Wednesday June 7th, 2023
We left Squirrel Cove at 10:00 am heading through Yuculta and Dent Rapids. Marlene had completed the calculations and we needed to be at Yuculta Rapids at 1:00 pm, then continuing on to Dent Rapids at slack tide. Every time we go through these rapids we hold our breath because we had a “scared straight experience” about 10 years ago on a friends boat who got the timing incorrect. We entered the rapids at full ebb where we encountered deep whirlpools and current against us at 11 knots in a boat that could only go 8 knots. Not good, hence scared straight. We were rescued by boaters in Big Bay who were enjoying the show but realized how scary the situation was. Boats have capsized here many times and lives have been lost. This is serious shit. Good news, if you get the rapids right, it’s a non event. It was a non event. We continued on to our destination of Blind Channel.
It was a majestic cruise with every view a picture post card moment.
We arrived at Blind Channel with a challenging current coming into dock. But as our good friend Jeff Gleckler says, “if you arrive with no sparks or splinters all is good.” Blind Channel is a beautiful marina, with friendly helpful staff, a great restaurant, nicely stocked store, and wonderful vistas.
The boat moored with us here at Blind Channel is definitely not ours:)
Tomorrow we off at daylight to Port McNeil passing through Johnston Straights. Predict Wind shows reasonably calm seas so we will be shooting up the straights for an 8 hour cruise to Port McNeil. May the force—and seas—be with us.
Thanks for sharing your Blog with us Marlene and Greg. This will be so much fun following your adventures and reliving ours. Anchoring out at Fort McNeil will always be a fond memory. Great birding in the anchorage; nice town to reprovision and do the laundry!
That’s great, as your insurance agent and friend, I like Jeff Gleckler’s comments and would add fiberglass damage to the mix! The pictures are great and love watching you two enjoy life. It gives some of the working people hope for the future and a glimpse into places they have not gone. Love watching your journey and know that I will hold the fort down while you are gone!
Mary, great advice. Please upgrade our policy for fiberglass damage.
I’m the “friend” that challenged the Yucalta Rapids at full ebb on a Full Moon. Thanks for not mentioning me by name, Greg!
More to the story…
A dock master at a nearby marina said the rapids were not big deal.
I had gone through them before in a 40′ very powerful boat – and they were no big deal.
Marlene and I both checked the Tides and Currents book and Yacalta Rapids were not listed. There’s a subnote that times them off the Dent Rapids in very small print. (Can’t blame Marlene because I was the Captain.)
The boat was basically standing still when I turned into Big Bay into calm water. The boat healed dramatically, Greg was upset, Marlene fell down and caught the toaster as it flew off the counter. Ron’s Nikon crashed on the far side of the boat. No damage except to my pride!
I learned the value of “local knowlege” is limited.
Have a wonderful trip you guys. You are the only people i know who actually use their boat!
Yes Peter we did try to keep your identity anonymous! I just want to say at that point in my life I did not even know that “Rapids” existed in salt water, and I thought the Ports and Passes book was just a book with a nice cover with a lot of numbers in it, so you definitely should have vetted your information parter. However, with all that being said, I know for sue that I learned a valuable lesson and have since taken lots of classes to learn how to use that book effectively , all thanks to you! So here’s to you my friend!