August 15, 2014 - The day we should of stayed home!

Every once in awhile you get the feeling that you should of stayed home...Well today was that day!

Today, Adam Chee... Hank cardiac health fitness instructor, came out for an afternoon sail. The plan was to sail around Passage Island, and give him a sample of what I (Tarka) can do...sailing! :)

After they had lunch, we came down to the docks and got me ready to depart. Little "Tarkie" (my dingy) still tied to my stern, had about 5 buckets of rain water in it. Hank decided to take Tarkie along for the sailing trip, but WITHOUT emptying with water in her hull; BIG big mistake! Lets see... one bucket weights about 40 lbs (18.2 kilograms) times 5 buckets = 200 pounds of water. Oh well... Hank knows best eh!

Backing out of my slip proved to be a bit of a problem, with "Tarkie" not helping. We did however, just made it out safely.

Now motoring out to sea...ready to impress Adam.

"Tarkie" was a really BIG drag; very noticeably slowing us down. Hank decided to see if he could lift "Tarkie" up onto my transom... her usual spot! Well his first attempted proved to be fruitless... He tried, but with all the water in Tarkie hull, it was just too much. Oh well, lets put up with it and just drag her behind!

Now under full sail , heeled over at 25 degrees, good 15 knots wind... doing only 4.5 knots! Needless to say Hank and I was not impressed due to "Tarkie". Time to see if we can lighten the load.
Lets bring Tarkie long-side and empty the water, Hank can throw a bucket into Tarkie's hull and empty the water... good plan, but after numerous attempts it did not work! to much wave and winds...Time to say "f..k" it.

As Tarkie drifted behind my stern, somehow her tow lines got caught underneath her hull... now towing Tarkie in reverse. Needless to say, now she really is a drag!

As Hank rounded me up into the wind, my genoa sheets got wrapped around my fore-stay, causing more problems for Hank to deal with. Ya, rolling up the genoa may help untangle the mess... it some how worked. Hank manged to flip the tow line underneath... Tarkie now towing the proper way... bow first. :)

Adam having a great sail ? I wouldn't think so.

Not very happy... heading for home.

Upon arrival back at the Marina, Just as we were going into the moorage slips, at the end of the break water-dock, Hank noticed a rental boat right at the entrance, paddling his boat. Needless to say, Hank had to throw me into reverse, or we would of ran over him.

This is where it got exciting... dingy in tow, non-propylene rope (this rope sinks) in the water, now going full reverse... Rope got caught, wrapping around the propeller and shalf... this stalled the engine.

Here we are now 100 feet from the rocks, right in-front of the ferry traffic, caught in the ferry wash. Hank appears to be in a major panic!! Hank sees me on the rocks, or worst... drifting in-front of the ferries.

If short form of events that followed:

• Hank called VHF channel 66 (marine station) ..three times., hoping to get the marina staff to give assistance, NO answer! 
• Hank takes his cell phone to call the marina... NO phone number in his cell phone! Now drifting closer to the rocks 75 ft away! 
• Hank flags a passing by rental boat asking for a tow to the dock... but due to the currents, his boat and the driver were NOT able to help us! now 50 ft away from the rocks and drifting fast.
• By luck, a Tour boat seen us and came to assist. But he too does not know what to do, but he was able to push us away from the rocks. He called into the marina for us.. and got someone to come out
• Eric Sewell, came out with the marina boat...he is extremely experienced in towing a vessel... Hank was beginning to look a bit relaxed to some degree. Eric gave great instructions and towed us right into our slip!! :))) perfect landing!
• Now resting after a great day outing? :)
• Adam left for home, having a great learning day I bet!
• Hank untied Tarkie off my stern, and used her to help unwind the rope wrapped around my prop. This took some time... thanks for the warm water (72 degree F)
• Hank started my motor and put it into gear... all works! but he noticed a bit of a wobble in the dripless water bellow; possible damage to my propeller shaft strut. Hank will check this next week.

Lesson learned from this...

1. Do not put off what you should do now.
2. Empty water out of Tarkie before you set out for sail.
3. Hook-up Tarkie on my transom before you set out.
4. Have the marina phone number on your favorites in your cell phone.
5. Get ready to drop anchor just in-case you get too close to land.

Tarka now resting after this experience. 

Tarka out!

August 07, 2014 - Three days with Alfred Barr

Good Day all!

Alfred after doing the Grouse Grind... done in 40 minutes!!!

In the next three days, Hank and I (Tarka) have a very special guest aboard... Alfred Barr... a young fellow Hank met while living in Fort Nelson. Hank met him through his church group, and became is boarder for a short while, just before Hank left Fort Nelson. Alfred will be staying here for 4 days, and wanted to check me out!, great eh!

Below was the sail plan...

