March 05 2015 - Solo trip to Gibson

Such a beautiful day!!! sun and sun and sun.

I am so glad that Hank decided to take a trip to Gibson... just the two of us!

There really is not to much to say about this trip, just a nice relaxing cruise... we sailed over and motored back.

We moored at Gibson Marina, on the hammerhead and usual. Hank did call the marina for slip assignment, but no one was around so we just landed without approval. Hank walked to the office and announced our arrival. No problems!

Hank was greeted by his friend Robert McDonald... off to the pub... a few beers and nacho's and catch-up on the news.

Going home was nice, but no winds... dead calm.

Arrived home and waiting for tomorrow's adventure

Tarka out!

sorry no pictures

March 02 2015 - shake down sail

Yippee!!! finally out for out first sail of the year! Sitting around for almost 4 months... it's about time!

A beautiful day with a great breeze, perfect day for my shake down sail...

Richard Grass came along for support. :) Just in case a problem arose.

need to check...

• engine diesel - no leaks or sucking air
• raw water cooling system - no leaks
• running lines correct - needed to move the main halyard - seems to be sticking when raising the main sail... to be checked at the dock

Everything checked out... motor ran well, but due to Hank spilling diesel fuel on my engine while servicing it... there is a lot of diesel smell in the cabin... needs to be air out!

Richard Grass at the helm... doing a fine job

 
We sailed around Passage Island... heeled at 20 - 30 degrees average sailing speed of over 7 knots!!

Home save and sound...

Next outing... Friday with Murray - learning my safety equipment.
Then next week... on the hard and have my black bottom cleaned :)

Til next entry

Tarka out!

Feb 27 2015 - Getting ready for the sailing season!

Well, it has been a long time since my last sail. Just laying around my berth for the last 4 months!!!

Mind you, Hank has stopped and checked up on me at least once every two weeks and before and after each storm. All in all, I came through this winter fairly well.

For the last few days, Hank has been over re-installing all my running rigging, replaced all my stay covers, hoisted my newly repair jib (UV strip was torn off), gave me a great washing down... removing all the green slime off my decks, etc. Now just need a good waxing!

In addition, Hank had to remove the lifeline netting from my bow. After 4 years of service, the netting lost its stopping power... just rotted away.

Today Hank serviced my engine...

•  replaced primary and secondary diesel filters. There was slime in the glass bowl in the primary filter housing; about 1.5 inches. 
•  



you can see the slime in the bottom of the glass bowl

• This has to be the worst job to do... getting to the filters is difficult, but the worst is bleeding the air out of the system. Needless to say, Hank usually never gets all the air out on his first try! My engine started by died soon after. Bleeding the system is messy... lots of diesel everywhere... but done!! :)
• Because there was a lot of slime in the glass filter bowl, Hank decided to "dip" my diesel tank to see if there was any slime / water at the bottom of the tank. Hank found very little slime. :)
• Next was my oil and filter change. Hank had to borrow a oil remove pump for Murray as the pump that was on my engine failed. Everything worked out fine.
• Next was my raw water cooling system. 
• Cleaned the raw water filter and housing
• Replaced the zinc in the heat exchanger.

My heater exchanger berfore cleaning, note the old zinc at the bottom

Inside of the cap; you can see the old zincs at the bottom

Starting to rod out the heat exchanger tubes.

•  fan belt checked ok
• Battery water level checked ok
• Added spare diesel filters, spare fuses, and spare fan belt in engine compartment

• Checked emergency kit... all good but need to replace 6 outdated flares.

Hank mentioned that I will be pulled out of the water to have my bottom cleaned mid March... ready for the up and coming "Southern Straits Race"

Now resting (still) with a serviced engine, clean decks and fully rigged ready to sail!  :))

Tarka out!

Nov 07-08 2014 - Snug Cove get away

Well winter is almost upon us... getting colder, leaves have turned to fall, and rain of course.

Today... another trip to Snug Cove... Hank and I left on Friday afternoon, while Caroline was busy at work. Winds and waves were none, providing a great ride over under idle, no need to rush... relaxing all the way. the only problem was the amount of logs in the water. With the very high tides and the mountain run off, bring a lot of branches and logs into the coastal waters. You have to keep a sharp watch for logs...I don't like to get my paint, rudders, prop damaged. :)

Now resting after the long trip, enjoying the view.

view from the local harbor dock.

The evening that we arrived, Hank met a new fellow sailor (Erwin). He sailed his boat 80,000 sea miles... traveling almost around the world in his boat.  Not bad at all for a 50 year old sailboat, "Ariel IV"

 Caroline arrived the following day on the ferry... nice lunch at the new restaurant, with dinner at Miksta? I understand from Hank's comments, that will be there last time there... food was not very good, over priced, just plain bad! Frozen french fries, packaged salad and pork something, deep fried in the same oil as the cod fish Caroline ordered. Last time they will be eating there!!!

That evening we all enjoyed a few movies rented from the local movie store. nice...
Over night, we were blessed with a heavy rain shower, banging away on my roof deck... nice and warm and cozy! :)

We had to leave on Sunday morning... too many things to do at home.

