Grenville Channel

Grenville Channel

Today, we motored up Grenville Channel. The channel is so straight that we maintained almost the same course for 8 hours (41 nm) -- very unusual. The channel is very narrow; we keep a constant watch for cruise ships.

This morning was gorgeous: clear air, deep blue sky peppered with white clouds, deep green slopes peppered with patches of shadows from the clouds, white-capped mountains in the distance. It turned very cold and rainy, with a 30-35 knot headwind by afternoon. No swell, just a chop but slower going. This would be the perfect wind to be sailing down the channel under a poled out head sail.

Yesterday, I included the reason Rescue Cove got its name. I will include similar notes this year. My reference is Andrew Scott's Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names.

For context, Grenville Channel goes between the BC mainland and Pitt Island and is part of the Inside Passage to Alaska. "Lord Wm Grenville was a noted British Liberal statesman. ... His wife, Anne Pitt, had a brother serving as midshipman on HMS Discovery, Vancouver's vessel. This was the notorious Thomas Pitt, later Lord Camelford, who had to be discharged in Hawaii in 1794 for insubordinate conduct. Vancouver had Pitt flogged. ...Back in London, Pitt challenged Vancouver to a duel. ... Pitt's bad-mouthing helped gain Vancouver a reputation as a despot and bully, [eclipsing] his remarkable achievements. Pitt was acquitted of other violent acts, including outright murder, because of his wealth and exalted connections. Pitt was killed in a duel at the age of 29."

We are anchored behind a small island in front of Kumealon Inlet, a small side inlet east of Grenville Channel. In 2006, we took the dinghy into the beautiful nearby lagoon. It was so beautiful, we stayed too long; the entrance had become white water rapids as the tide dropped on the outside, exposing a 3-foot drop over rocks. Urs quickly raised the motor as we accelerated towards a patch of white water. Judy thought of the possibility of a poor, orphaned Magpie as we glided down the waterfall.