For our trip around Vancouver Island we used the Douglas Hemingway guide book and found it to be mostly right on. We had more weather problems w/ the Brooks Penn. and Estavan Point than w/ Cape Scott. It's a great trip, enjoy the area north of Tofino cause things get busy south of there. A hint about the hot springs - go early or late - the tours from Tofino arrive around 0900+ and are gone by 1500+. During the rush you couldn't find enough hot water to wash a toe! The fuel dock in Tofino had the best water. Fuel stops & groceries were in limited supply North of Tofino. There is a great steam (yeah!) lumber mill restoration including a ride on a steam train at Port Alberni. Stayed at the marina where the swells are awesome if tied up on the outside. Enjoy, and take lots of time to explore. By the time you get back to the Victoria area you'll be ready to rip channel 16 out of the VHS. We went for days w/ little or no chatter on the radio it was wonderful.

We have been to Barkley previously (97), and Lynda has always wanted to explore North of Tofino since going there.
Mike

Hi Jadedcrew, We go round every 2 or 3 years when we don't go north. Personally I would always maximise our time on the outside North of Tofino at the expense of time in the Broughtons where things seemed a bit too popular for our taste last summer.. Agree that Cape Scott seems less fierce than Brooks Peninsula though we have never had any trouble off Cape Estevan either. I have some reservations about Sea Otter Cove and local knowlege advised is definately not a meaningless phrase. The entrance channel looks frightening if there is a Westerly swell though it actually has good depth. Once parallel with the light at the inner end of the entrance channel we make for the isolated island marked (60) with the day marker on the NW shore of the cove and usually anchor in the tiny 16 foot patch just north of the island though we do rather obstruct the passage. Most boats head north to the inner row of of public mooring buoys (the outer row marked on the chart was gone last year) but don't make a straight line for them as you may well go aground on the drying NW shore clearly marked on the chart. Considering the infreqent traffic I have seen sailboats aground there in 2 different years. Last year I touched bottom in the cove just West of the entrance light on the way out at low tide after spending 48 hours sheltering from extreme squalls (draught 6ft 6ins). If the weather is mild its a beautiful spot but Winter Harbour is easy and safe to access sheltered waters and even has fresh vegetables!

We have never been beyond the Octopus Islands, so popular or not we will cruise our way to Cape Scott. We are leaving June 20th and should be in the Broughtons by July 1st.
It makes a long day (60 nm) to go to Winter Harbour, but everything I have read about the entrance to Sea Otter Cove makes me want to avoid it.
Mike

Jadedcrew, I had one bad experience in Sea Otter Cove out of 8 good ones. So I think what I am saying is don't rely on it to shorten the distance in marginal conditions espescially in a South Westerly. If the weather is favourable, and that is always the case in a Northerly or light to variable winds the entrance will not be difficult at all although the depths inside are definately on the shallow side. Send me an email at wjfaulkner@shaw.ca and I will send you a nob file attachment with anchorages that are not in many of the guide books. I am definately not against the Broughtons I am just emphasising to maximise the time available on the outside. I know that you will have a wonderful experience.

Can you try sending the NOB to jadedcrew@qwest.net ? I tried to e-mail you, and it came back with a tellus.net address as undelerable.
Mike

We left Friday June 19, and are currently in Nanaimo. Will be in Desolation June 24 or 25. Loving those Chartworld Vectors (all 3 NDI's worth for $251 after all of the taxes, duties, and exchange fees (Euro to US $)).
Mike S/V Jaded

Ran Hole in the Wall, Yaculta, and Dent on the way from Octopus Islands to Blind Channel.
Mike

Hi jadedcrew, greetings from Port Hardy. I have never used the NDI vector charts because of the price so after reading your second last post I went on Chartworld and, with some difficulty, downloaded them to Tjaldur's laptop. WOW! Thanks for the tip. By the way, we came through the region you describe (Hole-in-the-wall) via Whiterock Passage instead. It was a successful transit at dead low tide but at one point the depthsounder read five foot three inches whereas Tjaldur draws six foot six inches. Moving on to Smith Sound, Rivers Inlet on weekend.

We have visited Forward Harbour, Lagoon Cove, Kwatsi Bay, Echo Bay, Shoal Bay, Joe Cove, crease Island, and are currently in Port McNeill, going to Bull Harbour tomorrow.

Some ten years back I spent a week-end at a remote dive lodge east of ALberni near the coast in Barkley Sound - some of the best diving of my life. Be sure to visit and drop a crab pot. Amazing ling cod and woll eels.

Haven't had a chance to update this adventure since Port McNeill. We had some poor weather for our run down the coast. Fog, overcast, no northwest wind, and cool temperatures for most of the coast. We had some nice days inland a ways (Dixie Cove, Tahsis, Bacchante Bay). Even Barkley Sound was overcast until 16:00 every day. We finally got some running breeze on our way in the JdF Straits, 20 knots after Port Renfrew all the way to Cadboro Bay east of Victoria plus we had a flood giving us another 3 knots of speed. Ran a total of 95 km from Bamfield to Cadboro Bay (by the way there is NO diesel available in Bamfield at this time). Spent the last two weeks in the San Juan's with excellent weather, but lots of you yachties to contend with. A good two weeks anyway, and finally home after 66 days on the boat. I would do it again, but the spouse, probably not.