Ganges to Campbell River — Orcas Under the Boat and Three R27s Together

We left Ganges in flat water, hit Georgia Strait in 13-knot winds with two-foot chops, and then the engine went quiet — orcas surfacing directly under the boats. Day 2 of the 2023 SE Alaska expedition — Ganges, BC to Discovery Harbour Marina in Campbell River. We crossed Georgia Strait dodging the Whiskey Golf military practice zone, navigated White Caps on the wrong side of the channel, and pulled into Campbell River to find Anytime — another Ranger Tug R27 — waiting at the dock. Three R27 Outboards now headed to Alaska together. 🌊 Georgia Strait crossing: 13-knot winds, the 15-knot go/no-go threshold, and why we went 🐋 Orca encounter: a pod surfacing directly under the boats — engines off, nobody moving 🧭 Whiskey Golf military zone: the detour that keeps you out of the practice area ⛽ Fuel reality in bad seas: 1 mile per gallon at 13 knots — what rough water actually costs 📍 Campbell River arrival: Discovery Harbour Marina, fuel dock, and meeting Anytime 🛥️ Three R27 Outboards: Channel Surfing, Lemon Drop, and Anytime — the Alaska flotilla is formed 106 nautical miles. Left at 8 am, arrived at 3pm. The weather window worked. ↓ 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗘 ↓ Planning a Pacific Northwest or Alaska cruise? Download our free Cost of Boat Ownership Guide — six years of real ownership data covering fuel, moorage, insurance, maintenance, and upgrades. Not estimates. Actual numbers from our boat. 👉 https://csurf.co/boat-costs ↓ 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔 𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖 𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗞𝗔 𝗖𝗥𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗘? ↓ These are the boats we know, trust, and have personally cruised 2,600 miles through some of the most demanding waters in North America: 🛥️ Ranger Tug — Proven in Alaska Waters 👉 https://csurf.co/rangertug ⚓ Cutwater Boats — Single and Twin Yamaha Outboard Power 👉 https://csurf.co/cutwater 🌊 Solara Boats — The Newest Option in the Fluid Motion Family 👉 https://csurf.co/solara Proud partners of Fluid Motion, makers of Ranger Tug, Cutwater, and Solara boats. 🔔 Subscribe for Pacific Northwest cruising adventures and the real ownership behind them. 📍 ↓ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 ↓ 0:00 — Leaving Ganges: flat water start 4:51 — Georgia Strait: conditions, White Caps, and the go/no-go decision 6:31 — Orca encounter: pod surfaces under the boats 7:10 — Whiskey Golf military zone: the course deviation 8:22 — Fuel burn in rough water: 1 mile per gallon reality 9:44 — Approaching Campbell River: White Caps on one side, flat on the other 12:15 — Arrival: Discovery Harbour Marina fuel dock 13:38 — Three R27s: meeting Anytime and forming the Alaska flotilla ↓ 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗨𝗦 ↓ ▸ MERCH (handmade by LaZina): https://csurf.co/merch ▸ OUR BOAT & SPECS: https://csurf.co/ourboat ▸ WATCH NEXT: https://csurf.co/watch