We are following the recommendations of Waggoner 2015 Crusing Guide 'Rounding Cape Caution' (an excellent guide, and downloadable http://waggonerguide.com/download-2015-waggoner-cruising-guide-0/).
West Sea Otter reports winds NW 8 with 0.8m seas. Egg Island calm. Flood tide until 12:16. Time to go!
There are a surprising number of rocks and islets to get past on the way to Queen Charlotte Sound. We run up Europa Passage to the West of the Storm Islands. 7 knots wind so all is good. We turn towards Calvert Island / Fitz Hugh sound at 7:45am and are into the open ocean. We have not been in open ocean swells since the run from San Fransisco in 2013. It feels like we are really heading somewhere different!
By 9:00 we are off Cape Caution, and while it is grey and a bit drizzley overall it is going well. Tempurature is down to 57 degrees F - far cry from the 80F+ of Georgia Strait.
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| The mighty Cape Caution, looking pretty benign |
I always like to do parallel navigation via charts and compass to keep old skills alive, and trying to determine the right passage for Exposed Anchorage and Fury Cove was sure tough when using 'old school' navigation - course from Egg Island and landmark bearing triangulation. Of course with a chart plotter and GPS it was a doddle. Really provides respect for those who sailed these waters back in the 70's/80's. This was a sentiment that came up many times throughout the trip - they were tough back then!
After a quick 43 miles the anchor was down in Fury Cove at 12:15 in ~ 35' of water. 9 other boats were there but there was still lots of room.
With the hard parts of the trip behind us the holiday starts! Kayaks come out, dinghy down off the deck, and a frosty beverage.
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| Beautiful Fury Cove, with its shell beaches. Fitz Hugh Sound and Cape Calvert in the background |
Click to follow route in Google Maps