The following episode might be of interest to fellow boaters cruising the
San Juans and Canadian Gulf Islands....

We were returning from Bedwell Harbour on the Canadian side of the boundary
to our designated port of entry for U.S. customs at Roche Harbor - the
weather forecast was for patchy fog - but as we left visibility improved and
after checking with Victoria Vessel Traffic Control on the VHF were assured
that no large shipping was scheduled to transit Boundary Pass we proceeded
using our radar, GPs and monitoring both channel 16 and 5 on the VHF. All
was OK until we neared Turn Point on Stuart Island - when the fog closed in
and we were in about 100 feet of visibility.... we "tippy toed" along using
our air horn and communicating with other traffic nearby on our VHF - at
this point we decided to proceed to Reid Harbor (right around the corner)
and anchor until conditions improved.

However, the fog was localized around Turn Point - and all of a sudden we
were in brillian sunshine and could proceed across to Roche Harbor and the
customs inspection.

When I asked the young inspector what would have happened if we - for the
sake of safety - had dropped the hook in Reid before proceeding to Roche -
his answer was "you are not allowed to do that - and if you can not proceed
to Roche, you must return to Canadian waters!". I explained that that was
not a safe option due to the dense fog and that it would have been
impossible to proceed across the busy San Juan Channel in dense fog due to
the ferry traffic....

He maintained that if I had anchored - even to safeguard the boat and the
lives of those onboard the vessel - I would have been subject to a $5000.
fine and possible arrest and confiscation of the vessel!!!

Talk about bureaucracy run amok... I am sure I feel so much safer with the
Department of Homeland Security taking such a rigid stance!!!

I had a informal word later with a member of a Coast Guard vessel who was
refueling next to us.. and his advise was "Safety First - if you have to
anchor due to imminent danger - do it - just don't tell Customs about it
when you check in!".

And I can not help wondering if you get arrested if you run your vessel
aground before you check with Customs :-)