Alaska Inside Passage Route - rough draft

[BRAZO]

Here is a link to our Alaska Inside Passage Route (still working on the details):

You can click on the left side to show the waypoints entered so far (fuel stops, marina's, marine parks, etc). I'll be adding more layers as I go. Those layers will then be imported into OpenCpn.

Any thoughts on "must see" area's or nice anchorages, etc - would be greatly appreciated.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zzpPcmprS4ZY.k0Pnx8jXbWxo&usp=sharing

 

[NewMoon]

Here's one thought: When you leave Prince Rupert to cross the Dixon, you don't have to go south around Digby Island. You could go through Venn Passage and save a good bit of time and distance. Watch the route carefully in the shallower parts and it's no sweat.

Check conditions at the Central Dixon Entrance bouy - seas less than one meter would be my choice. Figure out how the wind direction will relate to the direction of tidal current as you cross. For instance, avoid crossing the open part of the Dixon with a non-trivial west wind vs a strong tidal ebb.

Similar logic applies to crossing the Queen, rounding Cape Caution.

Foggy Bay is a nice anchorage about 50 nm from Prince Rupert.

Getting on the road from Utah to Prince Rupert this morning,

 

[BRAZO]

Thanks Richard!

Have a great trip and maybe we'll see you on the water.

 

[thataway]

We always enjoyed stopping at Ocean Falls, before Bella Bella. It is a bit out of the way, but very interesting place. It has been over 20 years since we stopped there, so I am sure things have changed…Basically the logging company/Paper Mill (Crown Zellerbach) walked away leaving everything there. The town has been re-colonalized. Many buildings were torn down or have fallen into ruin.

Namu is also an abandoned town. One time thru there, some one had opened the store, and we bought a case of jam. (On the Cal 46, so we had plenty of room).

I will second the Foggy Bay anchorage. We often stop there, as an intermediate between Prince Rupert and Ketchikan. This was especially efficacious in the slower sailboat, because we could then arrive to clear customs during "working hours". If the strait has kicked up, then you can stop in Dundas Island (north large inlet has good protection), and wait it out. Definitely do Venn passage. (We have done it in pea soup fog--more interesting that way!) It is well marked, and in the C Dory slack water is not as important as it is in a slower boat. But I would not do it at max flood or ebb.

There are so many different things to do and see along the way. We spent a month in the Broughtons, with the C Dory. You cannot do it all in one trip.