Port Hardy to Seymour Inlet

We spent a lovely night at Monday Anchorage after leaving Kwatsi Bay. That is one of our favourite spots in the Broughton’s. Although it has some memories! The first year we took Lilly on the boat she fell off the boat in Monday Anchorage. Jim needed to scoop her up with the salmon net as she was quickly swimming towards shore. She actually fell off between the skiff and the swim step. When we are at anchor she likes to go back and forth and sit in the skiff tied up behind the big boat.

We have been in Port Hardy for a few days. The depth sounder has been replaced by Stryker Marine. And the conclusion is the transducer also needs to be replaced. So we will continue to limp along with the depth sounder that seems to be reading depths of the shallower waters. Although we are not yet certain how well the new one is working. We are cautious and have the charts.

The next place we are heading is Seymour Inlet and Belize Inlet. We hear it is beautiful up there. But first we must go through Nakwakto Rapids. Which is a small opening that all the water from the Seymour and Belize Inlets come out of and is the second fasted tidal rapids. With Skookumchuck Narrows being the first.

That little tiny red square is Nakwakto rapids. You can see how far the inlets go in.

We will leave Port Hardy tomorrow to catch the high water slack. That is the only time you can go through the rapids is at slack water. Any other time is dangerous. Going through with a flood tide gives a bit of a push rather than slugging against an ebb tide. And don’t go through Slingby Channel! The waves in there can be mountains. Everyone tells us exactly the same thing. Although there are a few sailboaters that tell a story of going up or down Slingsby and then reinforce- don’t do it ! So we won’t!

Once we get up there apparently there is very little tidal change and very little weather. There is no civilization so to speak of – maybe a logging camp or two. No cell service. No lodges or water or fuel docks etc. So we plan to see as much as we can over a period of about 2 weeks. That is about how long we can last on our water supply.

No cell service! I hope the world is still around when we get out of there! Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe Thank you Dr Bonnie Henry !