2013 would be the first week long charter to be taken out of Nanaimo with Nanaimo Yacht Charters. We were all excited, me possibly more than the rest of the family. We had arrived in Nanaimo after our week driving an RV through the Rockies.
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| BC 2013 Sailing Vacation GPS Track |
Right away things were looking to be a fantastic week with the welcome that we received from NYC...
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| Our Welcome at NYC... |
After some paperwork with Shari, and showers, and provisioning - it was time for our briefing with Ian. I laid out our proposed route, talked about some of the details as they related to currents at Dodd Narrows and tides at Pirates Cove - it was deemed to be an 'Excellent Itinerary' which is what I an has been referred to, to this day.
Our boat was to be a brand new boat and I guess we would be breaking her in.
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| S/V Recess - Our Sailboat for the Week |
The kids decided to get the dinghy wet and paddled around the marina checking it out and observing some of the local wildlife - a bumblebee - that also needed to be rescued.
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| Dinghy Practice by the Team |
Our pass passage would start the next morning, so after a lazy dinner and just puttering about, it was off to bed for an early start to get to Gabriola Passage and slack around 2:00 pm.
Day 1 - Nanaimo to Pirates Cove via Gabriola Passage
After a good breakfast and a bit of an ugly leaving the marina - we bumped into the bow of another boat and tangled with the anchor and our pushpit - I should have done a better turn out and not blamed Allegra as I did. Not happy about that one.
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| Tugs in Nanaimo |
After leaving Northumberland Strait, we went out along the top of Gabriola Island into the Strait of Georgia where we would cruise along the east side of Gabriola before going through Gabriola Passage. The reason for all this was to get a bit of exposure to the Strait and just having the spare time as going through Dodd Narrows would have been at the same time but we would have gotten there plenty too soon.
Later on return Ian would say that he might have suggested a less adventurous beginning.
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| Entrance Island in the Strait |
We had a nice sail across the top of Gabriola and that is when the fun began. A very serious override occurred with our port side jib sheet and there was nothing to be done to clear it. I was on the helm and should have relinquished it but did not and Allegra was the crew that tried her best to clear it. We tacked once and had the jib backwinded. The wind was quite fresh and we were moving towards shore. A gybe was a possibility. With the backwinded jib we couldn't tack. We put the fouled sheet onto the starboard winch to winch it off and after Allegra struggled with it (and hurt her shoulder) it got cleared. Things calmed down immediately with the crew so in order to deal with a building sea and our timing to get to Gabriola Passage, we dropped the sails and motored the rest of the way.
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| Sailing in the Strait of Georgia |
It was a bit of a bumpy ride as the wind was from the south east, so we were hitting the waves with the bow. Things calmed down once into Commodore Passage outside of Silva Bay and we also got to Gabriola Passage a bit before slack for an uneventful passage through.
Overall we made good time and would arrive at Pirates Cove by mid afternoon. On arrival after using the homemade range marks on the rock and the tree to clear the reef, I put the crew to work on the dinghy to take the stern line ashore, through the ring and back to the boat. It was my first stern tie.
Alexander and I puttered about in the dinghy and then he and Mummy went ashore on the dinghy.
I did the calculations for the tidal range and felt it was going to be tight with the LW to be reached in the am. I felt that pulling the boat out into deeper water by yanking on the anchor rode would give the boat a bit more depth. It was not a good thing to have done as the anchor broke loose and we started to drift. Allegra and I got to work to reset, also in deeper water.
In the morning it would come about that this was all unnecessary as the depth sounder would be seen to have been calibrated for less than actual depth as a safety margin to the charter company.
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| Out and About at Pirate's Cove |
It would a very pleasant stay, not too crowded, one of the classic anchorages of the SGI - and we had just done it. What an interesting day it ended up being - whew!
Day 2 - Pirates Cove to Montague Harbour
Next day after breakfast my focus was turned to the approaching LW and our remaining depth of water under the boat. In the end to proved to be a non event as depth remained to be sufficient. I should have this as a clue to support the next event. In our briefing back in Nanaimo with Ian, he had said that we shouldn't leave Pirates Cove until around 11:00 am to ensure enough depth when crossing the bar. It was actually around 11:30 am and as we were crossing the bar, the depth sounder showed 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.9, 5.8 - yikes!!! Remembering that Ian had said that at 6 feet we would be aground! I immediately turned the boat around and went back into the cove and deeper water.
There had been a boat that came in an hour earlier so I ended up asking them what there draft was - which was the same as ours, so clearly there was enough depth and it confirmed my suspicion that the depth sounder was calibrated to show less depth that there really was.
So one more try to leave Pirates Cove and to continue our passage to Montague Harbour. On crossing the bar, the depth sounder showed 5.3 feet at the lowest, and then it started to quickly get deeper - we were clear!
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| Looking at at Ruxton Passage from Wally's Bay |
During the morning interval and the excitement of the morning departure, Mummy and Allegra went ashore to explore more of the park.
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| One is Always Navigating |
It was a 4 hour motor south in Trincomali Channel to Montague. Motoring was an easy choice as the crew were relieved of yesterday's sailing excitement in the Strait.
On arrival in Montague, we eagerly searched out a mooring buoy but the last one got scooped up just before us. No problem as there was plenty of room to drop our anchor.
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| Anchored at Montague Harbour |
A busy anchorage but there was plenty of room. Mummy and the kids went ashore to the Store to look around. Later they all went ashore to the park and across the gut to the beach on the north side of Gray Peninsula. They had a spectacular sunset.
