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For stage 1, say you make it across the strait but need to wait out a foul tide before proceeding to Victoria and Canadian customs. What are the rules regarding landfall - can you anchor offshore, in a bay, in a harbor? Can you tie up at a dock? What are you not allowed to do?

This link my help answer many of the questions concerning entering Canada by small boat. http://boating.ncf.ca/canadaborder.html

You shouldn't anchor before clearing Customs, but you don't have to wait until you're in Victoria Harbour to clear. There is a Customs phone at the gas dock at Oak Bay marina, just a short mile north of Gonzales head, the point on Vancouver Island nearest to Port Townsend. If you're approaching Victoria and the flood tide carries you eastward, ducking into Oak Bay will be an easy fix. Once cleared you can do what you like while waiting for the tide to change and take you westward to Vic Harbour (which is approx. 5 miles west of Gonzales Head).

Jamie

Thanks both, no anchoring allowed.
Jamie, if you are stuck on the wrong side of the ebb, is there another marina with customs phone west of Vic? How about Pedder Bay?

There is good info from Canadian Customs here. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/mobile/pbt-plp-eng.html it includes a phone number to call in case you are having trouble making it to a designated entry point. I have used this in the past and called in my entry. You provide them your information. They either clear you over the phone or they ask you to come to a specific location. In the past if a customs officer did not show within a given period of time, they considered you cleared. Key however is to get your clearance number!

CN customs are good people. easy to work with and, gasp, helpful!

went into customs with a group of boats a few years ago. we arrived at the same time as another group so there was a line and no dock space. the customs office hailed and said, 'anyone with a cell phone call this number and circle in the harbor until cleared.'

don't get this type of service coming home to the USA.

Ease your customs crossing significantly by not bringing any fire-arms into Canada.
If you make a mistake and suddenly realize one's aboard, declare it immediately.
Just some simple tips from a guy who's seen this become a problem fast for many a southern visitor.
Good luck in the race!

P.S. I've travelled and the hardest boarder crossings I've ever experienced are those entering my own country. Glad to hear you've all been having such smooth-saling crossings coming to visit us here in "the great white north".

Tom Christie wrote:Glad to hear you've all been having such smooth-saling crossings coming to visit us here in "the great white north".

And don't forget your chain-saws 'eh!

Are chainsaws permitted. Maybe you meant a Swede Saw. I smell 2 cycle exhaust and that's not human powered!