Anyone cruising in BC now ?

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Xsbank said:
I get that you bought a Canadian boat with US dollars and saved a lot of dosh, paying no import duty or taxes by keeping it here and dodging taxes in Washington. Our stupid, feckless government allows this so you are perfectly within your rights to do so. The result for locals is that moorage is in short supply and way more expensive than it should be because of lots of many US boats doing exactly the same and staying here. You get the advantage of relatively cheap boating, more lax rules on holding tanks and free use of our Provincial and Federal park system. Last year I pried a plaque off a rock in Desolation that had been glued next to a mooring ring in a popular anchorage that said “San Diego Yacht Club blah blah.”

One of our local boats is registered in Boseman Montana. I also get that boating to Boseman would present some difficulties.

I don’t blame any boater for coming up here to get away from the San Juan zoo but for heaven’s sake treat our goofy country with some respect, act like guests and don’t rub our noses in the great deal that stupid Canadians are giving you.
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Whew,
So let me understand where your going with this, you take issue with someone who brings money into Canada but who doesn't add burden to your health care system, hires your marine trades and further adds to your GDP, who buys your inflated cost fuel and spends money in stores and restaurants while paying GST to Canada? I suppose your going to blame the high fuel costs on us poor Washingtonian boaters too!. We also get stuck buying booze at a inflated cost because we cannot bring in more than a airplane sized bottle of alcohol with us... but we all pay it.


Your right, we get to use your parks just like your citizens do when they come down South.. and I see a lot of Canadian plates all over out side of the border.


Regarding the plaque from SDYC, hopefully you mailed it back to them with an attached letter explaining why you sent their plaque back to them in a box full of fresh dog crap.


A boat at anchor, not taxing your system has about as much impact as a jet flying over BC on the way to alaska.


Oh and by the way, when Victoria treats 100% of the sewage it dumps in the water that heads into Puget Sound I will worry about the -50 gallons a year we pump out in BC.


HOLLYWOOD
 
Nope. Land parks are gated. No walkies.

Forget all this claptrap about wording or legality or loopholes or anything else. I think they used to call it “the spirit of the law.” You don’t have to like it but take a moment to think about how you would feel if you gave this to someone who was trying to help you and they croaked or you got it and took it home to sicken your family.

Go sit on your lawnchair and put your feet up and have a beer, squint a bit and pretend you are looking over your fantail at the sunset.

Deal with it. With 350 million people out there, it makes sense that you don’t have total freedom to do whatever the hell you want to do during a plague.
 
hollywood8118 said:
Actually either they didn't complete close all access, or the group that wrote it is inept.


This is and excerpt of the order:
  • All visitor services, including reception, information, lockage and mooring are suspended until further notice;
  • All visitor facilities, including parking lots, washrooms, day use areas and visitor centres are closed until further notice.

This says "moorage" not anchoring is closed. Many of the parks have docks and buoy's thay typically call "moorage"


It also says "facilities", you are not using any facility when anchoring, and your social distancing. Washington's order is equally vague.. and there are folks anchoring in the San Juans also.
While it is true the "facilities" are closed I cannot see anywhere that doesn't allow anchoring.
In the San Juans I have heard of nobody being run off while anchoring and following proper social distancing protocol. Another irony is parking lots at parks are closed but you can still walk through parks. Both probably have some legal thing to do with denying public access to publicly funded areas.. not sure.



HOLLYWOOD
Click to expand...


Most of the marine parks are actually BC Provincial Parks, not Federal Parks.

BC Parks info quite specific park by park: COVID-19 - BC Parks - Province of British Columbia

They are closed. And they will ask you to leave.
 
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“I don’t blame any boater for coming up here to get away from the San Juan zoo but for heaven’s sake treat our goofy country with some respect, act like guests and don’t rub our noses in the great deal that stupid Canadians are giving you.”


