Captain's Log

I borrowed Tom's underwater camera to check the shape of my zincs. I put two on my prop shaft when I had her out for bottom paint last BC Day, (Jul 1).

As you can see in the video above, they're both still there. It's great being able to check on them myself without having to hire a diver.

Next low tide, I'm going to have a look at my mooring chain to make sure it's still viable.

Overcast & calm

It's hard to believe I haven't started the engine for over a month. That's why it took a while to start. But after starting, she ran fine (as normal).

There were some big rollers coming in out of the strait which made it a little difficult to do my dishes. Tried my auto-helm again. Damn thing works better in standby than in auto.

I'm hoping to get out for a sail on Monday. 

Navigation station featuring new panel, laptop, chart plotter, depth sounder....

Partly cloudy.

Calm

Removed all cushions, sleeping bags and bar-b-que at Yacht Club.

Onboarded 45 Litres of Diesel at Oak Bay Marina gas dock. ($51.75)

Replaced my traveler line. Looks great. The old one was quite frayed. I paid extra to have eyes spliced at both ends and then ended up pulling out one of the splices trying to feed the line through a block. Bowline.

Also began cutting the house panel cabinet but quickly realized I didn't have the right saw.

New traveler line. Looks great!

New Main Sheet!

I booked today off to go for a sail but since Tom was going to be coming into town (to visit Farmacy) anyway, he agreed to meet me on the boat to discuss my new wiring panel. Also I wanted to wire up my new autohelm which I purchased on Used Victoria for $100.

I ran out of time to give it an extensive trial but it would appear I have to calibrate the compass inside it. 

Navico Autohelm

SW 10-15 Kts.

Ebb tide

I arrived on board just after 09:00 and rigged main and jib. Picked up Scott, his colleague Boo and Boo's wife Grazina, who were visiting from Sweden.

We had a lovely sail. I chose not to fly the jib as it was a little too windy to handle the stay sail with an inexperienced crew. Although Boo is a boater. He sailed for a while. Scott brought beer and rum. 

He's welcome anytime! ;-)

Grazina, Scott and Boo

Southeast 5 turning to N 10

Sunny and hot

I snuck out of the house this morning to go sailing on the guise of going to work. I ended up calling Tania shortly after arriving here and sheepishly confessed that I was on the boat. I'm trying to arrange some serious boat time this week as the weather is amazing and since I can't really take any overnights due to Tania's challenging position physically, and the fact that Ale, our current nanny is unable to give Tania the breaks she needs to convalesce.

Sooooo.....

I had a very nice day. Wind was shifty and fickle in the bay but I managed to flood through Banes Channel and enjoy some nice Northerly breeze for a while before it died. Had to motor through Banes and then sailed back toward the club before dropping sails and heading back.

I was seriously under rigged for the wind conditions. Should have flown the Genny but instead opted for the jib.

Sunny

Southeast 5-10 kts

Another fabulous sail in the sunshine. I love the feeling of T2 slipping through the water with her clean bottom. She's so silent too and no vibrations. Very peaceful.

Reaching out of Cadboro Bay.

Trouper 2 with almost three years of growth.

The last time I hauled T2 out for bottom paint was November 9, 2014. That was also shortly after she went up on the beach and had to have some reconstructive surgery to her hull and her rudder straightened. I had planned on bottom painting every 2 years but this is when I finally got around to it. 

It was much nicer to come out for regularly scheduled maintenance rather than repairs. And really, she didn't have that much growth considering how long she'd been in the water. The zinc was gone. That had been replaced last August 16th at the same time I replaced my mooring anchor line. There were more barnacles than I'd like, and a few muscles but by and large, she was in really good shape.

Oh, Tom helped me out by replacing the thru valve in the head so that the kids can now brush their teeth in the bathroom sink when we go cruising.

After power washing all the growth off her, I gave her a light sanding, popped and filled the blisters, sanded the fill and finally applied two coats of bottom paint.

