By Brian Genge
One of Desolation Sound’s best-known anchorages…and a storehouse of cruising memories.
Lat/Long: 50° 8.2' N, 124° 42.6' W
Any list of the “Best of the West” iconic boating destinations (CYW August 2013) simply has to include Prideaux Haven. Indeed, many would consider this scenic anchorage in Desolation Sound one of the “Best in the World.”
Prideaux Haven, including Melanie and Laura Coves, is surrounded by numerous islands that create myriad bays and interconnecting coves that are a wonder to explore by small craft. Against the backdrop of the rugged BC coastal mountains, these islands provide excellent protection from the weather.
As a boy, I cruised with my parents every July to Desolation Sound, and we always stopped in Prideaux Haven, usually for several days. I can remember at the time reading Muriel Wylie Blanchet’s The Curve of Time, and while I would envision myself alongside the other kids on the little Caprice, with all their interesting adventures, I nevertheless appreciated the relative comfort of our sailboat.
We would spend hours swimming in Prideaux Haven’s bathtub-warm salt water – back in the 1960s there would be only a very few other boats anchored nearby. I recall the kids being tasked to collect suitable material for our parents to build a small beach fire on which a just-caught salmon would be barbecued. And we would explore the remains of Phil’s and Mike’s homesteads and wonder just how they could have possibly survived in such a wilderness.
I now have the privilege of being able to anchor my own boat Papalani in Prideaux Haven some 50 years later. The area is, thankfully, protected as a provincial marine park so it should remain unspoiled forever (notwithstanding its huge popularity in the summer months). As we enjoy the anchorage in the evening today, while fond memories of the past remain, I am also creating new memories, particularly as I introduce the area for the first time to friends and family.
A third-generation boater on the BC coast, Brian Genge lives in Sidney and cruises local waters with his wife Cathy in his North Pacific trawler Papalani.
Tell us about your PARTICULAR HARBOUR: a favourite anchorage, cove or hideaway, a park, beach or marina, a fishing or paddling spot, a peaceful trail or a stunning viewpoint …whatever inspires you to get out boating! Tell us what it means to you and why, and we’ll help you turn it into a story. Email suggestions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Photo: The author’s Papalani tucked away in Prideaux Haven.
CREDIT: Brian Genge
Canada
Homfray Lodge is a welcome respite on your yachting adventure in Desolation Sound
There are new owners and of course we are still dealing with Covid 19 so check in for current updates at their website.
We all love boats and nothing can break us up! So, what better way to spend our time than looking at interesting boats and going aboard in a virtual ride or tour. We have asked our friends at various dealers and manufacturers to help us assemble a one-stop online resource to experience some of the most interesting boats on the market today. Where the CY Team has done a review, we connect you to that expert viewpoint. Our Virtual Show will continue to grow so visit frequently and check it out. If you can’t go boating, you can almost experience the thrill via your screen. Not quite the same, but we hope you enjoy our fine tour collection.
As boat builders clamber to create ever-bigger platforms for ever-more generous budgets, the entry-level cruiser has become an elusive animal. Sure, if you want to daysail, there are plenty of small open boats from which to choose, but if you want a freshly built pocket cruiser, you’re in for a long search. Enter French builder Groupe Beneteau, which identified this gap in the market and set about creating the Oceanis 30.1, an adorable little cruiser that resembles her larger siblings in all but length and price. With all she offers, it wouldn’t be a stretch to call her a mini yacht.
By the Canadian Yachting Editors
By Katherine Stone
In the past two issues we have been doing an overview of the right-of-way rules. In the first, we did a review of Section A of Part 2, in the second we did a review of the definitions. This issue, we will look at Section B of Part 2, General Limitations, which is essentially limitations applying to boats that have right of way according to Section A.
Anyone who has repeatedly used a rag to clean gelcoat, paint and delicate surfaces has seen the results accumulate over time: scratches and swirls. Shurhold's new Chenille Microfiber Premium Scratch-Free Wash Mitt provides the confidence to wash the most sensitive boat part without worry and holds a massive amount of soapy water for fast work.
Blue Guard has announced the general availability of the BG-One, a solid-state bilge pump switch, oil and fuel detector. Having no moving parts or mechanical float switches, BG-One will automatically turn off the bilge pump when oil or fuel is detected, preventing potentially costly oil or fuel discharge. 
