Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

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BOAT
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by BOAT »

Okay, then just make sure you stay away from the torpedos - I heard that the submarines have a pipe thing for a periscope that sticks up out of the water like in this picture - if you see that thing sticking up out of the water turn around or he might shoot you

Image


But still, I checked on ship finder and there were no ships there - today the only thing I found on the west coast was a tug boat and he is really really slow and has rubber tires and bumper fenders all over him so even if he hits you you will not get damaged.
SEASPAN COMMODORE
MMSI 316004100
UNDER WAY AT 10 KTS
HEADED TO FAIR HARBOR
LOCATION 49.3815, -126.729
FLAG - CANADA


Image

Make sure you send us pictures when you get there . .

Image

ALSO LET US KNOW IF YOU FIND TREASURE
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yukonbob
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by yukonbob »

Also check summe cruise ship schedule to and from Alaska. Most do a loop up the inside and back down on the outside or vise versa. Not sure if the whole submarine thing is regarding Whiskey Golf training grounds but also something to check for new people to the area.
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Chinook
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by Chinook »

Reading BOAT's stuff about submarines, I completely forgot about Whiskey/Golf. It's a large Canadian naval warfare restricted area which sits astride some of the most popular routes for crossing the Strait of Georgia. Last time we headed north, it was closed the day before we planned to cross, because of a planned exercise. The Canadian VHF weather broadcast usually mentions closure schedules for Whiskey/Golf. We did encounter one of our Trident subs last year, down near Cumberland Island, GA, and had to stay way wide in the channel while the sub and her escorts guided her in to port. Those things are really huge. We take the narrow route north of Desolation Sound, through all the tidal rapids, so that keeps us clear of the cruise ships and away from most ferry routes.
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BOAT
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by BOAT »

Chinook wrote:Reading BOAT's stuff about submarines, I completely forgot about Whiskey/Golf. It's a large Canadian naval warfare restricted area which sits astride some of the most popular routes for crossing the Strait of Georgia. Last time we headed north, it was closed the day before we planned to cross, because of a planned exercise. The Canadian VHF weather broadcast usually mentions closure schedules for Whiskey/Golf. We did encounter one of our Trident subs last year, down near Cumberland Island, GA, and had to stay way wide in the channel while the sub and her escorts guided her in to port. Those things are really huge. We take the narrow route north of Desolation Sound, through all the tidal rapids, so that keeps us clear of the cruise ships and away from most ferry routes.
And I was told the submarines run into each other - but Highlander said they don't but he did say the torpedos are dangerous - anyways- STAY AWAY FROM ANY PIPES STICKING OUT OF THE WATER! They are probably attached to those submarines and they might have torpedos too - in Hawaii they crash into the bottoms of Japanese boats and sink them and if there are no survivors and no one see's it they will probably not tell anyone - don't let the submarines get you - if you see those periscopes turn around - I don't trust them.

P.S. You guys better hurry - There are more boats coming - I see this boat heading that way on Ship Finder:

Image

I guess we know now where that SEASPAN COMMODORE was heading - I bet he is pushing that big cargo boat around.
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Phil M
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by Phil M »

STAY AWAY FROM ANY PIPES STICKING OUT OF THE WATER
How will I ever go sailing now that I have to worry about submarines? :?

I'm not sure the Canadian Navy has fully functional submarines right now anyways. The fact that the old submarines have to be towed behind a warship kind of defeats the purpose of sneaking up on anyone. :|
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BOAT
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by BOAT »

Okay, well that's a good thing - I'm glad that there are not many submarines in Canada - In Hawaii the submarine crashed into the Japanese boat:

Image

If they run over a MAC I bet they don't tell anyone so don't get caught!
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yukonbob
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by yukonbob »

I think there are uhh...smaller things to worry about...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7pViEXVCjcA

Same thing happened up here a number of years back near point Adolphus, boat sunk in minutes, thankfully there were fishing vessels watching at the time.
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BOAT
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by BOAT »

yukonbob wrote:I think there are uhh...smaller things to worry about...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7pViEXVCjcA

Same thing happened up here a number of years back near point Adolphus, boat sunk in minutes, thankfully there were fishing vessels watching at the time.
I'm pretty sure that video was proven a fake a long time ago.

