We spent a few days in mid-July anchored in Boughey Bay, where the thick mud and sand held our boat steady despite relentless winds of 15-20 knots, with gusts up to 30. The bay was a lively scene, with massive yachts coming and going. Although the stiff breeze made things challenging, the sun shone brightly, hinting at calmer days ahead.
After a couple of nights pinned down by northwest winds, the next day’s forecast indicated much lower winds, so we set off on a six-hour journey up Johnstone Strait to Port McNeill. After about 10 minutes, I noticed a slight fuel leak from the injection pump. We turned around and reanchored so I could take a closer look. It turns out that a loose bleed screw was the culprit and was easily fixed. Soon we were ready to move on again.
The winds calmed as we cruised past Robson Bight, a marine protected zone known for its orca sightings. Later, we spotted a lone sea otter floating near Telegraph Cove, a historic spot with a marina, RV park, whale museum, and boardwalk. Unfortunately, some of it was severely damaged recently in a fire. It looks like they are well on their way to rebuilding the boardwalk.
Next, we passed by Alert Bay, and I gave you a view of the harbour area with an old tall ship anchor out front.
Arriving in Port McNeil, we anchored near the ferry terminal and marinas, ready to resupply with fresh food, fuel and water, and essentials like cucumbers, tomatoes, chocolate, and vodka/rum, before heading to the Broughton Archipelago for a few weeks of exploration.
Boughey Bay to Port McNeill Trip Video
