We have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to passage planning at this point. We find ourselves three days ahead of schedule, with four nights to squander before we meet with Frederic, Marta, Emily and Jake on Sunday, June 12 in Prince Rupert. Kay and I sat down this evening and put our heads in the books and charts to decide where to explore.
Before we leave Curlew Bay, we have a decision to make: Inside Passage up Grenville Channel, or Outside Passage up Principe Channel. Grenville Channel is a marine highway up to Prince Rupert with fewer options for exploring along the way. Principe Channel is wild with abundant opportunities to explore a plethora of small bays and coves between Banks and Pitt Islands.
With plenty of time on our hands, the question comes down to weather, since the outer passage is more exposed to wind and seas along the way. We woke this morning to find the forecast fairly settled with winds expected to be less than 20 knots in Hecate Straight for the next several day days; winds in Principe Channel ought to be lower than that and the anchorages are well protected, so we're thinking we will go the more interesting route and see what happens.
Now on the itinerary are Mockton Inlet (according to Douglass: "This is true Outer Passage Wilderness"), Patterson Inlet ("…particularly beautiful"), Colby Bay (our only visit to Banks Island), and Newcombe Harbor. From Newcomb we are on to Prince Rupert for a couple of nights where these latest posts can be posted.
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