Desolation Sound

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richgiddens

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Hi all,
I'm going to be chartering in Canada (from Comox and up to Desolation Sound) and although there seems to be plenty of info re tide heights and times, I can't find any sort of tidal atlas indicating general speed and flow at specific times. I'm keen to do a bit of pre planning as the tides are pretty tasty and in several areas, it's go with the flow or not at all!
Anyone able to point me in the right direction?
Thanks in advance
 
This might help. Not a full tidal atlas but gives data for some of the more important passes.

http://www.tides.gc.ca/eng/data/currents/2015#vol5

You want Volume 5.

When I cruised there we really only looked at currents for passage planning through the narrow passes. You can't exactly ignore the currents for the open water segments, but the currents are pretty small compared with the passes, and the distances are usually pretty short so currents don't make a huge difference.

You have to get the passes right. For a lot of them you simply can't go through against an adverse current, and it can be pretty hairy to go through some of them with a full following current.
 
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richgiddens said:
Hi all,
I'm going to be chartering in Canada (from Comox and up to Desolation Sound) and although there seems to be plenty of info re tide heights and times, I can't find any sort of tidal atlas indicating general speed and flow at specific times. I'm keen to do a bit of pre planning as the tides are pretty tasty and in several areas, it's go with the flow or not at all!
Anyone able to point me in the right direction?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

I hope to be there this summer too.
 
Lived in Campbell river for many a year and sail up and down the eastern coast of Van isl. Tides are a huge factor in so much the flood come south at the top half of the Island and flood north from the bottom half of the Island. Mitlenatch Isl is the point where tides meet and make interesting times........ Further north, at Seymour narrows is know to have 15 knot currents and is a challenge. The good thing is google will allow you to research local information. If I can help pm me for anything you may want some pointers......... bty, I'm back in the uk now.


http://www.dairiki.org/tides/monthly.php/cam/2015-07 any help??
 
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The Canadian Hydrographic Services annual Tide & Current Tables is essential for finding slack water times through the passes. It is available from all chandlers in the region. UK users will be surprised that there need to be almost 100 pages describing different tidal possibilities, rather than the 12 hour cycle we are used to. This is due to the complexity of the tides. Slack water times through the passes are very short, and it pays to be there a little beforehand, as the forecasts are not always spot on.

Make sure you have the published booklet aboard, as many areas are out of wifi range.

I found Vipond & Kelly's "Best Anchorages of the Inside Passage" invaluable for cruising this area, though there are several other pilot guides.
 
You could also check out the Dreamspeaker guides (Yeadon-Jones) for local knowledge.

Have fun: looks like I'll not be getting up there this summer. Again...

Check this out: Ripple Rock in Seymour Narrows caused quite a few boats to go down before they decided to increase it's depth.

 
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A lifetime ago I served in the RCAF at Comox - so long ago I was able to witness the detonation that blew up the submarine rocks at Seymour Narrows that caused the dangerous whirlpools there. And so long ago that any information that I can give would be uselessly out of date. Except ... take a copy of Jonathan Raban's 'Passage to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meanings'; a beautifully-written account of his cruise from Seattle, interspersed with excerpts of Captain Vancouver's explorations up the same coastline. http://www.amazon.com/Passage-Juneau-Sea-Its-Meanings/dp/0679776141/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425536774&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=passge+to+juneau

The blog of Solstice in the same waters is also worth a read: http://www.svsolstice.com/musings/alaska.html
 
You should also look for a copy of The Curve of Time by Margaret Wylie blanchett for what the place was like in the 30s. There's an accompanying book that deciphers some of her locations, so you can visit the old native villages (be very respectful please) and some of the more out of the way places. It's called Following the Curve of Time by Cathy Converse.

Lots of other reading: pm me as I've got a stack on my Amazon wish list :)
 
richgiddens said:
Are you chartering? Have you been before?
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I have been to Vancouver Island before but never sailing. Everything is being organized ( and paid for....) by a cousin who is a resident. He is a mobooer who is tempted by sail and would like me there to help. As such he will have local knowledge.
 
CHS publishes Sailing Directions (coastal pilot) that are very good - you can find them at chandlers, bookstores. They do a brilliant Current Atlas but it unfortunately doesn't cover anything north of Strait of Georgia. http://www.charts.gc.ca/publications/index-eng.asp
There really aren't that many areas that are overly complicated as far as current goes - note the tide arrows on the charts. Other cruising guides were mentioned - I'm partial to Waggoners http://www.waggonerguide.com/. I see for currents that they recommend this: http://www.portsandpasses.com/ but I have no first-hand experience with them.
Are you sailing or motoring?
 
Cruiser2B said:
Are you sailing or motoring?
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Silly question for the PNW! They'll be motoring!

I worked up in that area and weeks went by without a breath of wind.
The tides aren't that difficult and you'll soon get a sense of how they work. It doesn't require that much tidal planning, like in the English Channel. It's mainly knowing when you have to be at a certain narrows, but as you'll be motoring, it's all very predictable.
 
Wanted to get a sense of what the OP was planning and if there was anything beside currents of which he should be aware.
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I know, just being a little mischievous. Wind or no wind, it's a great area!

Take some histories of Capt Vancouver's voyages. It's fun to retrace some of their adventures.
Then have a holiday in King's Lynn to share his home port and see why he was keen to explore new places.
 
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Sailing (assuming some wind) Chartering a Jeanneau 45 out of Comox. Wind or no wind, it looks like the kind of place that'll be difficult not to enjoy
 
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