Something for everyone

Preedy Harbour and around

The afternoon wind can howl down Stuart Channel, making a daysend trip north from Sansum Narrows a hard pound indeed, and the welcome shelter of Thetis Island might not come soon enough.

But it will come and with numerous choices as boaters seek a safe mooring.

A first choice when coming from the south will be made as you near the bottom of Penelakut Island, where veering to the right will take you up the eastern shore of this home to the Penelakut First Nation, and eventually to Clam Bay, an excellent anchorage tucked between Penelakut and Thetis islands.

Clam Bay is a favourite spot for boats to overnight before sailing eastward to transit Porlier Pass into Georgia Strait, or northward to Gabriola Passage or Dodd Narrows.

Though many boaters will likely continue up the western shore of Penelakut Island toward Telegraph Harbour, not to be confused with the famous Telegraph Cove near the northwestern entrance to Johnstone Strait.

Here boaters will find two marinas which welcome transient vessels. The harbour is chock full of vessels on private moorings, so attempting to anchor here, between the two marinas, is not recommended. The only anchorage is south of Thetis Island Marina, where there are boats on moorings, but it is not as crowded.

We have anchored here and found it quite pleasant, though some sailors might object to the wake from ferries docking at the terminal on Penelakut Island, pleasure boat traffic and noise from floatplanes landing and taking off beside you. Wake doesn’t usually bother us as long as it’s not too late at night and the drivers are not singing.

Boaters on anchor are able to use the dinghy dock to visit the marina’s pub restaurant and general store. The marina also has a fuel dock, suites for rent and a post office.

On the other side of the peninsula, around Foster Point, is the route to Preedy Harbour. Staying inside the cover of Hudson and Dayman islands should provide reasonable protection regardless of how strong the northerlies are blowing. Boats find excellent shelter tucked up into Preedy Harbour, a short dinghy ride west of the public dock.

The holding here in 5-10 metres over soft mud, west of the ferry terminal and the community wharf, is excellent with lots of swing room as long as you don’t anchor too close to the typical shipping lane taken by ferries to Chemainus.

The community wharf is easy to access by dinghy and from there is a short walk from the marinas in Telegraph Harbour. The sand and warm, smooth rocks at the foot of the dock also offer a popular spot from which families can swim.

Telegraph Harbour Marina is an easy one-kilometre walk from the community dock, left on Foster Point Road, and right on Pilkey Point Road to the Howling Wolf Farm Market which sells fruit, bread, pies and other baking, as well as homemade gifts and jams. Bring cash, or be prepared to transfer funds, as credit cards are not taken.

From there, Marina Drive forks right and it’s a two-minute amble to the Telegraph Harbour Café operated by the marina. Here is a good selection of coffees, baked treats, sandwiches and ice cream.

After your fancy has been satisfied, you can stroll the docks. An interesting find is the sea lion skeleton on the float at the end of A Dock, a float which also offers daytime ties for dinghies visiting the marina.

Another way to reach the marina is to either dinghy through The Cut from Clam Bay, which dries at the lowest states of tide, or from the anchorage south of Thetis Island Marina. The café is a delight no matter how you get there.

Back at the community wharf, it’s a 600-metre walk to Thetis Island Marina for a pub meal or for galley essentials from the general store. Take a right on Foster Point Road and a left at Harbour Road to get there.

A track of interest is the Lawrence Trail, a well-maintained 2.5-kilometre loop through pristine forest that in the early 1900s was a wagon trail to reach the Lawrence family homestead. From Pilkey Point Road on the way to the Howling Wolf Farm Market, turn north on North Cove Road, right on Mission Road, then keep left until you reach the trailhead.

Preedy Harbour has become a favourite anchorage for Lynne and me, a place where we can go to for walks, tackle laptop tasks or hop on a ferry to Chemainus for provisioning or strolling the downtown area which is a work of art itself.

Stay safe.

(Preedy Harbour and Thetis Island are covered in the Gulf Island section of Salish Sea Pilot cruising guide.)