SAILING CRUISE AND ROCKS GUIDE
ROCKS
ocks are the single greatest hazard in the islands. The island group is essentially a flooded mountain range. Some peaks never quite made it above the water and they are not happy about it. Get within striking distance and they reach out and grab your keel with a sickening thud.
The most active "killer rocks" we mark on the chart in red. Stay away from them - they have a lot of lead on them from passing keels. Of course, all asterisks (*) and addition signs (+) on the chart mark rocks to star far away from.
ROCKS
ocks are the single greatest hazard in the islands. The island group is essentially a flooded mountain range. Some peaks never quite made it above the water and they are not happy about it. Get within striking distance and they reach out and grab your keel with a sickening thud.The most active "killer rocks" we mark on the chart in red. Stay away from them - they have a lot of lead on them from passing keels. Of course, all asterisks (*) and addition signs (+) on the chart mark rocks to star far away from.
In fact, any time you sail into blue areas on the chart (10 fathoms or less) in this deep water region, be especially careful. Alertness is the key - sometimes sailors from shallow water areas get a false sense of security from the prevalent deep waters. They fail to realize it is literally possible to go from 300 feet to on the rocks in less than 30 seconds of sailing
Of course, all rocks are clearly marked on the chart. Rocks are few, but they must be noted. If you follow the simple maxim of keeping one eye on the chart and the other out of the cockpit, you'll stay out of trouble and have an enjoyable cruise
STYLE OF CRUISING
Generally, if you're like most cruisers you'll find yourself sailing about half a day and exploring the other half on foot or by dinghy. If you rise fairly early and get under way to arrive about noon at your next anchorage, you'll stand a good chance of having the pick of the lot while others are just getting underway. If you do your land exploring in the morning, cast off about noon, and arrive toward evening, you can expect slim pickings.
but If you are one of our repeat charter guests, you're bound to say "but you left out this neat little cove over on the. . ." And you'll be right. So you be the editor. Take this sheet with you and write comments on the bottom, in the margins, or add a tome. I'll include selected highlights in future editions.And I know I left out James Island, the bizarre stories about Barnes Island, Turn Island and Mackaye Harbor to say nothing of the fantastic Gulf Islands, Saanich Inlet, Desolation Sound and Princess Louise Inlet. Then there's the Sunshine Coast, the islands and fjords north of Desolation, and then let's not forget Barkley Sound
but If you are one of our repeat charter guests, you're bound to say "but you left out this neat little cove over on the. . ." And you'll be right. So you be the editor. Take this sheet with you and write comments on the bottom, in the margins, or add a tome. I'll include selected highlights in future editions.And I know I left out James Island, the bizarre stories about Barnes Island, Turn Island and Mackaye Harbor to say nothing of the fantastic Gulf Islands, Saanich Inlet, Desolation Sound and Princess Louise Inlet. Then there's the Sunshine Coast, the islands and fjords north of Desolation, and then let's not forget Barkley Sound