Don't worry about the submarines - whales are safe, and the cargo boats are pretty big to spot - I assume what the deal is there in the fjords would be small vessel traffic?? Not sure - sailing there to me would be like sailing on a different planet - still, I get icky feeling thinking that a submarine might be underneath - (creepy!) :?
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grady
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by grady »

You do not need to worry about a submarine. Just keep an eye out for him on your radar. You are safe until he does a crazy Ivan. If that happens just drill a hole in your yacht and scuttle it.
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by Highlander »

grady wrote:You do not need to worry about a submarine. Just keep an eye out for him on your radar. You are safe until he does a crazy Ivan. If that happens just drill a hole in your yacht and scuttle it.
R u recommending a drill bit which would be faster that a hole saw but the later could cut a bigger hole ! :D :D :D
or u could just ram the telescope & declare a Holy War !! :o & Trump them with a twitter ? :P

J 8)
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by Highlander »

Anyways would b nice to hear from anyone who has done this trip on a Mac or another sail boat for some good & informative discussion pertaining to the actual trip , advise , comments, emg. anchorages , etc

Just sayin Thats All

J 8)
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Chinook
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by Chinook »

We've previously been on about 2/3's of the route, all the way up the inside, from Victoria north to Port McNeil, and westward from Victoria up the outside as far as Hot Springs Cove. Only have the wild stretch on the north of the island, around Cape Scott, and down past the big inlets to Hot Springs Cove yet to see. If you pick up a copy of Waggoners Cruising Guide, you'll find excellent descriptions of the route, with most of the best anchorages highlighted. When we were in the Broken Islands in 2013 we encountered Waggoners associate editor, who was cruising the route. He completely updated the info on Vancouver Island's west coast after that trip. His recommendations are excellent, as far as anchorages, routes, and sights are concerned.
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by BOAT »

I rode on the ferry boat - does that count?
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by yukonbob »

BOAT wrote:I'm pretty sure that video was proven a fake a long time ago.
No that's all just speculation by internet armchair experts :wink:
And its no laughing matter, happens more than most would care to think about, either breaching whales landing on boats or power boats hitting whales under speed. Latest real incident was a women killed in Mexico in 2015 when a grey whale (I think) landed on a sightseeing boat. Whales are frequently killed by cruise ships and large vessels striking them in AK including some local 'celebrity' humpbacks in Glacier Bay. I watched a young whale one year breach repeatable while we were at anchor; they don't look where they're going, they're just having fun and this one kept going until it was exhausted then woudl take a min or two break and repeat the process. Have had many breach too close for comfort and enough for the wake to move the boat
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Phil M
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Re: Thinking of Circumnavigating - Vancouver Island, that is

Post by Phil M »

Chinook wrote:We've previously been on about 2/3's of the route, all the way up the inside, from Victoria north to Port McNeil, and westward from Victoria up the outside as far as Hot Springs Cove. Only have the wild stretch on the north of the island, around Cape Scott, and down past the big inlets to Hot Springs Cove yet to see. If you pick up a copy of Waggoners Cruising Guide, you'll find excellent descriptions of the route, with most of the best anchorages highlighted. When we were in the Broken Islands in 2013 we encountered Waggoners associate editor, who was cruising the route. He completely updated the info on Vancouver Island's west coast after that trip. His recommendations are excellent, as far as anchorages, routes, and sights are concerned.
even with waggoner's cruising guide I would think you would be pushing our MacGregors to the Limit by attempting a circumnavigation. A solo navigation would even be more extreme, in my opinion. IMHO :o
But it's good to know that Waggoners has a possible route laid out, keeping in mind that larger sailboats carry more fuel and water.
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