On the Move Cruise 2023
Post Colors, Desolation Sound to the Broughton Islands, August 8 to August 16
***This cruise is full***
If you have not been past Desolation Sound this is your chance to explore an entirely new and unique boating environment. Fewer boats, more bears, more whales, more fish, more shrimp. We will get you thru the tidal rapids and up Johnstone Straits, the two hurdles one must pass by to enter this amazing place.
After Colors, head north across the boarder to join Tom and Chris Miner in Desolation Sound where we will meet you to kick off the voyage north. From Roche you can head to Nanaimo for fuel and provisions, and you can check in at customs there or at Sydney. From Nanaimo it is one long day to Desolation or 2 shorter days stopping halfway at Denman Island or Comox on the Vancouver Island side or cross over the Straits of Georgia and stop at Pender Harbor then on to Desolation.
We will meet you in Gorge Harbor on the 8th and 9th to give everyone a chance to get there. It is about 80 miles as the seagull flies from Nanaimo to Gorge Harbor.
The plan is to run thru the tidal rapids north of Desolation thru the famous Yukulta Rapids and then world-famous Dent Rapids at slack tide, before we stop at Binkley Bay to anchor up. Beautiful quiet easy anchorage near Blind Channel Marina. (Fuel, Water)
Weather permitting, we will move on the next day thru Green Point Rapids, Whirlpool Rapids and down Johnstone Straits to Lagoon Cove. This is a long day but if we time it so we get a tidal push north it will be quick.
Make your own reservations at Lagoon Cove. The owners host a dock party every night and provide the shrimp you provide an appetizer to share.
We will quickly move into the Broughton Islands from Lagoon. Entering Booker lagoon is exciting, a narrow blind channel at slack tide brings you into a quiet beautiful lagoon with good anchorages.
We will spend two days at anchor here. Great shrimping in the lagoon in the past and good fishing outside the lagoon.
From Booker we will move to Sullivan Bay and spend two nights at the marina. Make your own reservations. There is no way to anchor out there but there are several great anchorages a few miles away if needed. This area has great fishing nearby, halibut, salmon, lingcod, crab, shrimp and is an amazing place to explore. We will do a long dinghy exploration of some of the area that surrounds Sullivan Bay on the 16th before we have our Dinner at the Sullivan Bay Restaurant. (More to follow on that)
Once we go out separate ways you can meander back thru the islands exploring places that we zoomed past. Port McNeil is across the way from Sullivan Bay and is a great spot for resupply, fuel and water. Call for reservations.
Tentative and flexible agenda
August 8, Gather in Desolation Sound at Gorge Harbor Where Tom and Chris will meet you. (Call for individual reservations at the marina or anchor out. (fuel and water for Marina guests) (It is a deep anchorage, 60 feet plus.)
(Great salmon fishing in and around Campbell River and Cape Mudge)
August 9, Shore party potluck dinner. BYO meat to BBQ. Meet and greet kick off dinner.
August 10, move north thru Yukulta narrows to area of Blind Channel. Marina reservations or anchor out in Binkley Bay. (Fishing and shrimping) Call Blind channel for reservations if not anchoring. (Fuel and Water at Blind Channel Marina)
(35 miles) (Caution, serious currents flow past Blind Channel Marina}
August 11, Move North to Lagoon Cove via Johnstone Straits weather permitting. (50 Miles) (Fuel available at Lagoon Cove)
(Shrimping. Evening dock party hosted by Lagoon Cove owners.)
August 12, move north to the Booker Lagoon, Anchor raft up (22 miles)
(Fishing, shrimping, exploring by Dinghy.)
August 14, move North to Sullivan Bay (25 miles) (Fuel available at Sullivan, not water)
(Crabbing, Shrimping, fishing, exploring by dinghy)
August 16, Final Day, Dinner at Sullivan Bay
This is a no cost cruise. Come join us for the full cruise or find us at one of the stops along the way. Your on your own after the 16th to go further north or just explore the amazing area.