1907 HILO TO VICTORIA 3: "Arrival in Canada"

The depression leave us a few milles from the USA/CANADA border; we have to require help of the engines to enter in Neah Bay, on the US side with our yellow flag ; without VHF american channels, neither any access to internet or phone US provider we have to use the 16 and we enjoyed a quiet long evening talking party with the coast guard.

Next day: ACYONE has still 62 more miles through the Strait of Juan de Fuca to reach Victoria harbour, the official canadian port of entrance....We leave in the morning 3h before slack water n get a surprising pushing 2k countercurrent, later nothing very strong even in the middle of the channel; the wind was very shy and the engines were mote than an help .

We dock ALCYONE at sunset to the immaculate custom pier of Victoria harbour, 2 officers from Quebec visit us with courtesy, stamp the passport, give us a cruising number but reject any possibility for the cat to overnight on this pier...

We have to leave around midnight in search of a potential anchorage (our Charly's chart guide is 30yo) n finaly find a small spot north of outer harbour to drop the anchor.

The wake up call come from the harbour RIB as this is forbidden to anchor any place in Victoria, even if we are on the side ofvthe sea plane lnding area. This gentleman far to give us a fine, appologize for the wake up operation and indicate us the closest anchorage; we leave10mn later and try the less friendly Oak bay marina where we were asked to remove immedialtly our dinghy from the dock before heading to Cadboro Bay, better protected , and with very warm welcome from the RVYC.

We are now fully in Canada, around 80 days (more than 60 sailing) days after our New Zealand 22 april departure .