I’m sorry. Was the above comment directed to me? If so, your assumptions are incorrect sir. I bought a US boat in Washington with US dollars. I moved it to Sidney to be close to my cruising grounds and because I have no relationship whatsoever to Washington. In the transaction, I paid all applicable federal and state/provincial taxes. At my marina in Sidney, I pay almost exactly what I would expect to pay at a comparable marina in Anacortes or Bellingham. While in Sidney, I hire local mechanics, electricians, fabricators, riggers, divers, etc. and happily pay their fees along with all applicable taxes. Likewise, when I’m able I patronize local businesses and pay taxes on all my purchases.

Why do I do this? Because some of the most amazingly beautiful cruising in the world is right outside my door. And Canadians are some of the friendliest and funnest people I’ve encountered in my life.

I’m sorry that you somehow feel marginalized by a “system” and feel need to take your frustration out on American boaters, if that’s what’s happening for you.
 
It’s ok Hollywood, spin this any way you want.

“Whew,
So let me understand where your going with this, you take issue with someone who brings money into Canada but who doesn't add burden to your health care system, hires your marine trades and further adds to your GDP, who buys your inflated cost fuel and spends money in stores and restaurants while paying GST to Canada? I suppose your going to blame the high fuel costs on us poor Washingtonian boaters too!. We also get stuck buying booze at a inflated cost because we cannot bring in more than a airplane sized bottle of alcohol with us... but we all pay it.”

That’s more claptrap. I paid the tax on my boat, that’s what supports our hospitals and the rest. Not the few dollars you pay in consumption tax. If you came down with this thing, what hospital would you go for help?

“Your (sic) right, we get to use your parks just like your citizens do when they come down South.. and I see a lot of Canadian plates all over out side of the border.”

I paid $40 to see the Petrified Forest (It was absolutely amazing). What does it cost to get into Desolation Sound? Parks charge for docks or mooring buoys but you don’t have to use ‘em.

“Regarding the plaque from SDYC, hopefully you mailed it back to them with an attached letter explaining why you sent their plaque back to them in a box full of fresh dog crap.”

I don’t know what you’re getting at here, leaving that plaque in a park is the same as spray painting my initials on the Washington Monument.

“A boat at anchor, not taxing your system has about as much impact as a jet flying over BC on the way to alaska.”

I’m not arguing this point at all, it’s the getting your boat to that anchorage I am talking about.

“Oh and by the way, when Victoria treats 100% of the sewage it dumps in the water that heads into Puget Sound I will worry about the -50 gallons a year we pump out in BC.”

None of Victoria’s poop goes into Puget Sound, you need to do more research (it’s a disgusting concept but the fact is that research shows it’s not damaging anything.) but tell me what would happen if you dumped 50 gallons of your poop in Puget Sound? Do you take the lock off your poop tank when you cross the border?

You guys get a good deal up here and I would do exactly the same thing if I could but apparently you missed the whole point about not travelling, staying home; feel free to go hide out in your own anchorage.
 
“We are Americans, and took possession of our new boat on March 7 in Sidney, BC. Our permanent moorage is in Sidney, and our plans were to spend the two weeks after our closing doing some work getting the boat ready for a three month cruise beginning in mid-May.”

I don’t know anything about your circumstances but what you write here. You asked if you could go boating but as I can’t go, neither can you. That got me going because it has taken years to get better moorage and I would not have that problem if there were more slips. Canadians just don’t have that many boats (and there will be a sh*tload less of them soon).

Did you really pay the import duty and the GST? Why would you pay all the taxes in the US then pay all of ours? I don’t believe it.

I don’t feel marginalized at all.

However I have made my point and cheesed off a few of you so...ttfn.
 
Xsbank said:
What part of “stay home” are you having difficulty with? Parks are “closed.” If you go boating, it means you are putting police, Coast Guard, tow agencies, fellow boaters who are required to assist and our volunteer search and rescue people at risk. Yes, a new boat is exciting but surprise! We are all missing out on something we love to do...