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| Sunset from Beach at Gray Peninsula |
During the early night it seemed that a rescue was underway as a sailboat had another sailboat under tow into the fuel dock. It had a very unique putt putting diesel engine sound which after their departure would hear again on their return in the middle of the night.
Day 3 - Montague Harbour to Ganges
Rather than following the original plan of going down to Irish Bay off Samuel Island, we decided to go to Ganges which is just a short hop across Trincomali Channel and into Ganges Harbour. We were in need of a bit of civilization and some creature comforts.
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| Float Plane Traffic at Ganges |
Kanaka Public Docks weren't too busy - we were also there early, so it was a quick tie off and then onto some imporant business. Mouatt's was deemed to have some rare LEGO kits at time and we therefore made a beeline there - and success.
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| Snugging Down at Ganges Public Dock |
The day had started cool and windy and was now becoming sunny and calm. It was also the beginning of finding some clever boats names among the SGI, such as...
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| Local Colour... |
Local inhabitants came for a visit and we were happy to provide...
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| Well Mannered Swans |
We visited The Oystercatcher for dinner and had a great meal out on the terrace, I would eat here anytime!
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| Dinner at The Oystercatcher |
It was a relaxing day n the dock. Ganges is always a favourite place to visit - from land and from water. A jazz band played for us into the evening.
Day 4 - Ganges to Princess Bay
After breakfast, it was off to Princess Bay on Portland Island via Royal Cove. It was a very nice day - sunny but calm. We couldn't find enough wind to make a sail of it.
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| Searching for Wind in Captain Passage |
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| Captain Passage |
It became an easy motor and an early arrival at Princess Bay. The gang went ashore exploring the shore and the island.
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| Anchored at Princess Bay |
After supper we all went ashore, I went by kayak and we hiked our way for the sunset at Kanaka Bluff - it was spectacular.
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| Sunset at Kanaka Bluff |
We hiked back in the dying light. I was not prepared with a flashlight but it ended up not being necessary. Princess Bay is one of my favourite anchorages, this having been our second visit.
Day 5 - Princess Bay to Bird's Eye Cove via Cowichan and Sansum Narrows
After leaving Princess Bay we stopped in Cowichan Bay to take in the local scene. Caught a berth on the dock for a short stay and wander around the waterfront. What a great place full of small shops - bakeries, candy stores and maritime based shops.
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| A Visit to Cowichan Bay |
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| Cowichan Marina |
Caught some rips going through Sansum Narrows - nothing serious before making a slightly ugly docking at Bird's Eye Cove and Maple Bay Marine. I now know how I would make a better docking onto the dock and into the wind. Had some help in the end but it seems as if everyone came out to watch.
After a shower and a glass of wine in the cockpit, we were invited aboard the motor sailor 'The Hermitage' that was out of RVYC in Vancouver. A very pleasant interlude before manning the bbq for some salmon dinner.
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| Docked at Bird's Eye Cove |
A quiet night at the dock, we rented a movie from the store - then to bed.
Day 6 - Bird's Eye Cove to Telegraph Harbour via Chemainus
Goodbye to S/V The Hermitage...
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| S/V The Hermitage |
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| Dead Calm in Stuart Channel |
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| Municipal Marina at Chemainus |
Today would take us into Telegraph Harbour but first we would tie up
for a short provisioning run into Chemainus. We ended up going to the
General Store, the Bakery and a small Sushi takeout. So we got some
basics, some treats and a really nice Sushi lunch for the boat.
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| The Bakery in Chemainus |
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| The Sushi Shop in Chemainus |
On leaving Chemainus dock, we encountered the beautiful and historic S/V Varya entering the same municipal dock that we had just left. What a beautiful sailboat!
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| S/V Varya Entering Chemainus |
After crossing Stuart Channel we made our way across Stuart Channel and up Telegraph Harbour where we hoped to find a berth for the night at Telegraph Harbour Marina. After radioing in, we were told yes there is a spot - success!
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| Telegraph Harbour Marina |
Another quiet night on the boat after sending Margot and Alexander off in the dinghy to explore the Cut. They motored off towards Clam Bay to return about an hour later.
Day 7 - Telegraph Harbour to Mark Bay via Dodd Narrows
We had an appointment with slack at Dodd Narrows later in the day so we set about heading northwards in Stuart Channel. A short cut was taken through Preedy Harbour on the west side of Thetis Island after exiting Telegraph Harbour.
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| Leaving Telegraph Harbour |
It was an uneventful passage until we got closer to Dodd Narrows what with the building traffic getting ready to go through. We spent some time on approach listening in on the VHF radio to all the boats announcing their intentions.
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| Boat Traffic at Dodd Narrows |
After waiting a short time, we entred the queue and followed some other boats through. Salck is slack and there was little in the current flow to cause any concern.
Next stop would be Mark Bay where we would stay overnight.
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| Dodd Narrows Boat Traffic |
We bbq'd the last of our salmon from Ganges and caught a rainbow after a bit of a thunderstorm that passed through to the south of us.
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| Mark Bay Rainbow |
Next morning would be a short haul back into NYC.
Day 8 - Mark Bay to Nanaimo
After a quick trip into Northumberland Strait to dump the holding tank it was off to the fuel dock to refill the diesel and dinghy gas. Ian met us at the fuel dock to take us in to NYC.
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| Quick Outing to Northumberland Channel |
We did some quick packing, tidying up and then it was off to the BC Ferry Terminal at Departure Bay for the ferry crossing bcak to Horseshoe Bay and Vancouver.
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| Docked at NYC for Disembarking |
What a great trip we all had! Next year again please.
