Secret Coves and Passages




A scattering of smaller Gulf Islands along Haro Strait

 

After a night’s stay in Port Sidney, we headed east to visit some of the smaller islands found scattered in Haro Strait which make up part of the Southern Gulf Islands.  Passing the west end of Forrest Island, we pulled into a pretty little cove on the north side which looked to be a wonderful day anchorage; however, being a private island, we would not be able to go ashore.  

Pretty Cove at National Park Reserve, Rum Island

'Isle-de-Lis at Rum Island,' a Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, would be a better choice for an afternoon hike, so we continued a little further and entered a similar pretty cove on Rum Island; signage for the park is clearly posted along the shore.  Rum Island is said to have come by its name during prohibition.  The island is strategically located along the boundary between Canada and the U.S.  

Turn Point Lighthouse seen in the distance from Rum Island

You can look across Haro Strait from Rum Island and see Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island in Washington State.  Perhaps Rum Island served as a convenient pick-up point for the elicit drink during prohibition days in the States (1920-1933).   Today, Customs & Border Protection personnel keep a watchful eye along this water boundary.  We had just taken the dinghy ashore, when a patrol boat suddenly appeared in the cove circling our boat and checking out our activity ashore, they must have seen our customs clearance number posted on the pilothouse window and decided we were harmless tourists; they left almost as quickly as they appeared.  

Going ashore, Isle-de-Lis at Rum Island

We didn’t find any rum bottles hidden on the island, but we did find some picnic tables and tent platforms.  It’s a cute island to explore with great views and nice trails, a perfect lunch stop.  After our day-anchorage at 'Isle-de-Lis at Rum Island,' we continued north for the Pender Islands, passing through Bedwell Harbour on South Pender, the site of the luxury marina resort, Poet’s Cove.  A custom's dock is located at Poet's Cove Marina and is another 'point of entry' to clear customs for boats coming from the U.S.  The beautiful resort at Poet's Cove has ample moorage.  Adjacent to the resort is Beaumont/Mount Norman Park, offering excellent walking trails and 14-15 mooring balls able to accommodate boats up to 50 feet, or 40 feet dependent upon expected winds.  

Boat transiting Pender Canal, southbound

Signage for size limits are posted on the buoys.  As evening was drawing near, we decided to anchor in Port Browning on North Pender Island, where we would be protected from the day's southwest wind.  North Pender Island is reached by boat from either Swanson Channel or Plumper Sound, or you can take the short-cut found at the northwest end of Bedwell Harbour, a shallow, narrow passage called Pender Canal.  

Approaching Pender Canal Bridge

After checking tide tables and lowering our hinged mast, we were ready to pass under the car bridge that connects the two Pender Islands (see page 200 in the 2017 WG for bridge clearance).  Since the canal has a dogleg, vessels approaching from the opposite direction cannot see each other; boaters should always make a ‘securite’ call on the VHF Radio announcing that they are entering the canal and from which direction.  

With Mast down, m/v Got d' Fever safely passes below

Sure enough, just as we approached the south end of the canal, a boat announced they were entering from the north, transiting southbound.  We waited until they were through and then it was our turn.  A short, fun transit, and we were on the other side in Port Browning at North Pender Island, we set the hook and settled-in for a restful night.