Think about it.
Click to expand...


I am thinking about it. “putting police, Coast Guard, tow agencies, fellow boaters who are required to assist and our volunteer search and rescue people at risk.” How so? If there are only 20% of the boaters on the water and they’ve been self isolating on their boats, how likely is it that they have COVID-19? And if not, how are they putting the Coast Guard at any more risk than usual?

I’m hearing your fear but I’m not following your logic.

Jim
 
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Most places on Vancouver Island experience a shorter of moorage. Half the reason I bought my boat was to get the moorage in Comox.

I just got off the phone with the French Marina office and told him I'd be bringing my trawler to the marina and asked if there was any problem with access due to the flu. And I got an emphatic nope, no problem, when you coming? Just to let you know, French Creek is a working commercial marina, pleasure boaters there but the priority is for the commercial fisherman. So if you were to bring your boat here, it would be rafted up. You can get fuel here, basic groceries, and if you do come and need more extensive groceries, message me here and I'll help you out.

There are some smaller islands at the southern end between Lasqueti Island and Texada Island that would be worth checking out and dropping anchor. If you haven't bought a copy of Waggoneer, pick one up, they are sold just about anywhere to do with boats. I have the 2018 edition and the write up of Lasqueti Island and surrounding smaller islands is in Chapter 8 entitled Strait of Georgia.

Find isolated areas, lots of them on both the mainland coast, East Vancouver Island coast and all the islands. Don't go into the towns.

I also just called some marinas in Nanaimo and two are closed to visitors and one is not. The Nanaimo Port Authority marina will entertain a visit from you but they want a call before hand. They got burned by some Americans about a month ago that didn't clear customs and border authorities showed up, not happy. So the rules are, you've had to be in country for more than 14 days, symptom free and have cleared through the border properly.

So I have done some of your homework for you, plot a course, phone marina's before you leave, e.g. Ladysmith and others for your trip up. Find some good quieter often the beaten path to anchor locations. Learn about Whisky Gulf, just remember when clearing Nanaimo stay close to the Eastern Vancouver Island coast line. Whisky Gulf will be explained in Waggoner's cruising Guide.
 
JDCAVE said:
And if not how are they putting the Coast Guard at any more risk than usual? I’m not following your logic.
Click to expand...
Any time any first responder answers a call they are at risk, regardless of the nature of that call.

Right now is not "usual." None of these folks have better things to do than add extra stress and fatigue from some boater who feels immune to mishap.

However, forget all the excuses and justifications, the logic is...don't ignore a very simple request to stay home; until "usual" returns.
 
rsn48 said:
I just got off the phone with the French Marina office and told him I'd be bringing my trawler to the marina and asked if there was any problem with access due to the flu.
Click to expand...
I think you might want to lay Waggoners aside for a spell and spend time on this: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-hea...019-novel-coronavirus-infection/symptoms.html
We are not dealing with a flu.

By the way, COVID-19 made it to Alert Bay, population 500. You think it swam? Came across on a westerly?
 
This just in from our Coast Guard:

Message from the Canadian Coast Guard

23 April, 2020

Image
To my fellow mariners,



With the start of boating season in British Columbia now well underway, I know many of you are heading out on the water as an alternative to other outdoor activities that are currently restricted or discouraged, or are planning to use your vessel as a way to self isolate. As part of a long and proud tradition, mariners have always come to the aid of others on the water. Today, on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard, I am asking all mariners to once again come to the aid of others by avoiding non-*essential trips and consider staying close to home to save lives as our country works to reduce the spread of COVID-19.



Already this year, the Coast Guard has responded to a greater number of Search and Rescue calls in British Columbia as compared to the same time last year. With each response, our Search and Rescue specialists put themselves at risk of exposure to COVID-19 and use precious supplies of Personal Protective Equipment that is also much needed by critical care workers. Coast Guard continues to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep mariners safe, but unnecessary boating trips increase the risk to our operations and our ability to respond.



