June 28th A Day of Rapids Yaculta to Whirlpool

June 28^th A Day of Rapids Yaculta to Whirlpool                     

Lined up in Gillard Passage

We are up early, engines on at 0610 with the goal of being to the Yaculta Rapids at a decent time to traverse a series of three rapids closely spaced.  To do this we study the Ports and Passes, calculate the time to be at the worst rapids (Dent) and go from there.  

This puts us at Yaculta early, yet “passable” and we join a long line of a variety of watercraft and head in.  Yaculta is wide and not too bad.  We have to enter before slack so our boat speed is reduced to 2.1 knots against the current.  This places us well however to approach Gillard Passage.   

Eagles at Gillard Passage

The currents divide in this area.  If you come in on an ebb after going through Gillard Passage you are going out on an ebb.  Gillard Passage often has numerous eagles keeping watch on the water and today we see dozens in the trees.  Once through Gillard we are right into Dent Narrows.  We choose the option of taking the Dent Tug Passage around the small island.  This is often used by tugs pulling log barges and has slightly less current than Dent Narrows.  None of these are to be taken lightly and safe passage is best done on slack. 

We have made it through that series of rapids in about one hour.  Our next destination is Green Point Rapids.  We tour through the Cordero Islands on our way and arrive an hour prior to good passage.  Even after an hour we need to enter the rapids before the ideal time but the passage is wide without dangerous rocks so we go through.  With the current our boat speed increases from 4 knots to 9.5 knots, fun when you know there are not other challenges in the rapids.   

Sea Lions on the rocks awaiting Green Point Rapids

 The reason we are taking Greene Point rapids a little early is to set us up for our fifth and final rapids, Whirlpool Rapids in Wellbore Channel. 

We see a black bear and cub off Fiddelton Point, Sunday Creek.  Then it is through Whirlpool and a nice glide into the protected anchorage at Althorp Point, engines off at 2:15.  This is a record number of rapids for Walt and Odile in a day and it takes good knowledge and use of your resources to time this all correctly and arrive safely. 

We enjoy a nice break, Carl catching and releasing numerous rock fish, Pam and Odile planning the next day’s route and Walt reading.  Another dinner of fresh oysters and Odile’s fresh made clam cakes.  They are delicious!

Power Cat overtaking us Yaculta Rapids