Johnstone Strait to Octopus Islands

 Johnstone Strait is an approx. 45 mile stretch that we have to go out into one way or the other, when heading north or south.  Daleen has heard many stories from other women aboard their boats over the years, Johnstone is a place that Daleen enjoys calm seas and light breezes.  HA.....  Now John says, those stories come from women aboard power boats without a heavy keel.

We knew wind was expected in Johnstone but only 15-20 from the NW which is at our stern.  No problem but it takes Omega 6 hours to go that distance and only part of the time you have the current with you.  So alas, following seas going 4 knots with current against us causes waves which were only 2-3 feet but after so long.  You get the picture.  The sail kept going back and forth and later we decided it would have been smoother with just the head sail and put the main down.  Anyway, not scary but Daleen was glad to get into Hand Field Bay, Cameleon Harbour on Sonora Island.  Even though we had a visit from a large school of white sided Pacific dolphins.  IT was truly cool and we haven’t seen them for many years and it was fun watching them jump & twist over the 2-3 foot seas on Johnstone Strait. 

Anyway, Hand Field Bay which is one of our favorite places to anchor, that our friends Lee & Rosey introduced us to.  A beautiful anchorage and with sunshine it was even nicer.  We woke the next morning with calms seas to cross over to Upper and Lower Rapids.  Since Daleen wanted to get out of Johnstone Strait/Discovery Passage early, we were two hours early to the rapids, which have to be gone thru at slack.  So we dropped the anchor in Owen Bay, which is before the rapids, and after a delightful brunch, we lifted anchor and went thru the rapids with no problem.

We entered into the Octopus Islands and dropped anchor in the first bay and stern tied.  We met a lovely couple from Sidney.  Helen, a photographer and her husband Bert and their adorable Maltese, Eli.  They are aboard a lovely Nordic Tug 42 and were surprised by the arrival of their friends who also entered into the bay and each have Nordic Tugs.    Its like a convention.

The sun has come out after a night of rain and a morning of mist of fog, it has been a wonderful stay.  We dropped our crab pots in the Octopus Islands and caught 15 male Dungeness crab, all too small.  Darn…  Another time.  We have enjoyed so much seafood along the way and look forward to more.