You should also be aware that most small coastal communities in British Columbia have closed their villages to visitors to protect their families. Your presence in an area could have a serious impact on vulnerable community members, and if you were to get sick, strain the limited health care resources of that community. If you choose to travel or self isolate, you may not have access to fuel, supplies and other services in those communities.



And finally, if you have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 or are feeling sick, please don't get on a boat. Home and within close proximity to health care is the best place you can be right now. If you are on the water and become involved in a marine emergency, please let Coast Guard know if you have any flu-like symptoms when you call for assistance so we can best protect our crews and inform any vessels of opportunity who respond.



As both a professional and a recreational mariner, I know how tempting it is to get on your boat and escape the restrictions we are all currently living under. But we are also navigating uncharted waters right now, and it is up to all of us to do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 so that one day soon, we can fully enjoy the peace and beauty of coastal British Columbia. I know that seafarers are both self*reliant and fairly cautious. It's time to take those principles to heart, keeping an eye to being on the water without impacting others.



Stay safe, stay healthy.



Roger Girouard

Assistant Commissioner,

Western Region Canadian Coast Guard
 
koliver said:
This just in from our Coast Guard.
Click to expand...

An excellent and timely post Keith, thank you. It puts the “stay at home” in forceful terms and nudges those with a narrow focus.

And to clarify my earlier comment, enforcement by RCMSAR doesn’t have to involve boarding or “lock her up.” It can take the form of a reminder, from a distance, in conjunction with regular exercises. In any case your point, “not going to happen” is well taken.
 
soin2la said:
An excellent and timely post Keith, thank you. It puts the “stay at home” in forceful terms and nudges those with a narrow focus.



And to clarify my earlier comment, enforcement by RCMSAR doesn’t have to involve boarding or “lock her up.” It can take the form of a reminder, from a distance, in conjunction with regular exercises. In any case your point, “not going to happen” is well taken.
Click to expand...


I have searched for this communique online and I am unable to find either the communique or any official Canadian Coast Guard news release with this directive. This is all I can find at this time:

https://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/publications/national-order-ordonnance-nationale/covid-19-eng.html

And

https://www.canada.ca/en/fisheries-...support-to-the-fish-and-seafood-industry.html

Was this a private communication to a particular community?

I also question whether there was a dramatic increase in calls. The docks and waters around my neck of the woods are pretty quiet.

Jim
 
Wow!
Guy very nicely asks a simple question and you bunch rip him a "new one". Unfounded personal attack to say the least. Surprised you didn't accuse him avoiding child support at the same time.

Welcome to Canada and I sincerely hope you find pleasure in your limited cruising opportunities this year. Sounds to me like you have been trying to be responsible in fitting in with this rapidly changed world. BC has not required near as much lock-down and tyrannical oppression as seen many other places. We are requested to stay home yet encouraged to get out for exercise including for mental sanity. We are reminded we can meet in small groups if we maintain 6 foot 6 3/4 inches of social distancing. For you mariners in the group, that is about one fathom.
IF you are a business owner THEN you have a whole bunch of other requirements including not allowing gatherings of over 50. Public hysteria and social pressure fills in the rest. There are four categories of people, high, medium and low risk, that are supposed to be quarantined, self isolated and self monitored. Then there's the rest of us who are requested to stay home. If you are elderly or health risk condition you are expected to be even more cautious about contact with others.

And wash your hands!

Fear and Hysteria is rampant and I think that is what you can see in some of these responses. To be totally clear, my comments only apply to the Canadian province of British Columbia. Different restrictions apply in other jurisdictions.
 
Greg S said:
Wow!
Guy very nicely asks a simple question and you bunch rip him a "new one". Unfounded personal attack to say the least. Surprised you didn't accuse him avoiding child support at the same time.

