Tag Archives: Squirrel Cove Dock

Summer Moorage Spots on Cortes Island

Harbour Authority Cortes Island (HACI) started taking applications for summer moorage spots at 9 AM on April 1st. 

Harbour Master Jenny Hartwick explained, “What’s happened over the last few years on Cortes, especially after Covid,  is we’ve seen a steady increase in summer visitors  and local residents getting out on the water. That puts additional pressure on the available moorage that we have at the docks.”

“The one point that I want to make really clear is we have ample space available for anyone who is looking for moorage at the docks. What we do not necessarily have available is moorage at your first choice dock.  We have some  areas of higher population density and the docks that are in those areas tend to be the most popular. For safety reasons, we cannot accommodate every single boat that puts in a request for moorage at those docks.  If we tried,  there would be too many security issues: be it vessels getting damaged or the possibility of people getting hurt and, literally, the facilities themselves wouldn’t be able to support the weight of all of the boats that we have asking to stay there.”

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HACI: Recreational Moorage and Winch usage on Cortes Island

Moorage for recreational boats is even more limited on Cortes Island this year and vessels intending to stay more than 3 nights must make prior arrangements with the Harbour Authority Cortes Island. In addition, Small Craft Harbours regulations for using winches have changed. The manual winches at Mansons Landing and Whaletown have been decommissioned. The winch at the Squirrel Cove dock is available for commercial users who make prior arrangements through the Harbour Authority. The general public is no longer allowed access except through certified staff provided by the Harbour Authority.    

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 Recent Sinking & Previous Derelict Vessels in Squirrel Cove

On Sunday, June 2nd, a 50 foot vessel sank near the Squirrel Cove dock on Cortes island.

“There was quite a lengthy,  involved, process with the Coast Guard and Transport Canada. I am very happy to say  that the vessel has now been removed and environmental remediation has taken place, but that was quite an exciting event for the Harbour Authority,” explained Jenny Hartwick, Harbourmaster for the Harbour Authority Cortes Island (HACI).

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The Scallop Rafts Being Built In Squirrel Cove 

Anyone visiting Squirrel Cove right now can see a series of freshly constructed rafts anchored close to the government dock. There were four of them when Cortes Currents first noticed, and another two being built on the beach. Now they are all in the Cove. There are piles of lumber and floats nearby, and a huge pile of hoop-like ‘lantern nets’ waiting on the Squirrel Cove Dock.   

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Long term moorage in Whaletown and Cortes Bay fully booked for the summer 

As the weather turns warmer, some recreational vessels seek moorage at Cortes Island docks for periods of between one and six months. This is called long-term-moorage. On Wednesday, May 3, the Harbour Authority of Cortes Island (HACI) issued a press release stating that their docks in Whaletown and Cortes Bay are now full for long-term-moorage this summer. 

“When we’re talking about long-term recreational moorage, we’re just talking about individuals who are looking to moor a boat and not live on it,” explained Harbourmaster Jenny Hartwick

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