fall is coming ...

Sea Vampires?

Before you know it, it's getting cold in the Pacific Northwest. One of the last sails with YinLan, Max, Johannes, and Sigi. Not too much wind, just relaxing. A few animals around like dolphins, sea lions, herons, and the always present Canada geese ... 

cruising Desolation Sound and beyond

start: Vancouver
intended target: Broughtons
most northern point: Shoal Bay
finish: Vancouver

We started out with three boats (two F33s, one F31) from Cowichan Bay. North! In a couple of days we reached Desolation Sound. We hung out in Grace Harbour for a day, enjoyed superb seafood at the Laughing Oyster in Okeover Inlet. The two F33s continued: First to Octopus Islands, then to Shoal Bay. At that time we had to realize that the allotted days for reaching the Broughtons would not be enough.  Probably one should have gone up north via the Discovery Passage and the Johnson Strait. This is much shorter although may turn out more challenging. Photos: click here. A longish video: click here.
Nevertheless, it was a superb cruise with exercises in patience, safety, and relaxation, with long stretches of motoring and exciting sailing passages. Our F33s have proven again to be the ultimate cruising machines.

how to ....

... get the bottom scrubbed by "volunteers":

You convince two hard working students that they need a break, wait for sunshine, look for a very low tide in the afternoon, provide the scrubbers, and spread relaxed atmosphere ... voila, the bottom of all three hulls is done in a jiffy.

Location of the crime: in front of Centennial Beach, Twawwassen, B.C., Canada

vendee Saltspring 2012

                
SISC

MBYC


Facts: Saltspring Island Sailing Club, in association with Maple Bay Yacht Club, hosted in 2012 the eighth Single / Double Handed Sailing Race for monohull and multihull (!!!) sailboats around Saltspring Island with an overnight stop at Maple Bay. First day from SISC to MBYC (red trace), second day from MBYC to SISC (blue trace).
Weather: hot, hot, hot, occasionally with a touch of wind.
Participants: 51 boats - with 9 multihulls !!!
Fun factor: 10 out of 10.
Priorities: I. reception with hors d’oeuvres, II. BBQ & dinners, III. breakfast, IV. socializing, V. racing.
Organization: super friendly, smooth, fair, efficient (many helpers on Saltspring and in Maple Bay headed by Roger Kibble, supported by Vincent Argiro and numerous others).
Our F33 “Hi5”’s successes: (a) winner of the toughest PHRF rating with -15, and (b) the heaviest double handed crew (father and son).
Kudos: with sincere thanks to the two yacht clubs, Roger, and all his volunteers.
Recommendation: come and participate in the event next year.
Happy faces in our photo collection - and in a year we'll add more to it.

first sail of the year

It was a mild day, the spinnaker went up, the breeze was steady - a perfect day.
Of course, a perfect day has its little kinks: we ripped the screacher in the head, forgot the fluids that contain spirits, and my shoes were too tight.
The highlight of the day was a good sized hump back whale - or grey whale - that accompanied us for a while. A sleepy sea-otter was not interested in us when suntanning its feet. The bold eagles showed off their young ones. The world seems to be in order?

launching Hi5

Every year it takes us longer: Launching Hi5 in May 2012 - finally. Hi5 got new Lexan Windows, all leaks fixed, anti-fouling paint re-newed, waxed, polished, cleaned ... everything now ship shape.