1908 BRITISH COLUMBIA "First lazzy cruise around VICTORIA"

Very few european boats visit British Colombia: The cruising season is quite short if you like warm weather and the way to arrive here is not so easy even from panama canal; as adverse winds are on the way and the long detour to Hawai is almost the unic solution.

 Helena is back and the cruising conditions here in summer are very attractives with numerous spots to anchor.  Wind conditions are interseting but challenging with calm in the morning/evening, thermic during the day and ery strong currents.  Locals are very active in summer and sail sometimes until 21h30 using the long daylight...Summer holidays...

With a 15°C water, RVYC OPTIs are not afraid from the strong thermic

The major surprise  is to see the beaches, even the best ones as in Cadboro  bay invaded by logs

Sailing days finished sometimes after 21h00 thanks to the very long daylight of 48° North latitude...

But many locals choice a motorboat to enjoy local cruising (Sidney)

 

"Crab pot" in the current: everywhere under 25m of depth !

Stefania n a part of her cruising family in front of Steve's house in PIERS island (we met Steve in Hawaï)...

...May be it's a "normal thing"in BC to live on an island .

 We can leave ALCYONE in perfect safety for a short Victoria round trip

One of the numerous postcard from VICTORIA

This sunny weekend is the one of the famous rallye...

The country: British Columbia, the city: Victoria,  where else ? 

Mr TRUDEAU made it legal ...but not so popular so far...

Back to a lazzy cruise around the Gulf islands, this time toward Bedwell anchorage, a few miles away, so simple...

1) Anchoring nearby (ALCYONE is a bit to big here)...

2)3we dock only the dinghy to the public or a private pier

3) we go for a walk, this time around the tiny Greenburg lake

Not many people around even in the middle of summer

4) we finish with a good snack in the local pub

We find a bit more people on sunday on the Sidney Sandspit, a popular pic nic spot, 10mn away from Marinas

A good walk,  part in the shade of the forest,

n part on the beach

with a desert side

n the crowded side :

No worries; good holding as the Eisbox is heavy !

Chilly water but with more than 30°C outside , a risk is acceptable...

...almost as in our beaches, but here,  with help of parents, log castles replace often sand castles. 

1907 HILO TO VICTORIA 3: "Arrival in Canada"

The depression leave us a few milles from the USA/CANADA border; we have to require help of the engines to enter in Neah Bay, on the US side with our yellow flag ; without VHF american channels, neither any access to internet or phone US provider we have to use the 16 and we enjoyed a quiet long evening talking party with the coast guard.

  Next day: ACYONE has still  62 more miles through the Strait of Juan de Fuca to reach Victoria harbour, the official canadian port of entrance....We leave in the morning 3h before slack water n get a surprising pushing 2k countercurrent, later nothing very strong even in the middle of the channel; the wind was very shy and the engines were mote than an help .

  We  dock ALCYONE at sunset to the immaculate custom pier of Victoria harbour, 2 officers from Quebec visit us with courtesy, stamp the passport, give us a cruising number but reject any possibility for the cat to overnight on this pier... 

  We have to leave around midnight in search of a potential anchorage (our Charly's chart guide is 30yo) n finaly find a small spot north of outer harbour to drop the anchor.

  The wake up call come from the harbour RIB as this is forbidden to anchor any place  in Victoria,  even if we are on the side ofvthe sea plane lnding area. This gentleman far to give us a fine,  appologize for the wake up operation and indicate us the closest anchorage; we leave10mn later and try the less friendly Oak bay marina where we were asked to remove immedialtly our dinghy from the dock before heading to Cadboro Bay, better protected , and with very warm welcome from the RVYC.  

  We are now fully in Canada,  around 80  days (more than 60 sailing) days after our New Zealand 22 april departure .

The wind die slowly...America is still 30 milles away, under the dark clouds !

The fog invite himself on the last miles...

Busy entrance of Juan de Fuca Strait: North USA, south CANADA;  Half of these boats are fishing...

3 miles away: America with a wonderfull smell of Epicea ! 

The US coast...we left Whangarei in New Zealand on 22 april...

 Just after 2 whales, the sun welcome ALCYONE  at the entrance of the strait.

Neah bay, on the US side is protected by a huge pier on our back

Anchored with yellow flag in US side, we ll not move out of the cat but the VHF party with the coast guard ll start !

Next misty morning ... still all the  Strait to follow to reach Victoria

2 different worlds in the strait: the leisure...

...and the work...Even in July, the snow is never very far around, including in th US side 

 Jordan' lesson: What a good time we can spend with such a small object as an Harmonica ! 

Victoria !

Ok ...we are not the first one here...

ALCYONE does'nt like the docks , but this one is long n he custom invitation has been made...in french ! 

The long day finished with a night cruise to find an anchorage... 

       

Morning: Not a fine but everything to help us to find another spot to anchor...

...as we were in forbidden spot, a bit closed of the sea planes landing area

Best place is not the closest bay sailing north  (Oakland)  

...but the folllowing bay 1 mile ahead Cadboro Bay with cruiser friendly members of Royal Victoria Yacht Club !

Bravo n thanks To Jordan to share this adventure, I'm sure that he will succeed in all his future challenges !