LADYSMITH D4
Bare Point – Marked by a green light and large white rectangular building at the point.
Chemainus Bay – Enter by keeping the red buoy in the centre of the harbour to starboard. Originally called Horseshoe Bay for its shape. There is a government wharf south of the ferry dock and northwest of the bay. A red light marks Bird Rock. Hospital Point offers a boat launch with Kin Beach Park to the north.
Davis Lagoon – Bridge identifies the entrance. Transfer Beach Park – A public wharf, beach, swimming area, washrooms, and picnic tables.
Ladysmith – Named by James Dunsmuir in 1900 after a town in Natal Province, South Africa. The Ladysmith Maritime Society offers transient moorage, water, power, pay phone and a boat launch. Speed limit is eight mph in the harbour.
Dunsmuir Island – Named after the president of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Co., James Dunsmuir. North of Dunsmuir Islands there is protected anchorage which is picturesque but exposed to east winds. Cluster Rocks: marked by a red buoy. Sibell Bay – Good anchorage in the north side where you will also find a shell beach. The Seattle Yacht Club has an outstation in Sibell Bay.
Evening Cove – Exposed to the southeast but not a bad anchorage when wind and seas are favourable. The best area is in the western part of the bay. It is protected by Coffin Point (to the north) marked by a white flashing light.
Kulleet Bay – Exposed to south and east winds. Good anchorage when winds and seas are calm. First Nations have been living here for a millennia.
Yellow Point – Picturesque. If the winds come from the north, there are several coves to the south where you can have good temporary anchorage.
Miami Islet – Essentially flat rocks, but the northwest end of the islet is marked by a day beacon. On January 25, 1900, the Miami, a 320–foot freighter, was wrecked on the reef without loss of life (UASBC). This interesting dive site is for divers of all abilities. To the south of Miami Islet is the wreck of the Robert Kerr, which sank here in 1911 (UASBC). Ragged Islet (southeast) is marked with a day beacon on the north end.
Pilkey Point – At the northeast corner of Thetis Island is a good place for nature lovers interested in crabs, sea stars and other marine animals.
Cufra Canal – Dries at low tide so it is not a great place to anchor; it is surrounded by private land. Do not harvest any clams as it is a private lease. Some clam farmers bring clams from other areas to the clean water of Cufra Canals.
North Cove – Good place to anchor, but you are exposed to the northwinds.
Thetis Island – Population is about 300 people within about 50 square kms. The island was named after the 36–gun frigate Thetis that served the British Navy in the area from 1851 to 1853. Thetis and Kuper Islands used to be a single island. The canal separating them was dredged in 1905 and a bridge connected the two until 1946.
Preedy Harbour – Public wharf and services the ferries to Chemainus and Kuper Island. The safest passage is between Crescent Point and Dayman Island. There are plenty of markers, up-to-date charts are recommended. Watch for seals and cormorants on the rocks.
Hudson Island – Privately owned. A red light marks the northern tip of a drying reef which extends northwest. Alarm Rock - named after the H.M.S. Alarm which sailed these waters from 1855-58 is also marked with a light.