Our departure plans were dictated entirely by the tides this time around. With a combination of unusually low tides and less-than-ideal conditions at the entrance to Sandy Point Harbor, there was no safe way to leave until around 8:00 PM. Sometimes cruising means being patient, and this was one of those days.
When the tide finally reached about 6.5 feet, we eased out of Sandy Point without any trouble. Although the higher water made for an easy exit, the late departure meant we only had a couple of hours of daylight left. Rather than trying to push farther into the evening, we pointed the bow toward Echo Bay on Sucia Island, engaged the autopilot, and enjoyed a peaceful cruise across the calm evening waters.
As we approached Sucia Island, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the sky with beautiful shades of orange, pink, and purple. We arrived in Echo Bay just as daylight was fading and found a comfortable spot to anchor for the night. We dropped four shots of anchor chain in about 30 feet of water, and the anchor set firmly on the first try. With no wind or current concerns overnight, we slept well knowing the boat was holding securely.
The next morning came early. By about 6:15 AM, the anchor was back aboard and we were underway once again, continuing north toward Canada. Our first stop would be Bedwell Harbour, where we planned to clear Canadian customs before continuing on our journey.
Once checked into Canada, our destination for the day was Anglers Anchorage Marina in Brentwood Bay. It’s always a satisfying feeling to complete the customs process and officially begin the Canadian portion of our summer cruise. With smooth water ahead and another beautiful day on the Salish Sea, we were looking forward to exploring more of the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island in the days to come.