Several days aboard Pelagia... working on projects (at the dock)

Well, we did indeed get "on" Pelagia this weekend. But not away from the dock. The combination of terrible rainy weather and the "pressure" of so many projects (from small to large) helped us decide to stay home and spend the past 4 days working on Pelagia. As they say, "cruising = working on the boat in exotic places" (well, some think Vancouver is exotic...).

My first little project: get the new Cruz Pro RH-60 engine tachometer hooked up/installed in the cockpit. Next, was to turn the "wireless" Uniden Wham4X to a "wired" (i.e., powered) remote mike. (Why? Because its battery never holds a charge! Useless!)  Reviews on these two coming up.

M. decided she wanted to tackle some of the interior wood. It has been at least 4-5 years since any of the interior has been touched up (i.e., at least since we purchased Pelagia), and some trim in the galley and head, as well as the salon teak table, are looking a little tired. However, now (a few days later) the interior is already looking pretty damn good again! (Trouble is, now she wants to do all the interior!)

So, we are both recovering well from our recent injuries, and plan to try a return to the ski slopes this weekend. Fingers crossed.

"Minor" setbacks... falling down mountains doesn't help!

It's OK -- we're OK. 

Michelle took a long nasty tumble down "Cougar Chutes", a double-black-diamond run on Blackcomb Mountain (Whistler, B.C.)  -- badly bruised jaw and face and a cracked rib. She is recovering quickly.

Looking up at Cougar Chutes (top/middle of mountain in photo)

Looking down Cougar Chutes (2 days after fall)

Red line indicates where and how far M. fell.

At least she did it skiing! Two days later, I (David) tore my left calf muscle running for the bus on the way to go skiing! (Who says offshore sailing is dangerous? Try running for the bus!). I'm not sure how long this will take -- but no pain if I "watch my step".

Of course, this makes it hard to get to work on Pelagia!

February 15th update: We're healing fast. Already thinking of getting skiing again (M. may hold back on Cougar Chutes for a "while".)  I am only slightly limping now -- have been able to get back to Pelagia to do some little bits of work. Hoping to head out (into the rain?) on Pelagia this weekend.

So many projects, so little time...

At least, it seems that way!

Last year (2011) we took care of some large ones: 3 new sails; new wind/speed/depth instruments; new chartplotter/radar; new primary anchor and new chain rode; and almost all running rigging replaced.

 
Still, so many projects to start/complete before we head south in August (or will that be September?)

We have some larger items we know we need/want to take care of, such as (not in any special order):
- purchase and install ICOM M802 SSB
- purchase and install Hydrovane
- purchase & install LED trilight for top of mast (purchased Lunasea trilight/anchor/strobe)
- backstay insulators for SSB antenna
- standing rigging check and, if needed, replace rigging
- purchase and install solar panels (which brand?)
- AIS transponder
- repair or replace several portlights
- install permanent chair or bench for nav desk
- remove large wooden navpod over companionway and replace with low-profile shelf
- cockpit table
- new dinghy (thinking about a Portabote)
- purchase/install liferaft
- EPIRB
- engine maintenance
- haul boat, bottom paint, etc
.
.
.
and lots and lots of "smaller" items, such as:
- touch up interior wood
- engine tachometer in cockpit
- "power" for WHAM4x remote mike
- improve arrangements for computer on nav station
- manual foot pump in galley
- repair aft manual bilge pump
- heavy weather tie downs (drawers, floorboards, etc)
- add more fans
- more interior LED lights
- etc, etc, etc

And then there are the questions about "luxury" items:

• do we install a watermaker (current answer: "No"). If yes, which type?
• do we replace our older energy-hungry refrigerator with a newer more-efficient one?  (Current answer: Hmmmm, maybe)
• New generator? (Current answer: No! We'll stick with our Honda e2000)

The list goes on and on (and on). I guess this is how everybody feels as they prepare to leave. And I (David) am the type that has to have everything "just so". I know, I know -- "everyone" (all those websites...) says "it'll never be completely ready -- just go". Time to think that way will be when it is getting closer -- in the Summer.

Must be lots of others feeling the same way right now.

Winter in Vancouver: To Tarp or Not To Tarp?

