Princess Louisa Inlet

We took a trip up to Jervis Inlet some years back, Lily and me in the old Martin sloop. This first pix is just past the Egmont cut  off.

 A very calm motoring trip that was with flat water all the way. It is a narrow inlet stretching about 40 miles into the coastal mount range.

 Long stretches with no anchorages

 The narrow gap in the distance marks the entrance to the Queen's Reach.

 Getting closer.

 Finally dropped the anchor on a shelf just off of a log dump in the far corner. Waiting for the slack at Malibu rapids the next day.

The entrance to Malibu rapids. This is a narrow S channel that is quite a fun ride through. It is blind entrance and once committed there is no turning back.

 Here is a trail at Macdonald Island where there is a youth camp established. There was no one there that summer though.

 A well known artist created this sculpture there.

 Our boat at the mooring Macdonald Island, which is halfway down the Inlet between Malibu and Chatterbox Falls. The trip was in 2009 or so and we spent four days at Macdonald island exploring the trails to the timberline and the shores by kayak.

 In 2014 I went back alone with the MaryJane in July. It was quite hot as we had not got the bimini or dodger installed at that time.

 Just had the steel tubing up with a tarp slung over it to give me some shade as I approach Malibu rapids.

 Made it through although a bit past the slack. The tide was coming in though so the current swept us right through.

 Passing Macdonald Island all the buoys are taken.

 You can hike to the snowfield from the camp at Macdonald Island.

 Put a shore line in and dropped the anchor in 100 feet just off the beach at Chatterbox Falls.

 The cliffs behind the boat at anchor.

After a fairly tough hike for 2 hours up past the falls to the old prospectors cabin remains, a fine view of the Inlet looking to the gap at Malibu rapid and the Queen's Reach beyond.

 The falls at the old cabin site.

 Chatterbox Falls

 The creek feeding the falls on the right.

 Nice paddling there. Generally very calm.

 Evening time is a very peaceful time. Just the sound of the falls.

 Leaving the inlet at slack. Once out of the Queen's Reach the wind picked up to 20 knots or so and I was able to set the sails. Tacking out of the inlet was nice, working the boat through the narrow channel on well heeled tacks. On the end of one port tack the genoa suddenly dropped about a foot with a bang! The sail remained pressed so I headed straight to the wind and fired up the engine. With the autohelm engaged I tried to furl in the sail, but it was locked and would not furl. Now there was about a 3 foot chop with the inflow winds against an ebb tide, so I headed up to the bow and while lifting up on the sail track was able to gradually furl the sail by hand. Special. Then of course I lost my Tilley Hat in all the action. There were a half dozen boats all leaving at the same time so they must have enjoyed the show. As I could no longer sail under a full press I decided to take advantage of the engine and with one reef in the main and the engine running easy I was able to make 7.5 knots. I made it down to Pender Harbour and set the anchor. Next morning I was able to drop the headsail and replace the broken bolt that holds the luff extrusion in place on my Flexible Furler system.