VANCOUVER to SAN FRANCISCO: DEPARTURE DAY!

Today we leave for San Francisco...finally!

Nope, not all is done, but it is time to go.

We will stop at least 2 nights around the Gulf Islands/Victoria area before crossing over to Port Angeles in the USA. However, current weather forecasts for the coast of Washington state are not favourable for us (S or SE winds ... i.e., winds against us), so we may be waiting for a better weather window.


Below (and on our "Where are we?" page) is how to follow us on the web:

POSITION REPORTS: CHECK THE WEB TO SEE WHERE WE ARE/HAVE BEEN
We are now sending in "position reports" to Winlink and/or YOTREPS (when we are out cruising). These reports are visible on a map on the web

Preferred:
View Pelagia's Position Reports (SHIPTRACK)


Alternative:
View Pelagia's Position Reports on YOTREPS 
View Pelagia's Position Reports (Winlink 2000)





VIEW OUR "LIVE" POSITION ON AIS
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/datasheet.aspx?datasource=ITINERARIES&MMSI=316014173


Or, use our MMSI number 316014173 on any other web-based AIS system to follow us.
 
Note: Don't worry if we do not show up on AIS. AIS only works while we are on the move. Importantly, there must be shore stations nearby to receive our signal (there are no stations on the northern coast of Washington (Olympic Peninsula)).  Also, if we are farther than 50-75 miles off the coast, we will not show up.

VANCOUVER to SAN FRANCISCO: Time ticking down... departure in 3 days (hopefully)

Time is ticking. We are currently planning to leave for San Francisco sometime Tuesday August 27th. (Of course, this is subject to last-minute hiccups.) We have the great fortune of having our friend Jim from SV Berkana join us as crew to San Francisco. We sailed with Jim on Berkana Hawaii to Vancouver in 2004. One couldn't get a more experienced crewmember! It has been a very busy 3 weeks -- very tiring -- getting ourselves and Pelagia ready. Won't get it all done. A very typical situation, apparently.  More to come.

Test of blog post by Sailmail: Pelagia anchored at Winter Cove

We had a good sail Friday (Aug 2) from English Bay to Porlier Pass, with SE10-15kn winds and, unusual, rain. Anchored Friday eve in Clam Bay. Saturday we motored (glassy seas!) down to Winter Cove (Saturna Island) for the Bluewater Cruising Association "Farewell to the Fleet" rendezvous. As we are "leavers" this year, we thought it was time to participate.

Arrived Winter Cove to see it packed with ~30 boats. Boats kept coming and there are now about 50 (guestimate) boats. Normally, we would go elsewhere when confronted by such a crowded anchorage. Lucky it is shallow, so not much chain required. Also, lucky we had no wind overnight -- only the current is moving us.

One more night tonight, then over to Sidney area.

We have 3 weeks left -- lots left to do!

[This test message sent via Sailmail using the "no-footer" instruction.]
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At 8/4/2013 4:05 PM (utc) our position was 48°48.61'N 123°11.83'W

Weekend getaway to Whistler

We had just completed grocery shopping with a plan to sail over to Port Graves/Artaban on Pelagia, to relax for a couple of days (including swimming, of course!). But we had a hankering to go to Whistler one last time before heading south. Our unit at Whistler was available, so off we went on a "holiday" from Pelagia.

Beautiful weather (sunny and 27 deg Celsius), we manage a couple day hikes, a valley bike ride, and swims in Lost Lake.

First hike was up to Brandywine Meadows. Generally, the fastest/easiest trail to get up to alpine meadows (excepting cheating by taking Whistler's lifts...), Brandywine trail seemed more tiring than previous trips. Perhaps we are getting older? But it was beautiful. Rewarded by a swim in Lost Lake upon our return.

Brandywine Meadows -- view towards Mt. Garibaldi

Brandywine Meadows

Arm shot proof we made it...

 
Next day, we decided to tackle the steep tough trail up to Wedgemount Lake/Glacier (1300 metres elevation gain). Tiring, but well worth it, with great views. It took us 7 hours return (including lunch and other stops). At the end, too tired to make it to Lost Lake for a swim.