Welcome to Canada and I sincerely hope you find pleasure in your limited cruising opportunities this year. Sounds to me like you have been trying to be responsible in fitting in with this rapidly changed world. BC has not required near as much lock-down and tyrannical oppression as seen many other places. We are requested to stay home yet encouraged to get out for exercise including for mental sanity. We are reminded we can meet in small groups if we maintain 6 foot 6 3/4 inches of social distancing. For you mariners in the group, that is about one fathom.
IF you are a business owner THEN you have a whole bunch of other requirements including not allowing gatherings of over 50. Public hysteria and social pressure fills in the rest. There are four categories of people, high, medium and low risk, that are supposed to be quarantined, self isolated and self monitored. Then there's the rest of us who are requested to stay home. If you are elderly or health risk condition you are expected to be even more cautious about contact with others.

And wash your hands!

Fear and Hysteria is rampant and I think that is what you can see in some of these responses. To be totally clear, my comments only apply to the Canadian province of British Columbia. Different restrictions apply in other jurisdictions.
Click to expand...


Thanks for a great post,
It's nice to hear from someone that is rational and gives us the warm BC welcome we are accustomed to!


HOLLYWOOD
 
hollywood8118 said:
It's nice to hear from someone that is rational and gives us the warm BC welcome we are accustomed to!
Click to expand...

It’s not about whether or not you are welcome in BC.
The question, from a nonresident, was about cruising in BC at the current time and the overwhelming response was; “please listen to our health officials and stay home.”

Hardly irrational.
 
To me it breaks down to risk/reward. It is hard to judge other areas from where I sit.

Here, local boaters use the harbour and area waters by practicing all of the normal COVID precautions. The marine services are open-ish to business, the ramp is open, and on a nice day the floats are fairly normal, which is to say, mostly empty anyways.

If a recreational vessel were to pull in and act in a reasonable precautionary manner, they may not be "welcomed"; they likely wouldn't even be noticed.

All of these rules and regulations are made for a common denominator. And let's be honest, the bar is set to capture people who could barely function in what was once considered a normal society. I would prefer to give the benefit of the doubt to a boat owner asking a reasonable question on the internet, than the a person selling opioids at the 7-11 out of a backpack. But the rules were made for both of them.

Some (more and more, it seems) people are of a rule following behavior. So even if you are being completely reasonable, cautious and self sufficient, the Facebook shaming mob, may very well call you out, and next thing you know, you are the biggest perceived threat to a local community. After all you are a rich yacht owner and, as such, are an easy target.

And it may not be fair, but having the homeport of Powell River on my stern may offer a bit more leeway north of Pender Harbour and up into Desolation and Okeover with people peering out on the water with binoculars. (Note: we all have binoculars and spotting scopes on our decks, in our living rooms, or at the kitchen sink window.)

So, although one may be the most diligent and cautious, self-reliant person, you will still be judged by others through their own world view.

Honestly, from a health and safety perspective, I would welcome most recreational boaters before I would welcome the fishing fleet. Mainly because of the "time is money" aspect, which may cause some of them to be less cautious and cut corners.

Then again, I've met some real self absorbed A-holes on big expensive boats too, who think they own everything around them all of the time. They are never welcome. Endured maybe, but not welcomed.

Cheers.
 
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Kawini, you're in an interesting situation. If you "go home" to New Mexico you leave your boat in the water far, far away. What if the shore power trips, your batteries run down, there's a small ongoing leak and no working bilge pumps? There's no moorage (generally speaking) in the Puget Sound, and as noted you would pay a huge tax if you came back to the USA in your boat.

If it were me I'd self-isolate on the boat in Sydney and take care of all thos boat projects. I wouldn't take the boat out - respect everyone else! If things get too tough I'd put the boat up on the hard and mosey back home. Although flying doesn't seem too safe to me at the moment.
 
