By David.Tyler - 10 Dec 2014
McCarty Lagoon
approach 59 32.00 ' N 150 21.40 ' W
channel 1 59 31.95 ' N 150 20.83 ' W
channel 2 59 31.99 ' N 150 20.32 ' W
channel 3 59 31.86 ' N 150 19.85 ' W
anchorage 59 31.82 ' N 150 19.53 ' W
The US Coast Pilot says "McCarty Lagoon has not been surveyed. The entrance nearly bares at LW, but shallow-draft vessels can enter at HW. The tidal currents in the entrance have an estimated velocity of 8 - 12 knots, so that high water slack is the only time to enter". This is a rather pessimistic picture. In July 2013, a least depth was found, at the inner end of the entrance, in excess of 1m at datum, with currents of somewhat less than 8 knots. The channel is close to the rocky S shore until a creek on the N side is passed, and then moves over to follow the steep-to gravel bank on the N side, as a lower gravel bank develops to the S. On reaching the deep water of the lagoon, anchorage can be found on the inside of the gravel bank, to port. It is advisable to enter and leave within an hour of HW. The chart is inaccurate as regards the N shore. The creek on the N side comes from a small lagoon, which in turn is fed by a creek from Delight Lake. Bush planes and helicopters land on the beach near this lagoon to fish for salmon. Google Earth gives a good picture of this, but not of the channel.
James Lagoon
approach 59 33.24 ' N 150 24.18 ' W
channel 1 59 33.46 ' N 150 24.65 ' W
channel 2 59 33.55 ' N 150 24.70 ' W
channel 3 59 33.70 ' N 150 24.69 ' W
channel 4 59 33.75 ' N 150 24.65 ' W
channel 5 59 33.80 ' N 150 24.59 ' W
channel 6 59 33.91 ' N 150 24.47 ' W
The chart is inaccurate. The survey was done before 1939, and it is possible that the 1964 earthquake has caused some upheaval. At any rate, what the chart shows as a group of islands and foul ground, NE of the entrance channel, is now a peninsula, and more importantly, what is shown as a spot depth of 0.9m, at the inner end of the channel, is now a bank, with large stones on its seaward side, that dries at half-tide. The channel is divided by this bank. The W channel is extremely narrow, and nearly dries at its inner end. It cannot be recommended. The E channel is wider, but is still nearly dry at LW. The channel passes to the E of a shoal off the entrance, then turns towards the W rocky shore. After a creek is passed, the channel narrows, then divides, and the E channel then turns to the E around a steep-to gravel bank.
Head towards a rock and scree scar on the steep eastern hillside and anchor off the mud flats in 10m. It is essential to enter and leave within an hour of HW.
Of the two lagoons, McCarty Lagoon has the easier, deeper entrance.
Midnight Cove
Entrance 59 30.40 ' N 150 21.00 ' W
This is the all-tide anchorage in McCarty Fiord. Head into Moonlight Bay, and round a rock awash to enter Midnight Cove and anchor in the centre of the cove, just inside the bend, in 16 - 20m, or in the NE corner with a line ashore, 10 - 15m. The mountain sides are very steep and williwaws are likely in strong NE weather. There is an attractive waterfall in the SE corner.
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