Weather: Sunny and hot.
The pool was welcome! So were the shrimp purchased at the head of the dock and the ice cream in the booths near the store! This was our last stop in company with Captain's Mast. A good time was had!
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Tuesday, 14August, 2012: Poet's Cove to Roche Harbor
Weather: Sunny and warm. Winds: Light. Seas: Calm.
Mostly a slow motor for the 10-sh nautical miles.
Since we were getting a slip in the marina, folded the amas upon arrival. Folding also made sense with the expected traffic at the customs and immigration dock.
Had heard some horror stories about clearing customs at Roche. Huge traffic jams, boats barging in and unhappy customs officials. RT was just clearing customs as we arrived. After a bit of radio chit chat, we were the 5th boat in line. While the line remained orderly, we hovered about and 30min later, a spot opened for us and we slipped right in.
I always get a kick out of the official's question about what I do for work. "Retired." "You are too young for retirement! What did you do?" "Navy!"
Turns out this CIBP official started out as a marine and then retired from the army. Nice guy and a nice chat!
Motor to our slip was uneventful!
Mostly a slow motor for the 10-sh nautical miles.
Since we were getting a slip in the marina, folded the amas upon arrival. Folding also made sense with the expected traffic at the customs and immigration dock.
Had heard some horror stories about clearing customs at Roche. Huge traffic jams, boats barging in and unhappy customs officials. RT was just clearing customs as we arrived. After a bit of radio chit chat, we were the 5th boat in line. While the line remained orderly, we hovered about and 30min later, a spot opened for us and we slipped right in.
I always get a kick out of the official's question about what I do for work. "Retired." "You are too young for retirement! What did you do?" "Navy!"
Turns out this CIBP official started out as a marine and then retired from the army. Nice guy and a nice chat!
Motor to our slip was uneventful!
12-13August, 2012: Poet's Cove Marina/Resort
Weather: Sunny and hot.
Poet's Cove is a nice place. Not our favorite place, but a nice place. Restaurant, pool, dog walk area, spa and things boaters appreciate: Recycling and showers! Seems to be a place where city folk (tongue in cheek) can come and experience nature and the outdoors in a spa setting.
On hot days like these were, the pool is welcome!
Poet's Cove is a nice place. Not our favorite place, but a nice place. Restaurant, pool, dog walk area, spa and things boaters appreciate: Recycling and showers! Seems to be a place where city folk (tongue in cheek) can come and experience nature and the outdoors in a spa setting.
On hot days like these were, the pool is welcome!
Sunday, 12August, 2012: Vancouver to Bedwell Harbor, South Pender Island
Weather: Sunny and mild. Winds: NW 15-20 slacking to 10. Seas: 2-3ft then calm.
Great fun and a blasting day!
Departed False Creek during a calm sunrise, casting lines off of Captain's Mast before anyone else but RT was up and about. Except for us, False Creek and environs were dead! Uneventful motor into English Bay and raised the main and unfurled the genoa. NW winds started to pick up and attempting to sail put us on a heading towards West Point and the ship anchorages...kept motoring.
Finally, got out far enough to set a proper tack and avoid land and made 8kts while pointing. As we cleared West Point, I wanted to fall off south, onto a course towards the eastern point of Saturna Island. The shallows off of West Point and south (Spanish Bank, Sturgeon Bank and Roberts Bank) had an impact on this desire. These banks are a steep rise out or Georgia Strait, the water depth changes abruptly from 100ft plus to 24ft or less in about 100ft horizontal distance. This causes the calmer water in the deeper water to suddenly become nasty and choppy. So, the 2-3ft waves in the deep water became 3-4ft chop in the shallow. We continued west, seemingly forever, to get around Sturgeon Bank. Throw in an entire tree deadhead, root and all, to avoid and it was an exciting time!
Still, as the westerly course took us into deeper water and we could turn downwind more, into a beam reach, we got into a rhythm with the wind and waves and hit a couple sweet spots, where the gusts and calmer water coincided and we had a brief period of 11.5kts and another at 12.3! We were smokin'!
There is an old saying, if there are two sailboats, there is a race. RT and I are both competitive and we are no exception. Normally, RT is first to our next stop, he motors a lot while Kelly and I try to sail. This works well most of the time as RT is anchored and has prepped our floating dock by the time we arrive! Today, I understand the conversation aboard C-Mast was something along the line of:
MM: "Are we going to catch them?"
RT: "Nope. Strider was made for this." RT swears he saw daylight under our hull at one point!
Once out into Georgia Strait, the calmer water was expected on the lee of Gulf Islands so we headed SW towards Galiano Island. Furled the genoa and brought out the screacher: Broad reach and following seas, can't get better! Made a comfortable 10kts.
Once in the calmer water in the lee of Galiano Island, turned SE in a downwind run. While not our favorite tack as running with the wind limits our speed...well, to less the wind's speed. Brought the genoa out for a wing on wing double headsail configuration. Main and screacher were downwind to port while the genoa was upwind to starboard funneling air into the screacher. Winds were now about 10kts and we made 7kts.
