Dodd Narrows and on to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island

In order to get to Nanaimo, you have to pass through one of the narrowest funnels between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland, Dodd Narrows. For boats like ours, it is imperative that we transit the Narrows at slack water, meaning the time between the flood inward tide and the ebb outward tide. The whole of the sea that moves around the southern half of Vancouver Island passes through this narrow waterway, creating turbulence and high speed flows, up to 8 knots of more. We passed through easily at slack tide.

Once we passed through Dodd Narrows, it was another 90 minute motor sail to Nanaimo. A special treat awaited us, Canada's brand new ferry, the Vancouver 2010. It was beautiful to see, but ofcourse we always keep an eye all ferries, as they move much faster than you might think for there size. In case of a collision. ferry 1, Allymar 0!