[Clark Perry-Bater]

I forgot one more thing. If you camp at Grace Harbour, there is a very easy 1 km trail up to Black Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen, so wild! Very nice for swimming, too. A mother loon tried to chase me out of the lake, undoubtedly protecting her chicks! Part way up the trail, maybe only 100-150 metres from the campsite, on the right, is a beautiful little waterfall. You’ll probably hear the waterfall from the trail.  That’s where I got fresh water to filter to drink.   -Clark

[Clark Perry-Bater]

Hi Sandra! My wife and I paddled in Desolation Sound for the first time last July. We had a great time, including a few challenges:

1. We launched at Okeover Inlet on a dropping tide. There is a very small marina with a boat launch ramp, but there are signs everywhere telling kayakers not to use the ramp. So we had to use the VERY rocky beach and by the time we finished loading our boats, I was standing in shoulder-deep water cramming our gear into the hatches. We could not find one bit of beach between the rocks to load our boats! So try not to launch at a low tide. If you have to, there is a better spot below the campground parking lot about 100 metres up the beach to the north.

2. As we paddled up the inlet (North), we encountered a bit of a headwind, even though we were told 3 days later as we paddled into a stronger headwind on our return that the prevailing wind in the inlet is a southerly, regardless of what the wind conditions are on the west side by Lund (which was a strong NW wind when we were there). So we ended up paddling against the wind both ways on Okeover.

3. You asked about currents. We only paddled as far as Grace Harbour (the first campsite on Okeover Inlet in the marine park.) Just before we turned right at Kakaekae Point to go up the harbour, we noticed a fairly strong current (1-2 knots or more, depending on the tide cycles) coming through the narrows beside that point. So if you plan to go through there, it would be a lot easier on an ebbing tide.

4. You said you plan to make a stop en route to Cumes. We found Grace Harbour to be a lovely campsite, as long as you don’t camp on the tent pad on the left before the outhouse. It was pretty stinky! We camped up the hill to the right – a bit of a climb with all our gear, but it was worth it. We stayed 3 nights! Of course, the water in the harbour is great for swimming – so warm!

So good luck, have fun, and may the wind be always at your back!    – Clark Perry-Bater

[Harley Cross]

Would be awesome if someone was willing to put on a rolling clinic 🙂 I would sign up

failing that, Dave at http://www.kayakcourses.ca/

does lessons.

[Svetozar Tzonkov]

Hello everyone,

1. I am planning a trip for the last week of August, 5 days / 4 Nights with two friends and I to the Broughtons. I have read a bunch of blogs online as well as the “Wild coast 3” book by John Kimantas, which is an amazing source of information. We plan to launch our Kayaks at Telegraph Cove, camp on Flower, Cedar/Owl and Hanson Island. I was wondering if anyone has been an this area and would share some personal experiences and recommendations regarding the place.

2. I have been paddling for the past 4 years and have been on a multi day trips before at the Southern Gulf Islands and Broken Group. I am comfortable with wet exits and rescues and have done a introductory course with wet exit. I would love to learn how to do the roll and was wondering if I could hire or join someone in a pool/open water to help/guide me.

Thank you very much in advance!

[Kevin Amos]

See you then.

[Admin]

Hi Sandra, I went to the homepage of the website and typed in Desolation Sound in the “Search” window — results included this “Destination Info Sheet”:

Sunshine Coast – Desolation Sound

Hope this helps!

Susan, SKABC Webmaster

[Sandra Waddle]

Hi! I am trip planning for a short desolation sound trip. I plan to go from Okeover provincial park area to Curmes Islands, with one stop along the way.

Is there anything important I should know? What are currents like in desolation sound? Wind patterns? Anything else?

Thanks!

[Barry Dutour]

Ocean Paddler mag out of the UK sells one: http://www.oceanpaddler.co.uk/sea-kayakers-aide-mémoire

[Kapila Jayaweera]

I am planning to paddle few hours before BBQ event. Please let me know if anyone interested. Launch from Locarno beach and will paddle toward Wreck beach. Plan might change depending on wind direction. Distance approximately 3.5knots one way.