Wedgemount Lake and glacier

Mountain wildflowers: "anemones"

 

Our last day we did an easy bike ride on the "Valley Trail" in Whistler. A couple hours cycling then a cooling off swim in Lost Lake. 

It was great to get back up to the mountains. Unusual feeling to sleep on a stable (and huge) bed. We vegged-out on TV, enjoyed the ensuite laundry, and marvelled at the dishwasher (how quickly we forget such luxuries unavailable on Pelagia!).

Not sure when we will get back up to Whistler -- next Summer perhaps?

PROJECTS FOR JULY/AUGUST

Time is ticking for our late-August departure south.

We have many projects we are hoping to complete. Some are important; others are "nice-to-do".

For example (in no particular order):

•  Haul boat, paint bottom etc (completed)
• Install fans in v-berth (completed) and quarter berth, and more in main salon
• Purchase and install solar panels (in process)
• Minor engine work (new impeller, etc)
• Re-tune new standing rigging
• Remove forward diesel tank (under V-berth, we've never used it) and replace with water tank (in process)
• Purchase/install pedestal chair for nav desk
• Install tie downs for liferaft
• Non-skid for deck
• Dodger revisions (add opening window)/minor repair (in process)
• Install lee cloths
• Install new refrigerator (of course, our old one now seems to be doing fine...)
• Add tie-downs for various items

This is a short list of a much larger list -- our Excel spreadsheet is up to 160 items -- 96 of which have been completed since 2011. Many of them major, such as new sails (2011), new running (2011) and standing (2013) rigging, SSB (2012),  Hydrovane (2013), new instruments, etc.

Then there are the non-sailing "administrative" things required to sail south. Sell condo (done), storage locker (done), mailbox (done), new passports (done), etc. etc.

But we are getting there.

Haul-out in Nanaimo: Good experience with Nanaimo Boatyard at Stones Marina

We hauled out at Nanaimo Boatyard (“NB”) at Stones Marina. Our first time at this boatyard, we had heard good reviews from friends, their prices were better than Vancouver area and, importantly, they have a large Travelift, so we would not have to remove our backstay.

Now that's a dirty bottom...

Our plans were fairly simple: (i) haul out and pressure wash the bottom (by NB), (ii) wetsand/clean the bottom then 2 coats of bottom paint (by us), (iii) replace 3 zincs (by us); (iv) fair keel’s very minor nick (by NB) , (v) repack stuffing box, check stern tube hose, and consider dripless stuffing box (by NB), and (vi) if time, polish hull (by us).

We booked a nearby motel, not being sure what it would be like to stay aboard at this boatyard. Turns out, this was not necessary. The boatyard allowed staying aboard and would have been perfectly comfortable, with good showers, etc. Oh well, next time….

The haul out (and splashing back in) was the most careful we have yet experienced. The yard very organized. The pressure washing was definitely the best we have seen. But the better surprise was how quickly NB staff got onto the items we requested them to do. Half a day into the haulout, the stuffing box was shining, repacked and with a new stern tube hose (turns out, after measuring, they determined a PYI dripless box would not fit), and the keel was faired and sanded (as I said, it was minor: it only cost $42 to repair!). Meanwhile, David was still scraping/sanding the bottom, and Michelle polishing! After two nights (due to low tide, we had to haul out/in in the later afternoon), we were finished.

Very impressed with Nanaimo Boatyard at Stones Marina.

After splashing back into the water, we spent an evening at the Nanaimo Yacht Club's reciprocal docks (good facilities), then had an excellent sail across to Howe Sound -- so much faster with a clean/smooth bottom!), where we recovered in Port Graves for 2 nights (we were tired!) before returning to our home dock at VRC in Vancouver.

Away from the dock...

A quiet night in Port Graves/Camp Artaban, then a good sail across(aided by Fin...) to Clam Bay for a couple of nights. Nice sunny day today -- splurged by buying a bumbleberry pie from Howling Wolf Farm (Thetis Island). We head to Nanaimo Monday (June 17th), where we will haul out for a few days for bottom cleaning/painting, etc.
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Sent by WinLink
At 6/17/2013 4:03 AM (utc) our position was 48°59.06'N 123°39.11'W