June 30 to July 8, 2021 - Transit through Canada to Ketchikan - COMPLETE

June 30 - July 8, 2021 - Transit through Canada to Ketchikan - COMPLETE

We headed across the Canadian border on June 30 prepared to offer up our float plan for transit through Canada to Alaska.  We cleared customs at Van Isle Marina in 15 minutes and were on our way by 12:30 PM.  The customs officials were professional and polite and cleared us quickly after we presented our float plan, passports and ArriveCAN information.  I should preface this with the fact that as we crossed the border to Canada we submitted information to ArriveCAN via the mobile app, called into Marine Reporting Canada and provided information, AND we were greeted by the RCMP who also wanted information.  All this in a two hour span before arriving at the customs dock.  In all instances the personnel were professional and friendly!

Our journey went very well with only two challenging situations, gale winds in Johnstone Strait and 3' - 6' seas in Queen Charlotte Strait/Cape Caution area.


Gale winds in Johnstone Strait



Float Plan

Our plan was to go from Van Isle Marina to:
  1. Clam Bay
  2. Gowland Harbour
  3. Port Harvey
  4. Allison Harbour
  5. Codville Lagoon
  6. Rescue Bay
  7. Khutze Inlet
  8. Pearl Harbour
  9. Foggy Bay
  10. Ketchikan
We made great time coming up the Strait of Georgia and decided to advance our plan and go through Seymour Narrows that day, by passing Gowland Harbour.  As we entered Discovery Passage, the winds kicked up to 20-30 knots so we pulled into Kanish Bay to hold up.  The next day our plan was to travel to Port Harvey, however, when we got out in Johnstone, we found gale winds and diverted to Forward Harbour via the back route.  The next day the winds had eased to 15 - 20 kts and we had an easy cruise up Queen Charlotte Strait to Allison Harbour.



View at Forward Harbour



The forecast for Cape Caution rounding was confusing as Pine and Egg Islands were reporting 10kt winds, moderate swell with 2' chop.  Sounded GREAT!  However the Central Coast forecast had 1 - 3 meter seas!  Sure enough, once out into Queen Charlotte Strait and found ourselves in confused seas with 3' - 6' waves.  It was a gnarly 3 hours however once around Cape Caution the sea state settled into steady swells making for a more comfortable ride with a very calm ride up Fitz Hugh Sound.  So relaxing was this last leg that the Captain and Crew took a short rest while the Admiral piloted the boat on to Codville Lagoon.


Captain taking a break after navigating past Cape Caution


As we left Codville lagoon we realized that authorities may have been checking up on as as we did have a Coast Guard cutter outside our anchorage at Allison Harbour and we had a police boat at anchor with us in Codville Lagoon.  Left us wondering .....
We headed out Seaforth Channel to our next destination, Rescue Cove, when we realized that Milbanke was calm with mild swells.  We decided to advance our itinerary and head for Finlayson Channel and onto our next stop of Khutze Inlet.
Our sighting of wildlife had been sparse so far, with only a sea lion, a small minke whale and a passing heard of dolphin.  On this leg we were rewarded with the sight of a humpback swimming along, a pod of Dall's porpoises swimming off our bow AND we got to witness a bald eagle catch a fish and SWIM back to shore with it.

Dall's porpoises surfing the bow wave

Our stay at Khutze left us unrested as we the winds picked up to 25 kts and we were anchored on a rocky bottom - it was a noisy night.  It was a relief to wake up to a quiet morning with light winds as we made our way up Grenville Channel to East Inlet.  This day was uneventful until we arrived at Klewnuggit Inlet.  The winds pick up to 20 - 30 kts making for lumpy waters.  However, East Inlet was quiet and a pleasant anchorage.  
Heading into East Inlet

The next stop was Pearl Harbour in Chatham Sound.  As we exited Grenville Channel into the Sound, conditions were calm and settled.  We decided to advance our itinerary and pass on Pearl Harbour heading for Dundas Island instead.  This tuned out to be a pleasant stopping point and set us up for Ketchikan the next morning bypassing Foggy Bay.


Arrived Ketchikan



We had low ocean swells of 1 - 2' and and easy cruise from Dundas Island to Ketchikan.  We stopped for fuel and settled in at the Marina at 2:00 PM.

We transited Canada in 9 days covering 680nm.

We were told at the fuel dock that best places to eat are:
  • Cape Fox - Best view/food
  • Fish House - Small menu, cute, good food
  • Bar Harbour - Great food
  • Jazz Club - live entertainment





Location: Ketchikan, AK 99901, USA

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