Tides and Currents
Baynes Channel Currents
Baynes Channel is located between Cadboro Bay and Haro Strait, and is bounded by Ten Mile Point and Chatham Island. Sailors going to the Gulf or San Juan Islands from Victoria and local kayakers often cross it.
Currents can be quite strong, and it is advisable to check prior to crossing. Currents are calculated based on Race Rocks as a reference station:
- 1. Determine current conditions at Race Rocks in the Tide and Current Tables, pages 64-67 (2023).
- 2. Adjust:
- Time of max ebb/flood and slack: -15 Min. earlier
- Amplitude of max. ebb/flood: 75% of Race Rocks
Other Locations
The Canadian Tide & Current Tables and the
Canadian Current Atlas – Juan de Fuca to Strait of Georgia are both published
by the Canadian Hydrographic Service.
The Atlas is invaluable for forecasting tidal currents within the area.
The Atlas is a one-time purchase, but each year you must buy a booklet of
tables that direct you to the appropriate Atlas currents map for that specific
date & time. Ports and Passages and Murray’s Tables publish these yearly
updates. Interestingly, there is
sometimes sizeable disparity in their projections.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides online
predictions for US waters and Canadian sites along the border. This is a convenient source for boaters in
our area. Below are selected sites in
the Juan de Fuca & Haro Strait area:
Location |
Comments |
| Discovery Island, 3 mi. NE |
Southern
section of Haro Strait. Closest secondary reference point to
Baynes Channel, so slack water times in the Channel will vary. Personal
observations indicate that currents in Baynes Channel can flow up to 5
kts. or more, so use extreme caution when transiting Baynes Channel. Note: Never base important decisions on this or any information obtained from the Internet! Use at your own risk. |
| Discovery Island, 3 mi. SSE |
Strait of Juan de Fuca; eastern entrance |
| Trial Island; 5.2 SSW |
Strait of Juan de Fuca, approx. mid-channel between Trial Island and the Olympic Peninsula. |
| Mosquito Pass, San Juan Island (tides) |
Tidal chart for the narrow pass approaching Roche Harbor from the south. Can extrapolate currents |
| Kellet Bluff, west of |
San Juan Island. Near Kelp Reef in Haro Strait |
| Speiden Channel, East Entrance |
Limestone Point, San Juan Island |
| San Juan Channel, North |
Spring Passage, south of (NOAA) |
| San Juan Channel, mid Channel |
Near Friday Harbor. Pear Point, 1.1 mi. E (NOAA) |
| San Juan Channel, South Entrance |
Cattle Point. Substantial tidal currents at peak flood/ebb. |
| Turn Point, Boundary Pass |
Western point of Stuart Island. Shipping channel turns 90 degrees off this point. |
| Boundary Pass |
Between Pender and Stuart Island; 1.7 mi W of Waldron Island |
| Strait of Juan de Fuca, mid-channel to Admiralty Inlet |
New Dungeness Light, 6 mi NNE |
| Entrance to Admiralty Inlet; Puget Sound |
Point Wilson, 0.5 mi. NE |