Once settled in back home, Hank took off more "stuff" leaving my entire decks bare... all lines, covers, pulley put away for the winter. All there is left is the main sail, main sheet. just in case we are going for a quick sail around the bay.

Till next time...

Tarka resting waiting for the next wind storm.

November 01, 2014 - Motored to Snug Cove

Well, finally got to get out and feel the salt water moving under my hull; Hank and Caroline took me to Snug Cove...just for a motor.
The weather was clear, sunny, but no wind. :(... Just as well, as Hank has taken most of my sailing gear off for the winter, leaving just the bare essentials for sailing. With the fall and winter up here in Vancouver, the weather gets really damp most of the time... in a week or two, my deck and lines get covered in green slime, mold, algae... so the more you take off, the better it will be in the spring.

We arrived finding most of the transient moorage empty, lots of room for us. We motored almost up to the office building. The cost is only $10.00 for day moorage, giving us access to water, power, and the lounge/washroom area.

Hank and Caroline when for a long walk around the area, then stopped for a afternoon beer and wine at Miksta :) Normally they would of gone to Doc Morgan's Pub, but found it was closed for the winter! too bad.

When they returned, Hank took my genoa sail down for the winter; now I really look naked... no lines, no sail, no cushions, no rear seat.

Motored home, docked without any trama. :)

Now resting again... but I understand that we will be going out for a two day trip next week. :)

Til then... Tarka OUT!

September 20 2014 - Private trip from Mosquito Creek to Sidney

I have allowed Hank to post his adventure trip from Mosquito Creek, Vancouver to Sidney, Vancouver Island. He helped pilot a new Benteneau Oceanis 41"Chloe Marina" back to her home base in Sidney (Island Cruising).

Hank was offered a ride on the new Leopard Catamaran or a new monohull... leaving just after the boat show at Mosquito Creek. Since Hank has already sailed a few times on the Cat, he decided to see what the monohull was like. ... Definitely a great boat, but not a cat. Chloe Marina is beautifully appointed, with almost every option you can think of.

They motored most of the way over, with a very brief moment of sail (10 minutes or so). They left at 4:30pm and arrived at 12:30am

Leaving the marina, just before the Lions Gate Bridge

Just going under the bridge, with a tank going into port

Looking back at Lions Gate Bridge

Dusk, looking west.

 What can you say eh! an unbelievable sunset. Hank motored most of the way to Active Pass (4 hours plus). Lots and lots of commercial fishing boats... looked like herring trawlers. As it became darker, Hank found it difficult to pick out so many lights from the fishing fleet, Hank had to wake up Bill, to help him out.

When the sun finally sank into the horizon, it became extremely dark (no moon). The trip was to go through Active pass.

very dark out there!

 Going through Active Pass, they got a call from Marine Traffic on channel 16, asking to go to channel 11. They ask what our intention was in the pass... Bill responded the we are on route to Sidney, and was aware of the BC Ferry about to entry the pass. "Chloe Marina" has a built-in AIS sender and receiver, allowing us to pin point the ferry. Hank was amazed how good the AIS system works! a must for every vessel. Without AIS, the marine traffic and other vessels would have no idea that we were in the pass... they could run you over.

Bill, at the helm and radio

note the big butt on Chloe Marina!

 Now sitting at her berth at Sidney Marina
Hank slept aboard.

The trip home almost took as long as the trip over...
BC Ferry ride, then BC bus, then SkyTrain, then the SeaBus, then a taxi back to the van.
All and all, a great experience!

As for me... Tarka... just around getting extremely bored!!
Waiting to Hank to return...

Tarka out!

September 04, 2014 - Strut inspection

Good day all,

Well today we're off to the yacht club to inspect what damage, if any, occurred to my shaft strut, due to the rope getting caught in the propeller.

Hank's greatest fear would be that when we motored to the yacht club (about 3/4 hr motor), the strut would break off, creating a major leak.

Hank's friend Murray, did making an underwater movie of the strut with his gopro camera... it looked OK, but Hank wanted peace of mind... hence taking me out of the water for a closer look.

Hank's brother Will, and his grandson Jake, came along for security... in case I sprung a leak, they were there to help.

Hank cleared the area for easy access to the shaft, had rags, hammer, lights, bars, large slotted screwdriver, all set just in case of a leak. In addition, instructions were given to Will how to deploy the anchor... VHF radio checked, emergency phone number checked... all set...off we went. Oh ya... with Tarkie tagging along behind.

We arrived at the yacht club lift without any problems what so ever!! :)

Up I went...

Found that all is 100% no problems, just a bit of mussels growing along my shaft, propeller and a bit along the bottom of my keel where Hank could not paint last time.

Since I was "up on the hard", Hank decided to power wash my black bottom and clean the water line strip.

My brother grandson, Jake

The boys went for a well deserved lunch at the club. Jake rowed little Tarkie to the dingy dock, placed her on the rack, covered her over with her winter blanket...then off for a sail.

We sailed around Passage Island... arriving home around 5:30pm.

All and all... a great day

Now resting in my slip, waiting for Hank to return and clean up the cabin.

Tarka out....