Brad,
I was just logging in post a trip for the same event. Yes, indeed, we have a rare astronomical event, a full eclipse of a harvest moon. And the weather forecast right now is perfect for Sunday night: http://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v5k/evening-weather-forecast/53286?day=4 .
Jericho may be ok if the forecast NW wind doesn’t get worse, but remember that we will be fully benighted until 8:23, and only then will the moon begin to reappear until it’s fully out at 9:27. Sunset is at 7:00, dusk until 7:30 or so, and the eclipse starts in between at 7:11. I am a bit concerned that we’ll just be bobbing in the open bay and waves in near total darkness (except for the city lights).
So my plan was going to be to head to Wellington Park in Ladner and paddle through the Ladner Marshes from west to east. It’s just 8 kilometers in a nice circle through a protected and calm passage between Kirkland and Williamson islands. PIKA does their annual harvest moon paddle there, but the organizers are gone this year. There are places in that fully protected passage to stop or we could raft up.
The tide appears to be helping a bit, with a high high at 6:04PM (15 feet) and a mid low (5 feet) after midnight. At about 9:00, the outflow down the Fraser will be the strongest, potentially flushing us nicely back to Wellington.
Give that a thought, and also consider it maybe fun to be there for the start of the eclipse (shortly after 7:00). Let me know what you think, and I live in Vancouver, so Jericho would be easier. I am just concerned about the strong NW breeze forecast.
It’s a great time of year, and for many paddlers their last outing of the season.