Around Vancouver Island

This page will serve as a planning guide and cruise report for our planned trip circumnavigating Vancouver Island during July/August 2009. I will fill in more details as I have time but in the interim you can contact me at Etienne@Kuredu.info if you are interested in joining or discussing this venture.

The Dream

For most adventurous boaters in the PNW there are certain must-do cruises - Princess Louisa Inlet, Desolation Sound and The Broughtons are a few, but there are two cruises which we have been dreaming about for a few years - cruising to Alaska and rafting to an iceberg and circumnavigating Vancouver Island. The cruise to Alaska is probably a better choice as a first cruise with a moderate amount of 'controlled' exposure to open ocean cruising but circumstances are just right this year to do the more challenging circumnavigation. It is also the first time (and probably the last for a while) that we have 5-6 weeks to cruise.

The Cruise

We are planning to leave Vancouver the weekend of June 26 and cruise counter clockwise around the island. We chose the counter-clockwise cruise for a few reasons:

The areas North of Vancouver on the Inside Passage are pretty awesome but are within easy reach for us in a weeklong cruise, and for this reason we will not spend much time enjoying what Desolation Sound or the Broughtons has to offer. Port Hardy is approximately 225 miles from Horseshoe Bay and we will cruise to reach Port Hardy in as little time as possible. Weather and tides permitting we will do this in two or three days. Likewise, Victoria back to Vancouver is an easy afternoon cruise, which we will probably do to maximize our time on the West Coast.

The total distance we will be travelling is about 850 miles, with a good 350 miles of which lies in the more protected Inside Passage on the East side of the Island and cruising grounds which we have either visited before or are within easy reach of a short(er) vacation.

Charts and Publications

Our primary means of navigation will be the Garmin 52xx plotters on board Kuredu, backed up by the Garmin 276 handheld plotter (in case of failure) - both with the Garmin Canada West Large chips installed. We also carry:

1. Evergreen Pacific West Coast of Vancouver Island Cruising Atlas - detailed paper charts of inlets and coastal shore areas.

2. The Waggoner - always the first book we reach for when cruising.

3. Volume 6 - The West Coast of Vancouver Island, Dreamspeaker Cruising Guide. An excellent discussion of anchorages, coves and inlets.

4. Sailing Directions British Columbia Coast, South Portion.

Safety and equipment

We are doing this cruise to experience the awesomeness (a word Jordan made up, I'm sure, and especially when referring to himself) of the West Coast, and to do so and enjoy the experience I have to know that we are safe and comfortable - at least as much as we can prepare for. For this reason I have spent the last couple of months preparing, taking inventory, removing junk from the boat, and so on. The engines (including the genny) has been serviced, oil, filters and impellers changed and we have spare filters, impellers and belts on board. We also carry miscellaneous spares for other equipment (including duck-bill valves for the vacuflush systems) and will add to these as I inspect and check equipment before our departure. I do not want to weigh the boat down unnecessarily but conversely, don't want to be caught in some remote location without the ability to do minor repairs.

Expired flares and other required safety equipment have been replaced with current ones, including smoke flares (which we have not had on board before) for better daylight visibility. Even though this will be a summer cruise we will carry the Mustang gear on board. Mustang gave us the jackets when they used Kuredu III for a promo shoot for their new Rescue Stick (see the video - yeah baby, that MY boat that stick is being thrown from!). We will try get one on board before we leave. We carry 8 CCG approved PFDs on board.

Other than the radar, every piece of electronic equipment on board has a backup. The Garmin 52xx plotters are backed up by the Garmin 276 handheld (and of course paper charts), the Garmin Sounder by the on-board Northstar sounder, the dual station Northstar VHF by an iCom handheld. Comms between Kuredu and the dink, will be with 40 mile FRS radios.

Other equipment (not a complete list):

- Spare/storm/stern anchor - We carry a 35# CQR for this. Main anchor is a 45# CQR.

- Stern tie line(s) and spare rode

- Flashlights, batteries and battery charger

- Extensive medical kit and references

- Tools and equipment to do minor repairs

- 2 x 20 liter gas cans and repair kit for the dinghy

- Crab and prawn traps, light fishing tackle and license

Route

We do not have any fixed route or schedule plans - weather, environment and crew will dictate movement and destinations. I have drafted a rough float plan with approximate distances for planning purposes, staring at Horseshoe Bay, Vancouver. Important note: These distances are very rough and does not provide for side trips, of which I suspect there may be many in certain areas. Also, I have not yet verified fuel availability:

Update - June 22, 2009.

A few weeks ago Kuredu went on the hard for a quick repair of a thru-hull and while she was out we cleaned and polished the hull and sanded, cleaned and painted the bottom. As usual, just before she was supposed to drop back into the water we applied a thin layer of waterproof grease to the shafts and props. This is when we discovered the port prop is almost seized and very difficult to turn. Long story short - the port strut has to be replaced. As I write this it is 4 days before our scheduled departure date and the new strut is only due to be delivered on Friday (our departure date) and there is no chance that she will be in the water that day. Even if she would be I don't intend to take her on a 1000 mile sea trail after those repairs. It is seeming more and more likely that she will be splashed the week after but since that is a short week also, even that may not materialize.

We originally set aside enough time to do the cruise properly and this is eating into that time which will mean (a) we will start rushing the cruise and (b) any setback along the route might mean we would have to leave the boat somewhere and return to Vancouver only to have to fetch her again later. I just don't believe this is wise or prudent. Also, we feel bad for the uncertainty which this is causing with the other two boats.

So, it is with a very heavy heart that we are cancelling this cruise for this year - at least for Kuredu. We will instead cruise up to the Broughtons or somewhere else and continue dreaming about circumnavigating the Island.