Winters in Vancouver are relatively mild. The average daily temperature for January/February is 5.4°C [41.7°F], with the average daily maximum = 7.6°C [45.5°F]; minimum = 3.1°C [37.6°F]. On average, the thermometer stays above freezing (0° C) for at least 24 days of each month (Jan/Feb).

Vancouver (English Bay) today -- a typical Winter day

We do get a lot of rain: on average, a total of 159 mm [6.3 in] per month in Jan/Feb. Occasionally, we even get snow (on average, no more than 1 day per month with 5 cm [~2 in] or more of snowfall).

A recent visit to San Diego (November, 2011) got me thinking about Winter Tarping.  I was quite surprised to see many boats tarped-up for the "Winter". (Some even with full-on shrink-wrap covers.) Surprised, because Winters in San Diego are not all that "wintery": Average minimum temperature for January is 9.8°C [49.7°F] and average total rainfall is 57.9 mm [2.3 in] with an average of only 6 "rainy" days in January. So why tarp? Perhaps its all those bird droppings?

Back home in Vancouver, many boats do tarp up for the Winter, with the full range from shrink wrap "environmental protection covers" or custom, fancy (expensive) canvas covers, to tarps big and small. Many boats, however, choose not to tarp-up.

EPC shrink wrap cover

Custom canvas cover

Creative (and effective) tarps on SV Berkana

We are in the latter category. We do not tarp Pelagia. (We're not convinced tarps are needed or make such a large difference. Indeed, a little talked-about downside of tarps is that they provide wonderful shelter for families of river otters that abound here in BC -- the results can be very messy.) 

More importantly, we like to sail Pelagia in the Winter (to Howe Sound or to the Gulf Islands) -- so not tarping keeps Pelagia "ready to go". 

SV Pelagia in the Winter: Ready to go!

A very "New" Year...

Happy New Year 2012!

This is really a "new" year for us: we are now both officially retired (although David continues some work) and we will be preparing Pelagia for our sail south, planned for late August this year.

This should be a very interesting year....

FLASHBACK: Pelagia cruises to Haida Gwaii (Summer 2011)

new content added January 29, 2012...
See also photo set on Flickr

May - August, 2011

Our third trip north of Cape Caution and second to Haida Gwaii, this was our first major trip on Pelagia.

Some stats:

# days: 94                   Nautical miles: 1545 (244 sailed)
Furthest north: Kitkatla (approx 54 deg 48 min N; 130 deg 26 min W),  386 nm NW of Vancouver

Longest leg: 158 nm (Heater Hbr, Haida Gwaii to Clam Bay, Nigei Island)
Best sail: off Banks Island (mainland) to Skidegate Inlet (Haida Gwaii);   sailed 38 of 61 nm

Pelagia's route north and back

Weather: June/July: often cloudy; occasional rain (in Haida Gwaii, we had relatively good weather, often with sun, but cool temps); August: mostly sunny. Given Pelagia’s great setup, we expected a far more comfortable trip than our previous trips – it was! Friends downcoast in southern B.C. complained of the cold and rainy weather in June and July 2011 – well it was like this up north too (but this is the norm up north). The multiple heating systems on Pelagia sure helped!

Other boats? We’ve been up north before; nevertheless, we were still surprised at how few other pleasure boats go north of Cape Caution. For the most part, the anchorages were empty (or nearly empty) – except perhaps for those on the main inside route to Alaska (which we tended to avoid).  We were alone for approximately 50% of our nights up North; the other nights there were usually only 1-3 other boats. One could almost get lonely!

Anchorages? We’d forgotten how beautiful, how well-protected, and how plentiful are the anchorages up north. They were great! Favourite? Really hard to say as we enjoyed almost all.

Haida Gwaii? Our visit seemed better this year than it was back in 2002. Similar to 2002, we sailed across Hecate Strait to Skidegate Inlet (visiting Sandspit, but mostly staying at Queen Charlotte City -- a favourite). We shared a rental van (with Jay and Tony from SV Sapphire), and toured Graham Island, including Port Clements, Masset, North Beach (wow!) and the "blowhole" at Tow Hill in Naikoon Park.

