Leg Description

Cheekee Progress

Leg 3
Date: June 16, 2003
Course: Comox to Campbell River
Distance: 23.90 nautical miles

Start: 0800 hrs. The start is outside the Comox Bar. The sand bar not the pub/bar. The water is a little thin through here.

Finish: Due to the strong currents coming down Discovery Passage, we are unable to finish in town. The finish will be near the P60 buoy at Wilby Shoals south of Cape Mudge on Quadra Island.

Moorage: The Riptide Pub and Marina has once again sponsored your moorage at the Riptide Marina in Discovery Harbour. Discovery Harbour is located immediately north of the Quadra Island Ferry Terminal. Escort boats will be on hand to escort you to your slip with lots of assistance to tie up. Rip Tide Marina monitors Channel 68. Visit their website www.riptidepub.com for more information.

Awards Reception: An informal awards reception and dinner will be held at or immediately adjacent to the Riptide Pub at the head of the docks, shortly after 6:00 pm.

Accommodations: Race Sponsor, The Coast Discovery Inn and Marina, is located in the immediate vicinity a five minute walk from the Riptide. Refer to the Welcome Packages sent from Campbell River and host city link for more information on accommodations.

Facilities: Excellent shower and laundry facilities at the head of the dock. Fuel, water, shore power, ice, groceries and shopping are close at hand. Stock up here, as this is the last stop for provisioning before Port Hardy.

Boxed Lunches are available from the Riptide, a nice option considering the very early morning departure. Order forms will be available the evening before.

Special Notes: This leg is where the tides meet. The tidal stream entering the strait around the SE of Vancouver Island meets the corresponding tide that flows around the NW end of the island between Cape Mudge and Cape Lazo. The tide floods South north of Middlenatch Island and floods North, south of Middlenatch Island. Because of this it makes no matter what time of the day this leg is started, the current will be against you at some point, guaranteed.

Cautionary Note: Between Cape Mudge and Willow Point there is a heavy race on south-going streams, which when opposed by strong SE winds sets up short steep swells and a very rough sea condition.