Lagoon Cove to Cordero Islands

Today’s passage was less about distance and more about timing.

We bid a fond farewell to Lagoon Cove under low-hanging clouds, leaving early enough to work with the tides and currents that would shape nearly every part of the day.

Our first consideration was the Blow Hole. We wanted a comfortable margin of water beneath OceanFlyer, so we timed our departure accordingly. Passing through, we saw 13.6 feet beneath our 5.5-foot keel on a 9.5-foot tide as reported at Lagoon Cove. Plenty of water, but another useful data point to tuck away for future passages.

From there, the puzzle became a little more complicated. We needed to balance the current in Chatham Channel with the conditions we expected farther south in Johnstone Strait. Johnstone has a well-earned reputation for becoming unpleasant when wind and current oppose one another, so the goal was not necessarily to find the fastest ride, but the most comfortable one.

That tradeoff worked in our favor.

We carried current on the bow for much of Johnstone Strait, which slowed us down, but the water remained remarkably smooth. Other than a few swirls and patches of disturbed water where the opposing currents made themselves known, the ride was comfortable.

We will happily give up a little speed to avoid four hours of pounding into two-foot chop.

As we approached the Cordero Islands, another part of our arrival routine came into play. Karen had been keeping an eye on AIS, watching to see whether our favorite anchoring spot was occupied. A boat had been sitting in “our” spot for several days, so our expectations were modest.

Then, sometime during our passage, they moved on.

That was cause for a small celebration aboard OceanFlyer.

We eased into the anchorage, dropped the hook exactly where we hoped to, and watched it settle in and hold well. After a day spent carefully balancing tide, current and wind, it was satisfying to have the final piece fall into place too.

For us, the Cordero Islands are more than just a pleasant anchorage. They are a strategic stop—perfectly positioned to stage for a slack-water arrival at Blind Channel.

Tomorrow’s timing will once again be dictated by the current.

But for tonight, we are exactly where we wanted to be.