Re: [Paddlewise] crossing lanes

I tend to be a bit more liberal with safety in open water shipping lanes, 
considerably more prudent in the more restricted waterways like those near 
Active Pass and Turn Point, and then extremely vigilant on rivers with 
shipping routes such as the Columbia River.

I wouldn't paddle a barge myself crossing Rosario though. :-)

Doug Lloyd



> About 20 years ago, about 1/3 of the way crossing Rosario Strait in the 
> San Juans from the north end of Cyprus to Orcas,  I looked north and saw a 
> towed barge heading my way.  The barge was twice the size of Mongolia.  I 
> was in a double with my pregnant wife and could in no way determine if it 
> was going to pass in front or behind me.  Quite frightening, and I had no 
> VHF.  In the event it passed about 1/4 mile in front.
>
> About 3 years later I was about to cross Captains Passage in the Gulf 
> Islands, again with my wife, though no longer pregnant.  This time I had a 
> VHF and called Vancouver Traffic, who informed that the Queen of Nanaimo 
> was 6 minutes from exiting a blind passage and would cross my path. 
> Exactly 6 minutes later she suddenly appeared.  These giant ferries really 
> move.  I would have hated to be in the channel looking at her approach. 
> During the crossing afterwards I heard Vancouver Traffic warning other 
> shipping of our presence.  After we crossed we so informed Vancouver 
> Traffic, who were extremely thankful for the transmission.  I was more 
> thankful for the warning.
>
> I don't know how Duane and other So Cal paddlers cross the local shipping 
> lanes to the islands with such confidence.  But I have never heard of an 
> incident with a ship.
>
> Jerry
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************