Our course took us east of the Rosenfeld Rock Buoy (the smart side) and we had a really interesting experience crossing Boiling Reef. This is an area of colliding currents, incoming and outgoing tides. When we crossed, in 24ft of water, it was calm. But the following 6in waves gave the impression we were in 1ft of water, like the break on a shore. Eerie. Kept checking the charts. RT crossed the same spot 30min later and was bashed around in 3ft chop!
On the south side of Saturna Island, the winds gradually died. Head sails were furled, but I stubbornly held onto the main. We motored. We picked up winds out of Plumper Sound. Out came the screacher and we were making 10kts in a beam reach and calm water. Several monohulls were passed, one close aboard...motoring. Sometimes I just don't get it. Conditions were great, why motor? The helmsman on the motoring boat did watch as we flew by. I was grinning big!
We sailed into Bedwell, exchanging the screacher for the genoa as it was a beat. After several tacks, we dropped sail upon approach, brought in the amas and motored into our awaiting slip.
All in all, a great day of sailing! Vancouver to Bedwell in about 7 hours. One of the thing I like about sailing is there is always something to do: adjust the heading or a sail, consider the changing conditions, ensure the route is safe, check traffic, etc. Today, winds, currents, waves and islands kept us on our toes. I was asked about relaxing. Relaxing is taken when conditions warrant. This day, I relaxed a bit on the broad reach to Galiano Island. Relaxed even more on the downwind to Rosenfeld Rock. But relaxing doesn't mean not paying attention! Always pay attention.... But mostly, relaxing is with a beer at the destination!
Great fun and a blasting day!
Departed False Creek during a calm sunrise, casting lines off of Captain's Mast before anyone else but RT was up and about. Except for us, False Creek and environs were dead! Uneventful motor into English Bay and raised the main and unfurled the genoa. NW winds started to pick up and attempting to sail put us on a heading towards West Point and the ship anchorages...kept motoring.
Finally, got out far enough to set a proper tack and avoid land and made 8kts while pointing. As we cleared West Point, I wanted to fall off south, onto a course towards the eastern point of Saturna Island. The shallows off of West Point and south (Spanish Bank, Sturgeon Bank and Roberts Bank) had an impact on this desire. These banks are a steep rise out or Georgia Strait, the water depth changes abruptly from 100ft plus to 24ft or less in about 100ft horizontal distance. This causes the calmer water in the deeper water to suddenly become nasty and choppy. So, the 2-3ft waves in the deep water became 3-4ft chop in the shallow. We continued west, seemingly forever, to get around Sturgeon Bank. Throw in an entire tree deadhead, root and all, to avoid and it was an exciting time!
Still, as the westerly course took us into deeper water and we could turn downwind more, into a beam reach, we got into a rhythm with the wind and waves and hit a couple sweet spots, where the gusts and calmer water coincided and we had a brief period of 11.5kts and another at 12.3! We were smokin'!
There is an old saying, if there are two sailboats, there is a race. RT and I are both competitive and we are no exception. Normally, RT is first to our next stop, he motors a lot while Kelly and I try to sail. This works well most of the time as RT is anchored and has prepped our floating dock by the time we arrive! Today, I understand the conversation aboard C-Mast was something along the line of:
MM: "Are we going to catch them?"
RT: "Nope. Strider was made for this." RT swears he saw daylight under our hull at one point!
Once out into Georgia Strait, the calmer water was expected on the lee of Gulf Islands so we headed SW towards Galiano Island. Furled the genoa and brought out the screacher: Broad reach and following seas, can't get better! Made a comfortable 10kts.
Once in the calmer water in the lee of Galiano Island, turned SE in a downwind run. While not our favorite tack as running with the wind limits our speed...well, to less the wind's speed. Brought the genoa out for a wing on wing double headsail configuration. Main and screacher were downwind to port while the genoa was upwind to starboard funneling air into the screacher. Winds were now about 10kts and we made 7kts.
Our course took us east of the Rosenfeld Rock Buoy (the smart side) and we had a really interesting experience crossing Boiling Reef. This is an area of colliding currents, incoming and outgoing tides. When we crossed, in 24ft of water, it was calm. But the following 6in waves gave the impression we were in 1ft of water, like the break on a shore. Eerie. Kept checking the charts. RT crossed the same spot 30min later and was bashed around in 3ft chop!
On the south side of Saturna Island, the winds gradually died. Head sails were furled, but I stubbornly held onto the main. We motored. We picked up winds out of Plumper Sound. Out came the screacher and we were making 10kts in a beam reach and calm water. Several monohulls were passed, one close aboard...motoring. Sometimes I just don't get it. Conditions were great, why motor? The helmsman on the motoring boat did watch as we flew by. I was grinning big!
We sailed into Bedwell, exchanging the screacher for the genoa as it was a beat. After several tacks, we dropped sail upon approach, brought in the amas and motored into our awaiting slip.