Launch site:- Locarno Beach (4445 NW Marine Drive near main washroom building)

Time:- meet at 3:00pm, launching 3:30pm sharp. Return by 6pm for the BBQ even.

Requirement:- Capable of wet exit, self-rescue. Mandatory paddling gears approved by Transport Canada

Contact info :- Kapila_j@hotmail.com

** Please note that I am not a guide or have any trip leader experience. Paddles should have all safety equipment, be able to perform wet exit, self-rescue and follow all club safety policies and procedures.

[Maureen Benzon]

Sunday 18 August – early launch from Stratchcona park

Option 1

Launch at Stratchona Park  (google 4612 Strathcona Road) meet at 5.30 – o.t.w.by 6.00.

Route to be decided, then meet up with G who will be launching from Balcarra. Back to Stratchcona at 9.00 for rolling / rescue practice.

Option 2.

Launch at Strathcona at 9.00 for rolling / rescue practice. Short paddle back to Balcarra and off the water by lunch time (but bring a good snack)

My email is STILL down, so send me a text at 778-712-1035

🙂 Maureen

[Maureen Benzon]

Hi Karen,

A suit with a neoprene neck will not keep you dry if you swim, but if it is goretex, you will soon dry out on a warm day. On a cold and rainy day you might be in trouble.

My first dry suit had front zipper with the drop pants. I found it very bulky, but very convenient. My current dry suit is a men’s (the legs are slightly longer than the woman’s which means I can get into a small instead of a medium and therefore it is less bulky). For a woman, they will drop the front relief zipper by one inch for convenience. To pee, use a freshette (I have been warned that the other devices leave a lot to be desired) and simply pee on the beach like a guy! You do not need to remove pfd or sprayskirt. You should never have to take off a dry suit until the end of the day. It is designed to keep you dry!

I use KY gel on my neck to avoid latex rash. I keep it in my pocket, and if I get salt water in the neck whilst playing, it is easy to apply more without removing the suit. You get used to the neck and it gets softer as you wear an wash it.

I love getting off the water after a day of playing and being able to just step into shoes and drive home. I wear it all the time… 🙂

 

[Quirine Schuyff]

Hi Karen:

I have the two piece Kokatat  with Switch-Zip.

I love the separating zipper to allow “relief” at pit stops. I don’t have to take PFD or Spray Skirt off. (Although it is a bit awkward managing zip with all the gear on.) However, having seen women with the chest zip it seems nice to be able to take the top part of the suit off and tie it around the waist, to cool down, and also to do bathroom breaks. I have to take the whole top OFF to cool down. I have yet to have a problem with the zipper leaking. Yes it is fussy but done right I can’t see how it would leak. I don’t feel that it could be done wrong because it just wouldn’t close at all and to finish you have to tighten the twisting lock so it’s pretty fail-safe. I also can wear the pants and top separately. With the Switch-Zip the suit becomes very bulky in the middle. I found there to be a layer which isn’t really needed but I guess it likely is there for a reason. Once everything is on and I’m in my boat it isn’t an issue. But, I can see how in a smaller cockpit it might be.

The neck gasket is personal but I would echo Randy. I think that even if you were to go in your neck is about water level so the amount of water going in is minimal. And the comfort might just be worth it to some. I went for full DRYSUIT because I was planning to do rescue practice etc. , and hope to paddle year round and tend to get cold easily. I have had some irritation with the gasket but have a new bottle of KY to try next time. Any dirt or salt water in there will make the irritation worse so be careful. Mine isn’t too tight and actually feels pretty comfy. That might be due to the fact that the top is ridiculously large on me. This brings me to ….

Sizing with Kokatat. I am a normal size but found issue with their sizing. The pants were tight when the top fit fine. I had to get the next size up and now feel like the top is way too big but the pants are good. I felt the pants were the more important as all the bending that needs to be done.

On a warm day, it is warm inside. I find I sweat a lot. Be sure to wear quick dry layers under it. Generally, on the water it is usually a bit cooler and I haven’t found I overheat.

