PNW Cruise and Canadian Customs

[joempo]

A group of us from the South and Mid-Sound are discussing the idea of cruising to our rendezvous point at Ganges by way of Port Townsend and crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca from there. Looking at charts and checking the Canadian Customs web site, I see there is a CBSA office at Oak Bay Marina, east of Victoria.
Have any of you checked in through there? Regardless of weather and sea conditions crossing the strait, I'm thinking that might be a good port from which to begin our Canadian adventure. Any thoughts, other than "don't cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca"?

 

[walldog]

We have used the customs docks at Victoria (Which would be way out of your way...but fun) and Sidney. Sidney is more in your travel direction. You could also depending on your time head on up to Bedwell Harbor and clear there on your way to Ganges. This is what most will do as it will not carry you out of your way.

Crossing the Juan de Fuca is fine, just watch your weather especially the winds. A good link for weather planning is http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/PZ/132.html I like to see 2 foot or less for a comfortable crossing.

This link will give you weather for the Gulf Islands with Juan de Fuca. You will be interested in the East Entrance
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/CN/003.html

Have fun.

 

[Lobo]

Greetings from Victoria.

The Canada Customs at Oak Bay Marina is a telephone at the fuel dock. You phone the toll free number and clear via the telephone. If they decide they want to do an inspection you wait while they drive from town -- 30 minutes plus or minus. The Customs at Sidney (either Port Sidney or Van Isle Marina) is another 15-16 nautical miles up Haro Straight. And, as with Oak Bay, you phone from the dock and if they want to inspect you, you wait until they get there. In Sidney I believe they come from the airport which is only 5 miles away.

If you decide to fuel up in Victoria or Sidney I strongly suggest you either fuel up in the Victoria Inner Harbour (out of your way as you noted) or at Van Isle Marina in Sidney. Avoid Oak Bay as it is a low volume fuel dock and have gravity feed and it can take a while to get fuel -- and remember I said "low volume".

If weather and time are with you, I suggest you give Oak Bay a miss and go directly to Sidney. Port Sidney is about a mile before Van Isle (which is in Tseheum Harbour). Go to Port Sidney if you don't need fuel; go to Van Isle if you do. Moorage should be available at either place. Lots of boats anchor overnight at Sidney Spit Marine Park (north end of Sidney Island, about 3 miles from Port Sidney). There are mooring buoys and good holding ground for anchors. There is limited mooring in Tseheum Harbour.

A good site for winds in our area that can usually be counted on is "bigwavedave.ca". Willows Beach is the area of the Oak Bay Marina; Cook Street is the waterfront of Victoria (if you go into the Victoria Harbour),Island View Beach is Haro Straight and Pipers Lagoon is just north of Nanaimo. This is a kite boarders website and well respected by sailors in this area. As Walldog mentions, match wind with current.

Weather in Haro Straight is usually calmer than in Juan de Fuca, particularly along the Vancouver Island side, and in the evenings in is usually quite calm.

Dave
"Lobo"

 

[walldog]

Thanks Dave for that valuable "local" information.

Another site that gives good wind information is

http://i90.atmos.washington.edu/ferry/F ... frame1.htm

 

[joempo]

Thank you Dave and Herb for the information. It appears that Sidney may be a good option. At least this provides discussion points for our "pod" of Tug Nuts.