Entering Gwaii Hanaas National Park was made easier by the new reservation system, as well as the Park staff providing an orientation session in Vancouver in May. The water buoys are still there (we again did not treat the water and had no issues) and most of the mooring buoys were still there (except those in Rose Harbour where they actually are most needed but where only one remains).  Dinner at Susan's in Rose Harbour was great. (To arrange dinner, call  "Old Squaw" on VHF Channel 6 -- note: Summer only) 

Compared to 2002, we noticed (and interacted with) many more officials in the Park, including Parks Canada, RCMP, Canadian Coast Guard and, of course, Haida Watchmen. All interactions were friendly and welcome -- it is great to see Gwaii Hanaas protected. 

[Although we do wish Parks Canada would "curtail" those private “Gwaii Hanaas-in-a-day” zodiac tours (Moresby Explorers), which roar in then out of anchorages. Kinda takes away from the wilderness feeling. Luckily, we only saw them in two anchorages.]  


 

Relaxing in pools on Hotsprings Island 

Haida mortuary poles at SGang Gwaay

A new experience: the anchor-engulfing kelp in Heater Harbour (Kunghit Island). We has read about "kelp machetes" carried by boats when cruising Chile –  now we know why! Three times we up-anchored/re-anchored in Heater Harbour and three times the anchor was loaded with (seemingly) hundreds of pounds of kelp (one time so much, the windlass struggled). Using a knife on the end of a pole, cutting it was simple – like cutting butter with a hot knife.

Heater Harbour: Kelp lurks below...

 

Animals? So many animals! Highlights were clearly: (i) many humpback whale sightings, including one where one surfaced 100 metres away, both of us heading for the same narrow passage between Orion Point (Kunghit Island, near Heater Hbr) and High Island  – although we quickly slowed to a near stop, happily “he” (?) turned around; (ii) Haida Gwaii black bears (very dark shiny black); (iii) marine life (plus deer and bear) in Dolomite (Burnaby) Narrows at very low tide (we went 2X, returning in order to be there at a +1’ low tide – well worth it and far better than in 2002). Of course, we saw a couple hundred bald eagles and, true to David’s fishing history, caught no salmon.

Haida Gwaii Black Bear in Dolomite Narrows

Conclusion: We loved our return visit to British Columbia's Mainland North Coast and the Haida Gwaii archipelago. First Nations' cultures, wilderness, safe anchorages, mountains, open ocean, and wildlife made for a great cruise. Too bad we didn't get a lot of actual sailing in.

Sailing south; last view of Haida Gwaii (Cape St. James on far left)

Black-footed Albatross

FYI: A map of our 2002 cruise to Haida Gwaii...

Our first trip north: 2002 cruise to Haida Gwaii

Thanksgiving weekend sail: Clam Bay (Gulf Islands)

October 7-10, 2011: 
Fall sailing means decent winds and empty anchorages.

Left VRC home dock (Vancouver) on Friday morning, motoring out to Point Grey bell buoy. Winds were accurately forecast to be NW 10-15 kn, giving us a great sail (averaging 7kn) the 20 nm from Point Grey across to Porlier Pass in the Gulf Islands. We arrived a bit early at the pass, which was ebbing about 2 knots -- no problem for us -- we shot through into the Gulf Islands.

Crossing Georgia Strait

Approaching Porlier Pass

We had hoped to meet up with friends over in the Gulf Islands, but they had to cancel. So we decided to spend the weekend at Clam Bay. We motored the few miles from Porlier Pass over to Clam Bay and dropped anchor. A favourite anchorage of ours, there was only one other boat anchored.  Ahhhh, the joys of off-season cruising! Although it always has room (it can easily hold 20-30 boats), Clam Bay is often pretty busy in the Summer. But not this Thanksgiving weekend -- never more than 4 boats anchored the whole weekend.

Clam Bay

Preedy Hbr (Thetis Is.) looking towards Vancouver Island

We had some great weather through to Sunday eve. We had planned to sail back Sunday before 20-30 kn SE winds forecasted for Monday, but the forecast changed to sunny with no wind Sunday, and SE 15-25 kn Monday. So, we opted to stay an extra night and get a good sail back Monday (albeit, in the rain). Sunday turned out to be a classic beautiful southwest BC Fall day -- sun!.

Monday proved boisterous (up to SE 23 kn with bouncy seas in Georgia Strait) and wet/rainy, but a good sail until the winds died at Pt. Grey.

Always a great weekend sail when we can sail across the strait there and back!
All in all, an excellent B.C. Fall sail!