Month: May 2018

Well we have been so relaxed that I forgot all about writing a post about our adventures! I think it is starting to hit home for me that we are really out here for the summer and can go where and when we please… with the exceptions of a few commitments the Admiral has for BCNPA and work. I am thinking I need a detailed map of all the anchorages with cell and wifi coverage on the coast.. is there an app for that!? Or should there be?!…lol

We had an awesome time in Tod Inlet. So quiet and peaceful in that anchorage due in part we are so early in the season. We were sitting in the cockpit one evening and I swear you could have heard a pin drop. The weather did not disappoint either; one evening it was almost too hot sitting in the cockpit. I was wondering if we had time travelled to July without knowing it.

Tod Inlet also allowed us to reconnect with our dear friends Mark & Lyn Sigson who are just back from 28 years of living in Hong Kong. Mark is now retired, and they have a beautiful property only 5 min walk away from the dinghy dock at Tod. We had lots of laughs, great food and too much wine.

We have managed to set up systems which allow us to be very independent and self sufficient on Cariba. Our new solar panels and battery bank are providing us with all the power we need to keep fridge, freezer, lights running as well as charging all the electronics on board. In addition, on a sunny day we can run our watermaker to top up the water tank.

Grocery shopping takes on a new meaning living on a boat. It becomes more of an adventure; it combines different modes of transportation and a workout to boot. While in Tod Inlet we shopped for supplies. This meant taking the dinghy for a 25 min ride to the government dock in Brentwood Bay, walking just over a kilometer – most of which was uphill on the way there. Once there we took my detailed list and tried to prioritize it as all would have to be carried in our backpack and shopping bags back to the dinghy for the reverse trip. This meant crucial decisions like “can we carry a 4 litre milk or should we buy just a 2 litre?” The good news was the trip back to the dinghy was down hill!

We are now anchored in Bedwell Harbour, South Pender Island. Here we met up with more great friends, the Tremblays and we are attending the Bluewater Cruising Association Rendezvous. There are over 40 boats here and lots of fun to be had.

We really want to stay in shape this summer and so knowing that every anchorage is at sea level and everywhere you need or want to go is uphill; I am thinking it won’t be too difficult! We also enjoy hiking and long walks with Dezi so hope to offset all the good food and wine with exercise. We have done one hike here already to the Gowland Lake Dam and beyond it to a spectacular view point. Brian has posted some awesome pics of that excursion.

So we are here till Wednesday May 23^rd and then we will head to Ganges, Saltspring Island. The Admiral needs wifi coverage and groceries so will chill there for a while… SV Cariba out

And note lots of sailing terms in this post!…

It may not be summer yet on the calendar… but it is in our books! We are off for some adventures on the BC coast this year. Other than a few commitments our plans are yet to be written and will be guided by the winds, waves and weather!

We got off to a great start. We did an initial hop to Plumber Cove on Keats Island.. not my favorite anchorage really. I can handle a rolly anchorage but really would prefer not to have to gimbal the stove to boil the kettle! For the land lubbers in the group, this means allowing the stove to rock as boat rocks back and forth thus keeping the stove top level.. mostly!

The next am we set out for what I would say was our single best day sailing ever on Cariba! We crossed the Strait from Keats to Gabriola Pass in a record 2.5 hours!!.. We were on close reach in 18-22 knots and 4 foot steep stacked waves due to the opposing current. I thought they higher but the Captain said no only 4 feet at the most!   We were flying along at over 7 knots and even hit 8 knots! We took one wave right into the cockpit… #badhairday!! Brian said all he saw was a wall of water behind me!! But it was a glorious sail!.

We had to change course as we were way to early for the slack ebb at the pass. We headed off towards Porlier Pass and were too early there as well.  We decided to go for it and with sail up and engine on we punched through against 4 knots of opposing current. Cariba did well and didn’t slow down past 3.5knots! This was followed by a nice wing on wing sail down most of Trincomali Channel to Montague Harbour on Galiano where we dropped the hook in the sunshine!

For those of you who know us well we travel with a small dog who last season was not that happy on the boat. We were a bit concerned given his recent illness and stay in the vet hospital but he has been awesome. Even with the raucous conditions yesterday, he laid down in the cockpit. No more pacing, shaking and panting. He drank water and once we anchored went forward to pee!! He is a boating dog now for sure. He used to react to every noise, boat going by and if the dinghy hit the hull he hit the roof!! Not anymore, we are so proud of him.

So happy my phone is working as a hotspot to post.. took me a few days to figure that out. We are sitting in Tod Inlet..so beautiful!.. but more about that next time!

SV Cariba out