| Broken
Islands - A spell-binding collection of mountain islands
sunken in the Pacific Ocean with hundreds of rocky outcroppings
located on the west coast of North America. It is such an important
ecological reserve that the Broken Islands Group is one of the three
sections that make up the heralded Pacific
Rim National Park.
The untouched west coast islands has very primitive
anchorage opportunities for marine Boaters. The
scenery is amazing, but comes at a cost as there are no luxury moorage
opportunities when cruising the inner and outer Broken Islands
as there are no buoys, docks or services located in this boating
paradise.
Exploring the Broken Islands Group , boaters,
must rely on their navigation skills, chart reading and weather
forecasts when cruising the many coves and bays of the islands.
The inner islands offer, by far, more protected moorage
from the ocean swells and winds. The farther inwards into the maze
of islands the more protection boaters enjoy. The inner Broken
Islands is a green family of beautiful, picturesque islands
with many sheltered coves and relatively calmer ocean channels.
The Broken Islands consists of smaller groupings
of islands like Sechart, which is part of the Pinkerton
Islands. Here the waters are shallow with a mud bottom.
Just west of the Pinkerton Islands is Equis Beach which
is a popular anchorage area, although it is exposed to the westerly
winds.
Hand Island is a beauty with three
beaches and is a very popular destination drawing many boaters,
especially to the northeast side where the depths of the ocean reaches
only 12 -30 feet and anchorage is possible , yet boaters are still
exposed to the northerly winds.
Brabant Islands is south of Hand
Island and consists of five smaller islands with some anchorage
opportunities, but southeasterly winds can make the area a challenge
for overnight anchorage.
One of the more popular anchorage destinations is
off the shores of Nettle Island on the southeast
side in a protected cove. But, because of the popularity of the
cove, the cove is sometimes occupied. If this is the case proceed
a few hundred feet ahead and another protected cove appears. Both
of these sheltered boating anchorage hide-a-ways offer good protection
from the winds and surging ocean swells.
Javis Lagoon is by far the most
protected anchorage destination but it is not as easily navigated
as others. There are protruding shoals to avoid, which is not any
easier because of the cloudy water created by the eel grass. The
entrance is tricky but worth it as the lagoon is completely protected
and boosts the warmest waters of the islands.
Turtle Bay is another all weather
anchorage area with some strong currents but no ocean swell build
up and boaters can weather almost any storm here too.
The Broken Islands Group beaches
and shorelines have plenty of intertidal life to explore after a
day of boating. There are many beach access points
with caves to discover that have been created by years of battering
ocean waves and funneling winds from the unforgiving Pacific storms.
Boaters who venture out into the outer Broken
Islands should expect rough boating conditions with strong
sea swells, at times gale force winds and varying tidal currents.
It is always important to plan for the unexpected when boating the
open waters away from the protection of the inner Broken
Islands.
The communities of Tofino, Ucluelet, Port Alberni
and Bamfield are the launching points to the Broken Islands.
Be prepared with maps of the islands for navigation
and be aware that the drinking water is scarce and far between during
the dry seasons. |
Broken Islands
