CRUISING TO PRINCESS LOUISA INLET

SAMPLE ITINERARY - 6 DAYS

Day 1
Take advantage of our early boarding option and stay aboard your yacht.  Then plan to get up early on your first day and get ready to go.   Today you will travel 40 miles across Georgia Strait to Jervis Inlet and anchor at either Harmony Islands Marine Park or tie up in Egmont Marina.  These are the best choices to stay for the night before heading up to Princess Louisa Inlet.  Harmony Islands (1) are located in Hotham Sound on the north side of Jervis Inlet.  The best anchorage is in Kipling Cove, among the three northern-most islands.  This is the prettiest of the anchorages along the entrance to Jervis Inlet.  The water is warm for swimming and there is a waterfall that tumbles 1400 feet down sheer mountainside near the Harmony Islands.  You could also choose to stay at Egmont.  Egmont (2) is located on the Sechelt Peninsula, on the south side of Jervis Inlet, and is near the entrance to Skookumchuck Narrows (3).  There are two marinas here, fuel, a general store, and a pub.   There are no safe anchorages, beyond these points, up Jervis Inlet.

Day 2
By now you will have checked your tide tables at least ten times so you know exactly when slack water occurs at Malibu Rapids (4) which mark the entrance to Princess Louisa Inlet.  Today you are travelling almost 45 miles up Jervis Inlet, which ranges from 1 to 1 1/2 miles wide and is more than 600 feet deep.  Currents are light and you are more affected by wind than current.  As you approach Malibu Rapids, turn your VHF Radio on to Channel 16 so you can warn other vessels 1. when you are about to enter the rapids and 2. the direction you are travelling.  Only attempt the passage at slack water.  The currents run to 9 knots and the channel is very narrow and dog-leg shaped.  

Once through the Malibu Rapids, you are into the famous Princess Louisa Inlet (5).  The Inlet runs 4 miles long and is surrounded by mile-high mountains that drop almost vertically into deep water (1,000 feet deep) below.  Beautiful waterfalls stream down the mountainsides.  Halfway along the inlet, 4 mooring buoys have been installed behind MacDonald Island.  At the head of the inlet you will find Chatterbox Falls (6) and an 895-foot park dock.  You may have to tie alongside another yacht if it is really busy.  The dock is free but stays are limited to 72 hours.  There is free water at the dock, but it is non-potable (unfortunately).

Day 3
Sleep in and relax today.  Explore the pools near the base of Chatterbox Falls, hike to the Trappies Cabin (Wait!  It is a demanding 2-hour hike up hill), dinghy over to Camp Malibu ~ a Young Life Christian summer camp for teenagers, or just visit and meet other yachties on the dock.

                                   
Day 4
Head out at morning slack water and trek back down Jervis Inlet.  Maybe drop into Egmont and top up on fresh supplies.
Day 5
Cruise down Agamemnon Channel (7) to Pender Harbour (8).  It has good marinas, anchorages, eateries and shopping.  There are two fuel docks here.   Explore the town.  If you want to position yourself closer to Comox, you may want to cruise north to Powell River and Westview or cruise south to Secret Cove (9), Smugglers Cove (10) or Bucaneer Bay (11).  There are lots of choices on the Sunshine Coast.   Watch the weather for tomorrow's Georgia Strait crossing and plan accordingly.
Day 6 - Henry Bay
Start your cruise home early this morning.   Depending on the weather, it might be another six to eight-hour run to Comox.   If the weather is good don't go into the dock, go to Henry Bay on Denman Island.

Day 7 - Return
Up early to get underway.  The boat must be refueled and off-loaded by 9:00 am.  You should budget at least 11/2 hours for the crossing and refueling.  On the way to the Comox Marina, take the time to check that all personal gear is packed and the boat is clean and ready for check-in.  Check into the dock office to say good-bye!

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Authored By: Desolation Sound Yacht Charters Ltd.
Last Updated: March 2, 2010