North Channel

June 8-17, 2004

aboard BuscaBrisas from Little Current to the Whalesback Channel

(And Return)



Part 2



Fri11-Sturgeon Cove to Croker Island
     Another fine day; where to go? A light and variable breeze, a lazy broad reach out of the Bay of Islands towards the west. Where to go, where to go? Flip a coin? It really doesn't matter much; I'm sure anyplace will be nice. I'll have the sun in my eyes so it probably should be an easy entrance. Croker Island looks good with a straightforward entrance that will have the sun to my back after hooking around the south side.
     Since the wind was light and we were sailing a broad reach, I strapped the dinghy on the foredeck.

     And after a little bit I hooked up the sheet-to-tiller and we eased on past the north shore, just outside of a string of islands: Eastern, High, Perley, Kirkpatrick, Louisa, Tupper, Barren....

then south around Hewett Shoal and over to Fleming Bank. Amendroz Island with Bourinot Island forming a bit of shelter at it's big anchorage. Croker was approaching and the wind was letting up. It looked like we would not be able to make it before dark unless we got a boost from the outboard. Reluctantly, I lowered it into the water, pumped the fuel bulb, pulled the cord, and away we went with the drone of the outboard following in our wake.
     Wilson Point, the high southern end of Croker Island, neared and Secretary Island just on the eastern side became distinct.

     There is a channel between Croker and Secretary but it didn't look like anything I'd want to attempt without first checking it out in the dinghy on a dead-calm day as there are massive red granite humps strewn across the north end. So instead we circled around the west side of Secretary and entered the anchorage at the south end past the red granite humps, some visible, some submerged.

     This anchorage was already occupied by two other boats, but since it was late I decided to stay.

     Bill and I went ashore and wandered around a bit. The rock is very impressive and it is amazing how the pines grow with their roots tenuously clinging to the cracks.

Sat12-Croker Island to Eagle Island
     The next morning the other two boats left and as I was readying Busca another, bigger boat named Mild Steel came in and anchored.

     We weighed anchor and sailed out and around Secretary Island then west past the Pigs, a series of rounded granite humps that one could imagine are pigs reclining on the water.

     Then north along the west side of the Benjamins and around the eastern tip of Eagle Island, staying outside the shoals. The large anchorage on the north side looked pretty good so we sailed in and anchored south of little Figgy Islet.

     We rowed ashore for our walk, then headed back to the boat for the evening, getting treated to some nice light just before sunset

Sun13-Eagle Island to Wilfred/Laurier/Green Islands
     The next morning we rowed ashore and Bill did a little swimming and while he was in the water a huge horsefly....moosefly.....landed on his eyebrow and gave him a good bite. Bill dunked his head to get the fly off but the deed was done.

     One thing about sailing in this area is that there are so many places to go and so many ways to get there. Today a pretty good east wind was blowing, so I decided to cover a bit more ground. The west end of the channel between Aird and Jackson Islands looked likely, but how to get there? We could head east then north around Frechette or south around Eagle or just west. I studied the chart and decided that I'd try west and cut to the north around the west end of Hawkins Island. It looked to be about the most straightforward place to get into McBean Channel even though pretty close quarters.

     Away we went down the channel, studying and counting the islands to make sure it was Hawkins that I would be rounding and not some imposter that might have rocks lurking to snag us. The wind was carrying us faster than I would've preferred, and we scooted right along. The opening between Hawkins and Crooks began to show and I stayed close by Hawkins, seemingly about ready to wash ashore but yet in water over thirty feet deep. Looking back at Hawkins and the channel we had come through:

     Then we headed to the north side of the Hiesordt Rocks and west to Little Detroit

     At this point it was starting to look like rain ahead of us and the wind was letting up so it looked like we wouldn't quite make it to Jackson Island. Plan B was implemented and we rounded Shanly Island and sailed into the area between Wilfrid, Laurier, and Green Islands. There was one other boat there, Stella Maris, but with the rain coming we stayed. A quick row ashore and then back to the boat, just in time for the rain to hit, a solid drizzle that lasted a few hours.

     After the rain, we were treated to some great rich lighting and a rainbow.

continue to part 3