aug 8, 2007
1,163
Olalla, WA
Boat Info
its in my signature
Engines
6.2 Horizon MPI w/guardian system
I am in the process of planning next summers trip north of Desolation Sound... Specifically the Broughton Islands area north of Port McNeill.

Has anyone been up that way and can add insight? I have ordered North of Desolation by Peter Vassilopoulos and doing some research online. I have some anchorages already outlined on Google Earth and marked all the gas stations in the area (surprisingly, there are many along the way and many marinas have free internet access and not so free AT&T coverage throughout most of the area).

This is going to be a major, on/off all winter, project in planning the trip and researching the area. Of course as soon as we get up that way, we'll could throw the plan out the window and cruise anywhere we decide on the spur of the moment...

The plan right now is at least three weeks starting from Friday Harbor after 4th July 2011.

Thanks for any help...

BTW, anyone wanting to travel with us with your boat or plan a rendezvous along the way are welcome...

Very rough schedule:

Depart Friday Harbor 5 July, arrive Bedwell, check in CA customs and head to Otter Bay for the night. Late afternoon Early 7 July arrive Smugglers Cove. 8 July head to Squirrel Cove (anchorage) via Lund for showers and more fresh groceries. 9 July top off gas at Refuge Cove, head through Walsh Cove, Tobet Inlet (spend night at anchorage). 10 July head through Hole in the Wall and anchor in Octopus Islands area. 11 July head to North Desolation via Blind Channel for gas & possibly lunch at the wine bottle restaurant. (West Thurlow Island is the furthest we have traveled before). Arrive Minstrell Islands area (gas up) and anchor NE of there.... Dink around the next several days popping into local marinas with grocery stores and check out every waterfall, inlet and wildlife area we can find.

Right now, Port McNeill would be the furthest north we go...

Mid August we hope to head to Ucluelet for a week of fishing... (trailer through Victoria)
 
Sounds like a fun trip Doug. We will be doing the Desolation rendevous with Todd and company next summer for our first trip to the area. Would love to do a future cruise farther north and look forward to hearing about your experiences.
 
Yeah that will be a great run Doug. I look forward to hearing about what you experience as well.
 
We have been boating in the area you want to go for 10 years. You will find weather will set your schedule. Get the Pacific Yachting book on Marinas it lists all the place that have fuel and groceries.
It will take you a week to get there and a week to get back you will have a week to look at things. You can expect to spend a few days waiting for weather. Listen to VHF weather it will set your pace. Your cell phone will work well in most areas. A 3 watt booster will ensure it works in 90% of the areas. If you have an air card for your computor you can get internet most places. Expect some rain and waves to 5+ feet for a few days. We try to travel in the morning as the winds are lighter.
We met people with a boat your size once that trailed it to the area so they could spend more time there. Port McNeil has good boat ramp and trailer storage area.
 
Jacob, I was actually looking at the same itinerary going to Minstrel... then dinking around...

Thanks for the links. I'll be saving them for reference.
 
Bedwell Harbor is Poets Cove. They completely rebuilt the resort after the big fire. Have stayed over 4 times there. Have you thought of Montague Harbor just North on Galiano Island. Will be up there in End of July first part of August. For 10 days.
 
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