Blue - 1st day , Red - 2nd day, Green - 3rd day

First Day (Blue Route)- We set sail for the open waters of Georgia Strait (11:00am). It was hoped that the winds would be in our favor, providing a great ride with lots of wind and wave height... as it was, the winds and waves  were light. I had to motor in places to enable us to get to our destination (Gibson) in reasonable time.

We rounded Bowen Island, now going down Collingwood Channel... with the wind on our stern, it was decided to try out my asymmetrical spinnaker...

Free flying the spinnaker

 The winds picked up, and now running with the wind at a respectable speed. :)

Skipper Alfred at my helm... doing a GREAT job.

Flying a free flying sail takes a lot of helmsman concentration, to ensure the the sail stays full. A slight error in direction and my sail will collapse and stall. We got to our waypoint, backside of Keats Island, ... time to take down the spinnaker, and just sail all with my working sails (jib and main).

While sailing towards Plumper Cove, the winds were perfect, going at a respectable speed. While tacking, my UV strip on the jib got hung-up on my spreaders, ripping the strip off my sail. We ended heave-two, coming to a complete stop. So much for sailing for now. Hank will have to take my jib down and sail with with my genoa, a large but lighter sail.

Hank decided to stop off at Plumper Cove, just for a short visit, enough time in for Alfred to go for a short swim and take a hike over Keats Island.

We're off again to Gibson (still on the Blue Course)... motoring all the way over, arrived (6:30pm) and berthed at A19.

Alfred and Hank took off for dinner at the local Chinese restaurant overlooking the bay... food tasted great.

View from our table

Happy sailor! :)

The next morning, while Alfred was preparing breakfast, Hank replaced my torn sail, with my 160 genoa. We now have a much larger and lighter sail to work with... good for light to moderate winds.

Day 2 - the Red Course: After a great breakfast Alfred prepared... off to First bay on Gambier Island to look the HMCA Annapolis Warship . This ship is destined to be an artificial reef in Halkett Bay

Leaving the "warship bay".

Now we set sail for Snug Cove... The winds were perfect, 10 - 12 knots! perfect winds for my genoa. Alfred at the helm ,doing a fantastic job all the way over to Snug Cove.

Alfred taking a relaxing moment... texting home.

Safety arrived at Snug Cove, the boys went out of dinner at Doc Morgan's Pub on the outside deck with a live Jazz band playing in the background. After dinner, they walked over to the store that rents kayaks and paddle boards... one of the things on Alfred's bucket list to do. Needless to say, one more thing off his bucket list.

Alfred tried his hand at the paddle board, without question, no problem for him! He did fall in a few times... just for practice... right!?

Next morning:

• Alfred went for a hike to the "look-out area", overlooking Vancouver.
• Had breakfast at the Snug Cafe
• Made a new friend at the kayak shop ("Bromley"), took him sailing with us, around Passage Island (Green Route). Bromley took the BC Ferries back to Bowen Island
• Great winds... tacking upwind to Passage, then running with the wind with the spinnaker.

All good things come to an end... Sailing for home... ending Alfred's sailing vacation. :(

I will miss Alfred, he handled me with respect and kindness, I will miss his touch at  my helm. He is welcome anytime.

Now at my berth in Horseshoe bay, waiting for Hank to repair my working jib!

till then...

Tarka.............. out!

he HMCS Annapolis

he HMCS Annapolis

Aug 02 & 04, 2014 - Afternoon sail behind Bowyer Island & Passage Island

Very hot weather - 30+ degrees

Good time for a afternoon sail / drift

My exit from the slip was one of Hank's worst yet... the currant from the BC Ferry wash, and the winds were against us. Hank backed me in out it the usual manner, but the currant caught my rudder, and pushed me over to the point that I could not make my turn down the fair-lane. Hank tried to push my stern with my motor, over but the currant was too strong... we rammed into the neighboring power boat. Lucky for us, his rubber dingy was hanging on the rear. We checked...No damage! Lesson to learn... read the water more carefully, "go with the flow".

Not much else to say on today's adventure, just that it was very hot... We set to drift behind Bowyer Island... only an hour away.

We usually go there, if there is a lot of power boats out in our area... so many waves from all directions, doesn't make it for an enjoyable sail.

Behind the island, we are on the leeside (no waves), making for a relaxing drift... having lunch.

There were a few other boats, taking the same drift, just hanging out.

A few days later, we set sail again, but for Passage Island; another HOT day!

My departure was a bit better, but not much. Hank thought he read the water flow correct... wrong! same problem and the day before, but he is not crash me into anything, :) We ended up backing out all the way.

Today was a great sail, just on the jib, sailing at 4.5 knots average. No need to raise the main sail... just relaxing. :)

Hank decided to sail up wind to Passage, then just drift back home. There were a lot less power boats = a lot less waves from the passing boats.

Home now... waiting for tomorrow... We are taking his brother and his friend Andy out for a day sail! :)

Till then...
Tarka out!