All in all, a great day of sailing! Vancouver to Bedwell in about 7 hours. One of the thing I like about sailing is there is always something to do: adjust the heading or a sail, consider the changing conditions, ensure the route is safe, check traffic, etc. Today, winds, currents, waves and islands kept us on our toes. I was asked about relaxing. Relaxing is taken when conditions warrant. This day, I relaxed a bit on the broad reach to Galiano Island. Relaxed even more on the downwind to Rosenfeld Rock. But relaxing doesn't mean not paying attention! Always pay attention.... But mostly, relaxing is with a beer at the destination!
Monday, October 7, 2013
10-11August, 2012: False Creek, Vancouver, BC
Weather: Sunny and warm. Winds: Nice cooling breeze. Seas: Nil.
RT had picked another great spot. This time on the north side of False Creek, about a 15min row to the Grandville Island Market to the west and about a 3min row to the landing at the David Lam Park.
Whilst I enjoyed the solitude previously experienced, Kelly and I live in the country. Going to the big city is a treat and Vancouver is a world class city. High rise apartments cover the north side of False Creek, but there is a large pedestrian/bicycle thoroughfare between the apartments and the creek that was constantly in use. To the south was a large park. Just to the NE was another park. Further east was the Science Center. All was great for people watching.
Further, being the weekend, there were a lot of boats on the creek. Dragon boat practice in the morning. Kayakers and paddle boarders all day. Party barges towards evening. Patrolling the creek were the see and be seen boats. And, of course, the ubiquitous water taxis.
Grandville Market was great, kind of like Pikes Place in Seattle, but with a more relaxed, less crowded feel. Kelly found a great jewelry shop! We did little food shopping since we were returning to the US and did not want to have to throw out food we could not bring back.
It was fun just to stroll around. Trash talked with a ND alumnus, sitting with his brother, a MSU alumnus. Met a family about to send their daughter off to UM Engineering! Strolled with Kelly through the market and along the waterfront and the park. Did not go out to dinner like I would have liked because we still had food to use up prior to our US arrival.
Like Princess Louisa and Tenedos, I will come back here.
Friday, 10August, 2012: Bowen Island to False Creek, Vancouver
Weather: Sunny and warm. Winds: N 10. Seas: <1ft.
Easy run to False Creek. Once into Howe Sound, raised main and screacher and sailed right up to the entrance! Dropped the sails and motored in, stopping to fuel under the Burrard Street Bridge. Fueled, headed under the Granville Street Bridge into False Creek.
C-Mast was waiting and it was an uneventful rafting. Check in at the Boating Welcome Centre was painless.
Easy run to False Creek. Once into Howe Sound, raised main and screacher and sailed right up to the entrance! Dropped the sails and motored in, stopping to fuel under the Burrard Street Bridge. Fueled, headed under the Granville Street Bridge into False Creek.
C-Mast was waiting and it was an uneventful rafting. Check in at the Boating Welcome Centre was painless.
Thursday, 9August, 2012: Pender Harbor to Snug Cove, Bowen Island
Weather: Sunny and mild. Winds: N 0-5, calm then 15. Seas: <1ft.
Uneventful departure from The Pilot House Marina and out of Pender Harbor. Once outside, attempted to use the spinnaker, but gave it up after a bit in favor of the engine, for most of the day. Approaching Schelt, the winds started to pick up. I could see C-Mast and her spinnaker way off, up ahead (the motoring bastard!). At this point, ours was packed away so I went with double headsails, screacher on the downwind side and the more easily handled genoa upwind, funneling air into the screacher. Rounding the SW corner of Bowen, we gybed, bringing in the genoa and riding the rest of the way on the main and screacher, making 8kts in the gusts.
The entrance to Snug Cove was a bit congested with sailboats and a loading ferry was a concern. We pushed our way through to the Union Steamship Company Marina. Once again, C-Mast was only 45min ahead of us! RT had arranged for end ties so we did not have to fold!
Kelly and MM went up onto the grounds proper and did some shopping. Other than a small shop and restaurant, I have no idea what is there...I just kind of kicked back!
Uneventful departure from The Pilot House Marina and out of Pender Harbor. Once outside, attempted to use the spinnaker, but gave it up after a bit in favor of the engine, for most of the day. Approaching Schelt, the winds started to pick up. I could see C-Mast and her spinnaker way off, up ahead (the motoring bastard!). At this point, ours was packed away so I went with double headsails, screacher on the downwind side and the more easily handled genoa upwind, funneling air into the screacher. Rounding the SW corner of Bowen, we gybed, bringing in the genoa and riding the rest of the way on the main and screacher, making 8kts in the gusts.
The entrance to Snug Cove was a bit congested with sailboats and a loading ferry was a concern. We pushed our way through to the Union Steamship Company Marina. Once again, C-Mast was only 45min ahead of us! RT had arranged for end ties so we did not have to fold!
Kelly and MM went up onto the grounds proper and did some shopping. Other than a small shop and restaurant, I have no idea what is there...I just kind of kicked back!
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