Friendly Cove BC

Friendly Cove is where Captains Vancouver and Quadra met in 1790 and attempted to negotiate the final details of the Nootka Convention of 1790, in which Spain relinquished to England all its claims to Northwest lands.  Hulsizer, in her book, Voyages to Windward, give an interesting explanation of the complicated events in Friendly Cove that brought Spain and Great Britain to the brink of war before they worked out their differences in the Nootka Convention.

Friendly Cove is shallow and fairly protected from typical summertime winds, with good anchoring for four or five boats on a sand bottom.  Outflow winds can make Friendly Cove bumpy,  nearly all the land ashore belongs to the Mowachaht Band, and a fee ($12 per person, no credit cards) must be paid for landing.  The band has summertime staff on hand who monitor VHF 66A and collect the fee.  The landing fees is the same, whether you dinghy in from an anchored boat or tie up at the wharf and floats on the west side of the bay.

When you anchor, be aware that the Uchuck III delivers tourists and fright to the dock regularly.  To watch the Uchuck wind its way through anchored boats is awe-inspiring and terrifying if your’re on the one of the boats.

A trail runs through campgrounds and above the ocean beach.  It passes the Native graveyard and leads to a lake that’s good for swimming.  Six rental cabins, small and rustic, are just beyond the lake.  The spired Catholic Church is filled with Native carvings, and has two marvelous stained glass windows.  They depict the transfer of authority over the area from Spain to England in 1792, and were a gift from the government of Spain.

More information visit our partner site Waggoner Cruising Guide.   For all your yacht provisioning call our concierge desk at 778-432-0477.   If you’re looking for a super yacht marina we accept 65′ to 180′ vessels.  Phone or book online to reserve your slip or book the ultimate yacht Rendezvous.