Cruiser2B
Well-Known Member
You might want to google fjord sailing, to get some tips on sailing in the narrow channels and timing the cycle of the winds - I imagine it's brutal going upwind in a canyon. The local katabatic winds are referred to as Squamish winds. The previously mentioned sailing directions talk about these, but if you can find it, there's an out-of-print book called something like "Marine Weather Hazards of the BC Coast" that is excellent. Be aware of freshets that can give some rather unpredictable eddies, but also make the very inviting-looking water bone-chillingly cold. The water for the most part is very deep and the sides steep to. I believe it's common practice to run the anchor straight down and stern tie to a tree ashore. There are numerous sailing associations/clubs/groups in BC, so I would guess a bit of fishing around the 'net might yield some do's and don'ts. There's a dock in Princess Louisa inlet with a picnic area. It's worth a stop but might be a bit crowded in June. You should be able to get everything you need in Comox, but there's also a huge supermarket beside the marina in Campbell River, so you won't need a car. And there's a general store at Lund, which is the last vestige of civilization before you get into the Desolation part of the sound. It's been a few years since I've been there, so things may have changed a bit. Sorry can't really help on sailing tips; spent my time there on grey funnel boats.