Day 21 | West Side of Vancouver Island Flotilla | Ucluelet to Joe’s Bay

Today’s cruise was short — 11nm from Ucluelet over to the Joe’s Bay anchorage (tucked between Dodd and Turtle Island, next to Walsh Island). As we exited Ucluelet Inlet and transited into Newcombe Channel, we were met with calm water and very little wind. We anchored in this beautiful anchorage and folks spent the afternoon kayaking, fishing, exploring, and relaxing. We met later for happy hour on the raft. Folks … Read more

Circumnavigating Vancouver Island Flotilla | Day 22| Joe’s Bay to Nettle Island

September 10 – Since we arrived earlier than scheduled in Barkley Sound, we have some extra time to visit additional anchorages. Although the Broken Group is small—only about seven miles by five miles—there are many interesting anchorages. Today, we made the short run over to Nettle Island. This is another large anchorage in Barkley Sound, not quite as well-protected as Joe’s Bay, but perfect for most weather conditions. Sam took the … Read more

Circumnavigating Vancouver Island Flotilla | Days 20 and 21| Ucluelet to Joe’s Bay

September 8 – The weather in Ucluelet was breezy and foggy, with pouring rain this morning. The forecast called for worsening conditions through tomorrow, when winds were predicted to climb to 30-40 knots with heavy rain. Might  this be the first taste of fall? With a lousy forecast, we headed for Joe’s Bay. This is a huge anchorage, with moderate depths, excellent protection, and good holding. We’d stay for a few … Read more

West Side of Vancouver Island Flotilla | Day 14-15 | Ucluelet to Joe’s Bay

We left Ucluelet and cruised the short distance (11nm) over to Joe’s Bay, just north of Turtle Island in the Broken Group. Unfortunately, we had one boat fewer than normal. Throughout the trip, Mana Kai (a Kadey Krogen 44), has been experiencing intermittent engine problems related to the suction control valve on the common rail system. No amount of fiddling with filters or resetting computers has fixed the issue, and … Read more