Exploring The Coast By Boat

The cruiser's guide to the best boating areas in British Columbia and Washington, including Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, the Gulf Islands, the Vancouver area, the Upper Strait of Georgia, Desolation Sound, and the Discovery Islands.

“Time did not exist; or if it did it did not mater. Our world then was both wide and narrow—wide in the immensity of the sea and mountain; narrow in that the boat was very small, and we lived and camped, explored and swam in a little realm of our own making...” This is the fascinating true adventure story of a woman who packed her five children onto a twenty-five-foot boat and explored the coastal waters of British Columbia summer after summer in the 1920s and 1930s. Acting single-handedly as skipper, navigator, engineer and of course, mother, Muriel Wylie Blanchet saw her crew through exciting—and sometimes perilous—encounters with fog; rough seas, cougars, bears and whales, and did so with high spirits and courage. On these pages an independent woman with a deep respect for the native cultures of a region, and a refreshing wonderment about the natural world, comes to life. In The Curve of Time, she has left us with a sensitive and lyrically written account of their journeys and a timeless travel memoir not to be missed.

In this collection of narratives Victoria technologist, environmentalist and writer Alex Zimmerman tells stories not only of self-propelled travel and adventure but also of nature, the magnificent environment and of interesting people that he meets on the coast of British Columbia. Zimmerman is not the first to paddle and write about the BC Coast, but he brings a fresh and personal perspective as he details how he learns the necessary physical and mental skills of solo travelling. His encounters with the non-human inhabitants of the coast, the whales, wolves, bears and a super-pod of dolphins, are brought to life with a thrilling immediacy. Zimmerman's writing evokes vivid visual imagery and he conveys to the reader a strong sense of being there. You will share with him the wonder, joy, fear and awe he experienced as he discovered the coast's geography, its ecology, its people and his own growing capabilities in the process of becoming coastal.

Common lore is that you cannot sail the northwest coast - the winds are too fickle so you must motor along the Inside Passage. The author knows that is not true because in 7 years she traveled over 10,000 NM along the northwest coast in her 38' sailboat, sailing about 2/3 of the time under way. This guide will help you understand how you can do the same. There are two features of the northwest coast inland waters that you must understand. First, the regions you will pass through have unusual wind patterns that seem completely erratic until you understand the common summer weather patterns and how land affects wind. Then, the winds are predictable and comprehensible, and you will know when and where to sail. Second, the tidal currents can be so strong that a narrow channel becomes a raging white water rapid, complete with whirlpools and strong eddies. With two tide cycles a day, and a height difference of up to 23 feet (7 meters), anyone traveling in a sailboat must take the extreme tidal conditions seriously. If you don't know when your travel must coincide with the appropriate current flow, you may go backwards (or worse). This guide is not a memoir, doesn't focus on anchorages, and won't try to teach you how to sail. Instead it is a practical guide about how to take advantage of the characteristic winds and tidal currents of each area so you can enjoy sailing, rather than motoring, along this uniquely beautiful temperate wilderness coastline. Whether you are sailboat cruising in the Pacific Northwest, or getting ready for the Race to Alaska (R2AK), this guide will help you become an expert at taking advantage of the so-called "fickle" winds. Here are more details about the very-well researched guide. It begins with a brief part on planning and a general overview of the currents and wind. It then provides 19 reference chapters divided into three parts: "Cruising in Civilization" from Seattle to Johnstone Strait; "Cruising in Wilderness" through Johnstone Strait, Queen Charlotte Strait and the north BC coast to Prince Rupert; and "Cruising the Big Water" from the Southeast Alaska border to Glacier Bay. Each reference chapter identifies the relevant nautical charts, applicable weather forecasts, pertinent marine condition reporting stations, tide and current stations, details of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) and the local commercial traffic check-in points. Each chapter also includes route planning sections that highlight important decisions that sailors must make under way based on current weather conditions, such as whether to run Johnstone Strait or take the more protected northern channels, or deciding whether and how to take an inland vs. outer route. For planning purposes, the Appendices provide historical wind data for the summer months from more than 85 marine condition reporting stations so you can know how the wind direction and speed varies from month-to-month. This guide is written for sailors, by a sailor who understands the conditions sailboats need for sailing. You'll find yourself constantly referring to this planning and reference guide as you sail the Pacific Northwest Coast.

Experience 60 of the world's greatest adventures on water- from sailing the Nile by felucca and cruising the Canadian Arctic, to exploring Pitcairn Island by cargo ship. With detailed accounts of each route, beautiful photos and practical tips on how to plan your voyage, Amazing Boat Journeys helps you discover a more rewarding way of travelling.

Every summer morning, Ellie and her Nonna go to the beach. They swim and build sandcastles, and while Nonna reads, Ellie watches the other children play. One day Ellie builds up the courage to approach an older girl playing on her own in a beached rowboat. Piper has a gift, an imagination so great that she whisks Ellie off on grand adventures, going high in the air, deep below the ocean and everywhere in between in their little blue boat, their magic boat. When Piper has to leave, Ellie discovers she has her own vivid imagination.