A few years ago, Fred and Stephanie Kaufhold aboard their Helmsman 37 Mariner Seville Dream Weaver, joined two buddy boats for a cruise to the remote and historic islands off the Pacific coast that are now known as the Haida Gwaii. These were known formally by their European name The Queen Charlotte Islands but were renamed in 2009.
Toi get to the Gwaii islands, the Kaufholds and their friends first had to make the 65-mile crossing. of Hecate Strait which is known for fast moving weather systems and strong currents. They weren’t disappointed as the wind came up briskly creating a six foot chop on the trawler’s quarter.
Needless to say they were happy to make landfall and tie up in a marina in Sandspit Harbor. Next day the moved on to the town of Queen Charlote where they needed to pick up permits for cruising in the wild and raw islands to the south that make up the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site.
Haida Gwii is the ancestral home of the Haida indigenous people and ancient customs and rituals are adhered to much more than on the mainland. In a sense, the islands are a time capsule from the Haida past and a magical place for a summer cruise.
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