April 24 / 25 2015 - West Van Yacht Club - spring stag race

Well... another race - a nice relaxing race! - a pursue start! This is a race that the slowest boat goes first (me of course!) and the rest are spaced according to their handicap. The objective is to have all the boats arrive at the same time!

The race starts at Passage Island and ends off at Elliot Bay outstation (see map below)

Red circle at the bottom is the start line, ending at Elliot Bay - top of screen

Dave Bowman will be our first-mate / helms-person while Hank will be the skipper / deck-hand.

Dave Bowman

The weather was fair to good... light winds most of the way, with 1/2 hour motoring allowed.

All loaded up, with enough food for at least a week, we set off to the Yacht Club... the skipper's meeting at 9:00 am... we arrived just on time for the meeting and coffee.

Our start time was 11:00 am... first boat to start the race (only 5 boats racing :()

CELTIC BLUE          John McMynn
TARKA                      Hank Schut
AEOLUS                    Cam Telford
CONTAGIOUS          Declan Sacre
LOPEKA                    Jason Bowman    

The winds were very light, then died (now motoring for the 1/2 hour), then resumed sailing in light breeze.

Sailing under very light breeze

Proceeding north, yes Hank even flew my spinnaker again!!

Motoring... looking south at Passage Island (start line)

Dave taking it all in.

Dave at the helm. Camera looking up Collingwood Channel.

It was good to see that all boat arrived with ten minutes at the finish line, handicap system is working.

Dave and Hank sailed me well,  we tied for last place...with "Celtic Blue"

weather turned out great!!!

We had the outstation (Elliot Bay) all to ourselves... nice eh! Delcan supplied the keg of beer! a rewarding drink! We all tried to finish the keg of beer, but I think there might be some left.

There is something to be said for times like this... great sail, great company, great location... just perfect in every degree... this is where memories are made and stored. As for me... Tarka... sitting amongst the fellow boats at a perfect harbour... who could ask for better!! eh

Fellow racer Declan, with crew relaxing

 

End to a perfect race, all resting in clear water.

Getting the BBQ ready for the evening feast!

The Stag Racers!!

The following day, the winds were the same... light to none.. we had a time schedule to keep, as Dave had to catch the ferry for home... so we motored all the way home.

Hood Point

All in all... a nice race to remember.

Now resting again for our next adventure :)  Till then...

Tarka..."Out".

April 08, 2015 - Trip to Plumper Cove / Gibson

Promises of a great day! and promise fulfilled! - Best sailing in a long time!

Today we set sail for Plumper Cove and Gibson, sailing long-side  "Equilbrium" and her partner, Malcolm Macfadyen. She is moored only 3 slips down from me; she has great lines and is a bit younger than me. Hank met up with then a short while ago, and arrangements where made to go out for a sail.

The winds, tides, weather was perfect! I think this sail makes up for our previous sail :).

"Equilbrium" proved to be a great sailor, keeping up really well, even with towing her dingy behind !

Below is our course...

Blue line shows the course traveled to Plumper Cove.... Red shows the returning trip

The sail over was very relaxing... light breezes most of the way, with a bit more breeze coming out of Collingwood Channel.

Equilbrium out front

There is me, with my jib at 75 %

Hank had to reduce my sails, in order not to loose Equilbrium (she was towing her dingy)

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Just a great day, sailing along around 5-6 knots, in perfect balance! under full sail just crossing Collingwood Channel, with Vancouver behind us.

We arrived at Plumper Cove, happy and relaxed...Equilbrium was to stay at Plumper, while Hank decided to overnight at Gibson... he was hoping to meet up with his friend Robert MacDonald.

As it turn out, Robert unfortunately could not make it down to see us.

At Plumper, we met up with Richard and Pat, doing their pre-season shake down cruise.

 We caught Richard taking it easy...

Richard living our dream - wife rowing :)

That evening,  I sailed Malcolm and Hank over to Gibson for dinner, then brought Malcolm back to Plumper and sailed back to Gibson for the evening.
When Hank plugged in my electrical cord, the electrical panel showed that we had reverse polarity, which means we have a problem! When Hank re-plugged in my electrical cord to my hull, the problem was solved somehow. why ???? Later on Hank found the problem... the smart plug on my electrical cord shorted out... needed to be replaced ($95.00) It was only a year old!!!. All better now

Resting in A14 - nice spot...

The next morning we left to raft-up with Richard and Pat... to have a wonderful breakfast!

Malcolm and Richard left for home soon after breakfast... Hank and I stayed and enjoyed a relaxing time at Plumper Cove...

not sure why the water is green?

After a few hours walking the park and resting at the beach... it's off home we go.

We have the best sail back! Music, drinks, super sunny, face burn to prove it...
Hank is attached a video of the return sail... should be good!!

End of a perfect day!!!

Hank has made a You-Tube video of our sail... please click on the link below...
Day sail to Plumper Cover

Next project is for Hank to repair my spinnaker and get ready for the stag race!! ??

Till then... Tarka   out!