Go try a few on to feel the difference. I went to Skyview Outdoors and they also help with measurements and sizing and have lots of good advice and thoughts on the subject.

If you have more questions please don’t hesitate to email. If you are the same size you could try mine.

 

[Randy Chatterjee]

I’ll just speak to a neoprene versus latex neck.  Other companies, such as NRS, also sell suits with a neoprene neck tunnel.  Technically, any suit with a neoprene gasket for the neck is not a “drysuit” but a “paddling suit.”  Full submersion with a neoprene neck will invariably let a little water in, measured in teaspoons.  If you’d like to spend lots of time upside down perfecting the perfect roll, stick to a drysuit.

However, if you like to breath, have any kind of latex allergy, want a suit that lasts a long time with no maintenance, or just want a tiny bit of air exchange during a hot day between the sauna inside your suit and the outside air, then go neoprene.  All wrists are still latex, and they need to be, but the neck doesn’t have to be if you aren’t scuba diving.

My experience with neck gaskets on a new Kokotat was: 1) one year of suffocation and heat rash, 2) a little relief from KY for a while in the second year when I was sheepishly told about it, 3) in year 3 the latex gets tacky and isn’t evenly snug, and 4) in year 4, it rips and you have to cut it out,  glue in a new one, and you are back to stage 1.

My neoprene NRS paddling suit, a better (snugger) fit to begin with, is still going strong after 7 years.  I never wear my Kokotat drysuit except on the coldest winter days and only because I can fit a down jacket inside it.  Go with a paddling suit if you value your neck.

[Randy Chatterjee]

The best I can find is a few current points provided in the Navionics Boating App.

The five relevant points given are Goletas Channel at Heath Point, Lemon Point, Boxer Point, and halfway between Duval and the Gordon Islands.  There is also a point in the Gordon Channel just NE of Nigei Island that might help you estimate the inter-island currents.

Unfortunately the web-based Navionics Chart Viewer contains no tides or currents information.    So, you have 3 choices: 1) Anyone with the app can just relay or take screen shots of the current output for any given dates you’d like to check out.  2) Take advantage of Navionics’ free 2-week trial of their “Boating Marine and Lakes ” app for Android or iOS.  3) And finally, buy the app for around $50, and that includes all the chart downloads globally you could even need.  Of course, the charts do take up space on your phone, but you can just keep the ones near where you are going. The entirety of Vancouver Island’s coastline is under 300 megaBytes.

I personally went for option 3 almost 10 years ago, and have loved it.  No additional fees are ever required.  I can tell you that when you end up taking a very different route home than you planned (and don’t have the chart or a clue how to go), the backup of having high resolution charts, tides, and currents on your phone very easily accessible–assuming your phone doesn’t get wet–is a great peace of mind.  And no web connection is necessary.  When I once got literally blown off the Pacific just north of Nootka Island and had to navigate to Gold River for a pickup, a place I’d never been and had no chart to navigate the complex 50 miles to get there, Navionics on my phone saved the day.

That said, the information on Navionics is not quite as good as the paper or web data on Transport Canada’s website.  However, it’s there and still useful.  I’m happy to help in any way I can.

Randy

[George Prevost]

I spent a couple of frustrating hours yesterday morning trying to get some current information about the area north of Port Hardy.  The Canadian Tide and Current Tables that we usually use have nothing useful for this area.  I already knew that but in the past it’s been possible to get information for several of the spots where we’re going from NOAA, the U.S. government site – go figure!  However, it appears that they are no longer publishing the data we need.  I saw a couple of suggestions that this may be because their information wasn’t particularly accurate, which we have noticed in the past.  I tried calling and e-mailing the Coast Guard in Port Hardy and a couple of the dive resorts in the area – current is even more important for divers than for us so they must be figuring it out somehow – but haven’t gotten any useful information back yet.  Have any of you used any kind of on-line calculator or an app that gives current information?  It would be great to get some kind of data for at least one of the following: Goletas Channel, Browning Passage, Nahwitti Bar, Bates Passage, Lemon Point, Heath Point, Duval Point and/or Boxer Point.  Thanks!

[Author]

Replies