I saw over 20 cruising boats on Wollochet bay (South Puget Sound) last weekend. Most were headed to the Tacoma Yacht Club Outstation on the bay. Not commenting positive or negative. Just observing from our deck.
~Alan
 
Again my French Creek experience. The sports fisherman, probably about 50 a day over the course of daylight hours, power by the local coastguard on the way out to fish after putting the boat into the water. The only interaction I have ever seen was a friendly wave from the Coasties as they worked on their boat - Cape Cockburn. Same with the civilian rescue group that I admire, but they do have a terrible name, their boat is in front of the Coastie boat. The reality is they just don't go out that much. The comment that the coast guard are out there cruising and going to catch you, well - not these guys!

Now for the comment about the Navy out there cruising and maybe going to catch you. Not our Navy. Our Navy has been decimated over the last 15 years by budget cuts. There aren't enough personnel to man the ships that aren't available due to maintenance and upgrade issues. If you look at Marine Tracker, you will see Navy "ships" out and about, these are training vessels. When Jesus was in diapers and I was in the Navy at Fleet School out of CFB Esquimalt, I trained on similar vessels. The current vessels are the replacements for the old minesweepers we trained on. The "ships" are out frequently due to their training mission not enforcement.
 
Buried way back in this thread is a comment re anchoring in BC marine parks. Here is a repost of a response I received from BC Parks after my query on the subject:

ParkInfo ENV:EX <ParkInfo@victoria1.gov.bc.ca>
Tue, 14 Apr, 17:09 (11 days ago)
to me

HI Conrad,

Thank you for writing in. Our closure applies to all areas within the boundaries of provincial parks, including anchorages. Please see the map at Visiting - BC Parks - Province of British Columbia if you are concerned about a particular area.

I hope you and your family are safe and healthy.

All the best,

Brett Yerex
BC Parks Information Team
 
firehoser75 said:
Kawini,
I live and moor in Nanaimo. I would love to go boating, but have not left the dock. I cancelled my previously scheduled haulout due to my concerns with Covid. However, the lift is still fairly busy as is the yard. I guess others did not see it the same way?
So, I cannot inform you as to what is actually happening in the various anchorages right now. However, I agree with Xsbank. Go home, at least for now. At my home, I look out over the Salish Sea and I have seen very, very few pleasure boats out there, with the exception of a much smaller number than normal smaller "runabouts" that are still occasionally sport fishing. Down at the Port of Nanaimo docks, where I moor, I have seen only a couple of transient moorage boats in the last couple of months even though the marina is still "technically" open. I do go down to my boat to check on it and conduct some maintenance, but where I am moored, I can easily avoid any contact whatsoever with anyone else and I sterilize anything "public" that I touch. Park mooring balls are closed. Park docks are closed. Most marinas are closed or are discouraging transients with limited access to their normal facilities. Smaller locations (islands) don't want visitors potentially cutting into limited supplies, maybe bringing in the disease, or requiring use of the very limited medical and other facilities.
Others have already discussed other reasons like needing the Coast Guard, Tow service, mechanic, etc. It is NOT a good idea at this time to go boating! I would expect you would not be welcomed anywhere right now. JMHO.
Click to expand...

+1, good time for some maintenance projects.
 
The real problem of course is obvious.

We all have way too much time on our hands, separated from our boats, jobs extended families.

I am enjoying the discourse :) :lol:
 
Again, thanks to all the posters who have taken the time to offer their perspectives on this issue. I appreciate the variety of responses, and I especially appreciate the responses that answer my original question.

As I wrote in the OP, I am an American who decided to remain with my boat in Canada where it’s moored at the time when the border has closed. The decision was primarily prompted by concern for my elderly parents. I have rented out my home in New Mexico in anticipation of long-term cruising, and I was temporarily staying with and staging for the cruise from my parents’ home in the Bay Area. Clearly, I could not travel from BC to CA and then go live with two frail 85 year olds. So for me, the best option was to stay put.

