Dolphin Charters

The boat and students left Port Townsend early in the morning of May 29 bound for Sidney BC and some last minute shopping. They then headed north to Nanaimo and the Dodds Narrows, transiting at night. This was a repositioning and training cruise for folks that wanted a combination of instruction by two USCG captains and the cruising grounds of the Inside Passage. As usual sun and rain were the daily weather forecast, but the rain contributed to some spectacular waterfalls. This is "really fresh water".

On to Campbell River where the boat anchored east of the Seymour Narrows transiting near slack water the next day. The students were responsible for most of the actual driving of the boat, and also the calculations to transit several narrows and races at the appropriate times. It can be way too exciting to try to go through some of these narrow passages with a flood or ebb at full speed or even close to it.

In he northern part of Vancouver Island and the Broughton Archipelago the group visited Telegraph Cove, Alert Bay on Cormorant Island, Gilford Island and village before crossing Queen Charlotte Sound. The crossing was pretty good, the boat staying close to the eastern shoreline and the protection of the islands. They anchored Delphinus near Nakwakto Rapids and took the skiff to the trail to view the rapids that can only be transitted at the very brief slack water that happens 4 times/ day (do the calculations!).

Ocean swells disappeared once a little ways past Cape Calvert at the southern tip of Calvert Island. The boat entered Kwakshua channel to Pruth Bay and the trail to the Pacific (not all the time was spent in instruction!).

Practicing docking Delphinus, instruction in radar interpretation, practical use of the tide and current tables (very important for parts of this journey), and the "boiled lobster" look when trying on survival suits here were all part of the fun and games. The group visited the native town of Bella Bella and headed north through Fraser Reach to Butedale on Princess Royal Island where all gazed at the falls before arriving at Bishop Bay and the hot springs. The facilities were much appreciated!

Boat and crew passed the Tsimshian town of Hartley Bay on the way to Prince Rupert, the largest town in this remote part of British Columbia and the Canadian Railway terminus. Alaska the next stop! The last night was spent at anchor in the Pearse Canal before cruising through Foggy Bay on the way to Ketchikan the last morning.

The last photos show some of the smiling people and magnificent sights that can be found on a trip like this.

Photographers: Julie Cheng, Richard Foregger

Check Schedule for our next Trawler Training trip!

Find out more about Ronn Patterson
Find out more about Richard Foregger
Back to top of page