Lagoon Cove

We departed Boughey Bay for one of our favorite destinations, Lagoon Cove. It’s not far, just up Chatham Channel and through the Blow Hole. The timing of the Chatham Channel currents is such that we got underway very early and arrived at Lagoon Cove by 8:30am.

After getting skunked last August, we made reservations for moorage in advance. But could they take us this early?

We jumped on the radio to say that we’d anchor out for a few hours if they needed time to clear a space. Luckily for us, there was room and Dan welcomed us to the dock and helped with lines. It’s such a friendly place.

Lagoon cove docks. Overflow dock, with the new crew quaRters under construction can be seen near the small cove.

A two-night stay is in the offing. Lagoon Cove is famous for the daily happy hour potluck where they provide freshly caught prawns and fellow boaters provide the rest. We find that we often can make a dinner meal of the generous concoctions set out by our cruising dock mates. It’s also really popular, and the marina was totally full the first night we were there. Business is booming. The fuel dock was very busy and they are building marina crew accommodations on the overflow dock.

Dan laying out the ground rules for happy hour, Prawns for everyone!

World famous LAgoon Cove shed. Many a crew have left their burgee.

The shop at the other end of the shed. This was once a very active maintenance facility with the ways to haul out boats along side.

The idea of freshly caught prawns is extremely attractive. We tried here last August, and nearly lost our pot to an obstruction on the bottom. This year, surely, we’ll be luckier. The word is that the prawns are back after the commercial fishery plunder.

Sadly, three soaks in three different locations over two days resulted in a total of 5 prawns. Nice-sized, but not worth the effort. And a fish farm is now located right over one of the best prawning sites! Oh well, maybe later in the trip.

A unique offering by our hosts Dan and Kelley is that you can purchase a ten-dollar Shore Package if the docks are full, and you anchor out. We did this last year — you can enjoy happy hour at the marina as well as access to the land and the hiking trails.  When the docks are full, we find that a great deal.

We met some great people on M/V Tortoise.  She is a very well kept single-engine Grand Banks 36 out of Sidney, and new to the owners. We had fun at happy hour with Helen and Jeff!

Low tide provides opportunity to clean the bottom and service the outboard. Decomissioned ways can be seen to the left of the ramp.

On the second evening we saw Dan jump in his boat and make his way toward Chatham Channel at full speed. Apparently, there was a mayday for a sinking boat and Lagoon Cove was the closest source of assistance.  We were alerted to the situation as a helicopter flew low over the Cove and landed by the main house. While we don’t know all the details, it seems as if a group of teenagers had a serious issue and had the presence of mind to get their life jackets on and into a dinghy. The boat sank, but the kids were all fine though shaken for sure. Kudos to Dan and those on the dock who helped when the kids arrived.

We enjoyed our stay at Lagoon Cove very much and look forward to next year!

lagoon cove sunset