Very few european boats visit British Colombia: The cruising season is quite short if you like warm weather and the way to arrive here is not so easy even from panama canal; as adverse winds are on the way and the long detour to Hawai is almost the unic solution.

  Helena is back and the cruising conditions here in summer are very attractives with numerous spots to anchor.  Wind conditions are interseting but challenging with calm in the morning/evening, thermic during the day and ery strong currents.  Locals are very active in summer and sail sometimes until 21h30 using the long daylight...Summer holidays...


With a 15°C water, RVYC OPTIs are not afraid from the strong thermic


The major surprise  is to see the beaches, even the best ones as in Cadboro  bay invaded by logs
Sailing days finished sometimes after 21h00 thanks to the very long daylight of 48° North latitude...
But many locals choice a motorboat to enjoy local cruising (Sidney)

 
"Crab pot" in the current: everywhere under 25m of depth !


Stefania n a part of her cruising family in front of Steve's house in PIERS island (we met Steve in Hawaï)...
...May be it's a "normal thing"in BC to live on an island .

 We can leave ALCYONE in perfect safety for a short Victoria round trip
One of the numerous postcard from VICTORIA
This sunny weekend is the one of the famous rallye...
The country: British Columbia, the city: Victoria,  where else ? 


Mr TRUDEAU made it legal ...but not so popular so far...

Back to a lazzy cruise around the Gulf islands, this time toward Bedwell anchorage, a few miles away, so simple...


1) Anchoring nearby (ALCYONE is a bit to big here)...



2)3we dock only the dinghy to the public or a private pier

3) we go for a walk, this time around the tiny Greenburg lake
Not many people around even in the middle of summer

4) we finish with a good snack in the local pub
We find a bit more people on sunday on the Sidney Sandspit, a popular pic nic spot, 10mn away from Marinas
A good walk,  part in the shade of the forest,
n part on the beach
with a desert side


n the crowded side :

No worries; good holding as the Eisbox is heavy !
Chilly water but with more than 30°C outside , a risk is acceptable...

...almost as in our beaches, but here,  with help of parents, log castles replace often sand castles.