Gorge Harbour Visit






Walsh Cove Marine Park

We departed Toba Wildernest at 10am and made our way south down Waddington Channel for a side trip into Walsh Cove, the site of another pictograph.  Walsh Cove on W. Redonda Island was crowded with boats, an indication that we were in the busy season and popular boating area of Desolation Sound.  

Too Close, Stern Aground

We could only image how hectic it must be this time of year at Desolation Sound Marine Park, located further south.  The small cove and marine park of Walsh was lined with boats stern tied to shore; one boat got a little too close for comfort and found their stern aground, they would have to wait for the tide to raise them off the shoal.  

Pictograph at Walsh Cove

Unable to find suitable anchorage nearby, we motored around with Got d’ Fever looking for the pictograph, we finally found it on a point at the north side of the cove.  We motored as close as we dared and snapped a couple of pictures, then headed out.  We retraced our steps going north then west around the north side of W. Redonda Island and then south down Sutil Channel between Read Island and Cortes Island.  We were bound for Gorge Harbour on Cortes Island where we planned to meet up with our friends Susan and Chris, but first we would need to negotiate Uganda Pass between Cortes and Marina Islands.  The normal rule on colored buoys is “red right returning” with the red buoy to starboard and the green buoy to port.  

Red to Port, Opposite Standard Rule

But  islands can be a different story, you have to ask yourself from which direction are you returning?  In this particular case the charts indicate that you are returning to Gorge Harbour from the south, not from the north so the buoys are viewed backwards from the standard rule – red to port and green to starboard in this case. 

Green to Starboard, Opposite Standard Rule

It can look strange and feel uncomfortable with rocks and shoals scatter about, but you have to trust the rules.  A long sand bar extends eastward from Marina Island so safe passage winds between rocks close to shore along Cortes Island.  We came out on the other side unscathed and headed around the corner into Gorge Harbour.  

Entrance to Gorge Harbour, Cortes Island

The entrance to George Harbour is quite dramatic with its narrow opening and tall rock face to port, where yet another pictograph is located.  Leonard negotiated the entrance which had some small whirlpools, while I snapped a couple of pictures; another pictograph checked off our list.  

Pictograph, Gorge Harbour on Cortes Island

Gorge Harbour proved to be another busy spot with the docks already full and many boats anchored in the bay.  We motored around for a while searching for a good spot, then decided to head to the northeast end of the bay, our secret spot where we had anchored in previous years.  The anchor was down and we had settled in around 4pm.  Time to prepare dinner and then head over to see our friends on their beautiful Selene, named C Otter, moored at the docks in front of the marina resort. 

Friends on C Otter, Gorge Marina

Yes, we remembered to turn on our anchor light as it would be evening by the time we returned, we then headed over in our dinghy to see Susan and Chris with dessert in-hand.  We had a wonderful visit as always with lots of laughs and enjoyed seeing their friends again, Tammy and Gary, whom we had met in Mexico on another get-together with Susan and Chris.  

Restaurant at Gorge Resort & Marina 

Gorge Harbour Marina has all of the amenities that boaters and families could want, including a swimming pool, store, restaurant, and play areas.  

Gorge Marina, Cortes Island

Serenaded by African-style Music

The weather was perfect and we could hear the band playing African themed music from shore, adding to the ambiance of our group visit.