Weather: Scattered clouds and mild. Winds: NW 10-15kts. Seas: 2-3ft.
Mostly great day of sailing!
Departed Nanaimo via the south route around Protection Island, motoring out of the moorage and then setting sail right away. In hindsight, should have motored north to Departure Bay as this would have set us up better for the crossing. As it was, full main and screacher initially.
As we rounded Protection Island and heading NNE, the wind was more upon our nose and the screacher was furled and the genoa brought out. About half way to Snake Island, killed a bunch of snakes in the cockpit by reefing the main and genoa and tacking WNW to get around the north side of Snake.
Once we tacked back NNE, we had a clear shot across The Strait of Georgia, making 8kts! 2-3ft waves can make for an uncomfortable ride, but reefing had smoothed it out. Hand steered initially, toying with the windward waves, avoiding the biggest and enjoying the sailing. Further across, the winds moderated a little and Lasqueti and Texada Islands reduced the fetch and shook out the genoa reef.
Approaching Thormanby Island, the winds decreased further. In an effort to continue sailing, we tacked WNW and then back to NNE around the north side of Thormanby. Winds died on the north end of Thormanby and we motored the rest of the way. In hindsight, to arrive sooner, should have just continued around the south end of Thormanby and then motored through Welcome Passage into Secret Cove. I guess all is a compromise. Arrival in Secret was uneventful with a helpful staff. Sunny and hot in the cove. Maybe the extra time on the water was good!
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