:sailboat: This spot.

Right here.

Is called Cape Caution… Appropriately named by Captain Vancouver after his ship ran aground.

For many boaters, it’s not only a geographical barrier, but also a psychological one.

It separates the relatively protected waters of the Inside Passage from the exposed stretch of offshore waters of Queen Charlotte Sound.

A significant milestone for northbound sailors along the coast of British Columbia.

Cape Caution requires preparation, respect, and good timing. Your vessel should be in excellent working order, and you should have all tanks (Diesel, Gas, and Water) topped off, as well as a sufficient stock of provisions (Food, medicine, toiletries, spare parts, etc.)

Many marine insurance companies end their coverage at the top of Vancouver Island, and you need to get specific approval (and sometimes pay more) to get coverage north.

For your first crossing, it requires getting out of your comfort zone, digging deep, and strengthening your confidence muscle.

For us… It was not an ideal passage.

We planned appropriately, but it was still quite uncomfortable with ocean swell left over from the previous few days.

Brian was mildly seasick for most of it, (after staring at a computer screen inside for just 20 mins). We also dealt with a ton of fog, and large debris fields.

Maui was… pretty scared, and we had to trap her in the back cabin for her safety, where she spent the day shaking under a blanket listening to the loud sounds and not knowing what was happening to her floating home. – She’s building her confidence muscle too.

It wasn’t great, but it’s done and we did it!! :partying_face: (until we need to do it again, returning south, haha)

Now we’re truly in the WILD. There’s so little up here, it’s hard to describe. It’s mountain islands.

For MILES we have nothing or very very very little.

If we need help… anything… medical, vet, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, engine… It’s up to us to have it and deal with it.

To think… this is still just part of how we are preparing for MORE. And to go FURTHER in the future… :flushed_face:

We have to be at least a little crazy to live this life. :zany_face:

Foggy view from the cockpit through dew-covered dodger windows during the Cape Caution crossing

Rachel gripping the helm in full Mustang survival suit during the Cape Caution offshore crossing