Instruction

Piloting Among The Islands

Navigating the narrow channels between the myriad islands of the various archipelagos is quite different from piloting in open waters. In many cases the current is as fast or faster than the boat. You are often travelling on a course 45 degrees different than your compass (or radar) indicates. There are many simple tricks to keeping track of your course and position.

Anchoring

Being competent at anchoring is your best insurance and the only way to get rest when you need it. It's also a lot quieter and cheaper that tying up to a marina. Many people carry an anchor they have no faith in because they have never used it. Competent anchoring skills will free you to stay in any small out of the way cove that you want. Be free. Learn to stop and rest.

Radio Procedure

Jon on the Radio The every day use of the VHF or CB radio is really quite different from the procedures taught in formal classes. Become fluent. Learn to be relaxed and comfortable. A hint: We monitor VHF 16; we almost never talk on it. We establish our working channels and stay there.

Boat Handling

You can learn to be as comfortable driving your boat as you are driving your car. Docking, pulling out, and backing up all come easy with a bit of guided practice. Choosing the best course from A to B is seldom a straight line. Learn to anticipate sea conditions in advance and take courses to be safe and comfortable. Comfort and safety are often one and the same. Learn to avoid the predictable rough areas around headlands, or at least meet them on a favourable angle.

Commercial Traffic

Commercial traffic is big, fast, powerful and in a hurry. Crossing a major shipping channel can feel like trying to crawl across the freeway. Ships often travel at the same speed as a high-speed zodiac. They come over the horizon and arrive with startling suddenness. BUT they are predictable and even approachable on the radio. Tugs with tows are very difficult to manoeuvre. If you understand their limits and concerns you can avoid trouble. Commercial fish boats are controlled by the gear they have in the water. Once you know what they are doing you can avoid interfering and still get close enough to see what's going on.

Tides and Currents

Strong Currents The height of the tide and whether it's rising or falling has almost no obvious relationship to the direction the water is flowing. I know that's counter intuitive but compare the tide tables at Alert Bay to the current tables at Weynton Pass. There is no such thing as a high slack or a low slack. There is a high and a low and there is a slack, but they often occur hours apart. For travelling we pay attention to the current. For anchoring we pay attention to the tide. Learn to read the book and make your life much simpler that it used to be.

Weather

Weather changes. The trick is to know when and how it is going to change. The weather channel on the VHF radio explains it all, but you have to learn what the forecast means, and how the anticipated weather will affect your travels in a given area. A 20-knot westerly meeting an outgoing current in front of Fife Sound is a situation to be avoided. The same place with an incoming current would just be a bit of a bouncy ride. You can learn to anticipate and thereby avoid such situations.

Customs

Every region and locality has its rules of conduct. If you know the rules people will be happy to see you. If you offend everyone in the area, you will miss out on the pleasure of meeting the locals and sharing their local knowledge.