As I wrote in the OP, the situation with the immediate cruising grounds near Sidney is that the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is open (anchorages, moorings, and trails, but NOT facilities) and provincial parks are closed. I am carefully complying with all closure orders - just as I carefully comply with all social distancing guidelines when I take my morning walk on the waterfront in Sidney.

Yesterday, I had two encounters with federal law enforcement on the water. I was first visited at anchor yesterday morning in Royal Cove on Portland Island (an unpopulated island in the GINPR). This was a visit from the Customs and Border people who wanted to know how/when we had cleared into BC. Friendly and professional, and a 10 minute conversation including a few words about the resident roosting eagles. Later, while motoring the short distance to Cabbage Island (another unpopulated island in the GINPR), we were hailed and visited by the RCMP (the “Mounties”) who were also curious about our entry into Canada. Again, very courteous and professional. I asked these guys specifically whether it was still OK for me to use the national park. (I meant the question in a legal way, and that’s the way it was understood - we weren’t talking philosophy.). The officer’s answer was a clear yes, and enjoy your day.

Best wishes to all.
 
Kawini said:
Again, thanks to all the posters who have taken the time to offer their perspectives on this issue. I appreciate the variety of responses, and I especially appreciate the responses that answer my original question.

As I wrote in the OP, I am an American who decided to remain with my boat in Canada where it’s moored at the time when the border has closed. The decision was primarily prompted by concern for my elderly parents. I have rented out my home in New Mexico in anticipation of long-term cruising, and I was temporarily staying with and staging for the cruise from my parents’ home in the Bay Area. Clearly, I could not travel from BC to CA and then go live with two frail 85 year olds. So for me, the best option was to stay put.

As I wrote in the OP, the situation with the immediate cruising grounds near Sidney is that the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is open (anchorages, moorings, and trails, but NOT facilities) and provincial parks are closed. I am carefully complying with all closure orders - just as I carefully comply with all social distancing guidelines when I take my morning walk on the waterfront in Sidney.

Yesterday, I had two encounters with federal law enforcement on the water. I was first visited at anchor yesterday morning in Royal Cove on Portland Island (an unpopulated island in the GINPR). This was a visit from the Customs and Border people who wanted to know how/when we had cleared into BC. Friendly and professional, and a 10 minute conversation including a few words about the resident roosting eagles. Later, while motoring the short distance to Cabbage Island (another unpopulated island in the GINPR), we were hailed and visited by the RCMP (the “Mounties”) who were also curious about our entry into Canada. Again, very courteous and professional. I asked these guys specifically whether it was still OK for me to use the national park. (I meant the question in a legal way, and that’s the way it was understood - we weren’t talking philosophy.). The officer’s answer was a clear yes, and enjoy your day.

Best wishes to all.
Click to expand...


Sounds like you got the straight scoop right from the authorities that count, sounds exactly like the reports I have heard from the San Juan islands. Enjoy cruising without the crowds!
HOLLYWOOD
 
Sounds like being checked out by various authorities under these conditions (US flagged boat with border closed) is to be expected. Glad to hear that they were friendly and professional!
Stay safe, enjoy, and I hope you don't receive any backlash from anyone who may disagree with your boating decisions.
All the best!
 
Kawini said:
Yesterday, I had two encounters with federal law enforcement on the water. This was a visit from the Customs and Border people who wanted to know how/when we had cleared into BC. Later, while motoring the short distance to Cabbage Island, we were hailed and visited by the RCMP who were also curious about our entry into Canada. The officer’s answer was a clear yes, and enjoy your day.
Click to expand...
It is understandable that both those authorities would be interested in a US vessel and it's owner, in BC waters, especially so close to the international boundary.

But, this would not be the first time, anywhere, that separate enforcement agencies were not on the same page.
The GINPR office down there is so close to Port Sidney why not walk over and get it straight from them?

https://goo.gl/maps/jt8UQG439vPrqcu97
 
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