It was a lot of work and I've still got bottom paint under my nails but once again she's a lean, clean, speed machine!

The Admiral stopped by to show his support. After 35 years of doing her bottom, he was only too glad to pass the torch to me.

Tom and Dad chat while the bottom glistens after being power washed.

Hull blisters popped and patched.

Ready to go back in the water with her new paint job!

Wind light.

Sunny.

As Tania finally emerges from the winter of her convalescence, the Fernwood Five set sail in Trouper 2 for the first time since we took the kids to Sidney Spit in late August, 2014.

Thinking that Tania would not be able to board T2 from the dinghy, I met the crew at the Oak Bay Marina gas dock. We on-boarded and left for my mooring buoy in Cadboro Bay and a day on the water. Tania had been put through her paces with Havana that morning, and on top of her anxiety over taking her babies out on the water, resorted to a few snorts of Rum right out of the bottle.

Barnucka joined us on our cruise. mostly as moral support for Tania who continues to worry about our ability to handle the three kids by ourselves. Fair enough. The kids were ecstatic, all wanting to steer and explore the boat. They were in and out of the cabin from the time we left until we returned.

Rio brought along his fishing rod. He made it out of a rainstick, a piece of string and a plastic hook. India added a piece of pepperoni and they all took turns fishing. Very cute.

Once we were tied up in Cadboro Bay, we enjoyed bar-b-qued smokies and potato salad for lunch. Then it was 'quiet time' for the children. Ya, right.

The girls were content to do some colouring below deck but Rio was raring to go. And go, and go, and go... So I took him out on the inflatable dinghy and let him steer. He was living the dream!

Once quiet time was abandoned, we loaded everyone on the dinghy and hit the beach for an hour of frolicking in the sand before it was time to head back to the Oak Bay Marina. I am so impressed that Tania was able to board T2 from the dinghy. I didn't think she'd be able to yet so I'm delighted because it means we're good to go cruising.

The world is our oyster.

Rio at the helm with Havana and Mommy in the cockpit.

Rio's home made fishing rod.

Bringing out the Sea-B-Que.

India takes her turn at fishing.

The Captain enjoys some turkey pepperoni.

Ever vigilant, Mommy holds on to Havana and India. 'Bums on seats.'

India adds some pepperoni for bait.

Yay! India, Havana, Rio and Mommy on the fore deck with Barnucka in the background.

India on deck.

A happy Havana.

My crew.

The Rum's working.

Rio deploys the fender as Havana and I look on.

Rio enjoys rowing in the dinghy.

Approaching the beach with Barnucka and Rio.

Who wants to go for a ride?

Havana is in her element, on the beach.

Havana in the V berth during quiet time.

Rio loved the forward hatch.

First Mate takes a selfie.

Rio doesn't have to look for other cruising kids with motors cause we have our own!!!

After another greasy meat and cheese breakfast (I opted for instant oatmeal), we pulled the anchor and left Portland Island bound for Tsehum Harbour where I dropped everyone off. I wanted to get home to help Tania who was busy with a couple of under-the-weather kids. The trip from Portland Island to Tsehum harbour was just 40 minutes but I still had another 3+ hours bucking the flood tide to Cadboro Bay.

Northwest 25 Kts.

Ebb tide.

Tom and I 'grubbed up' in Sidney while we awaited the arrival of Paul, Kevin and Eric. The wind continued to howl and I was somewhat apprehensive about leaving the safety of Tsehum Harbour, but the forecast was calling for winds to diminish to light after midnight and the rest of the weekend looked sunny and calm so just before 4pm, we cast off and headed out for the four hour journey to Wallace Island.

With the wind blowing from the Northwest, we rounded Portland Island and found ourselves in a heavy following sea as we set our sights on Beaver Point, Saltspring Island. The waves seamed immense but were likely 4 to 5 feet. Once we rounded Beaver point and entered Captain Passage between Saltspring and Prevost Islands we were in the lee and back to calmer waters.

The run down Trincomali Channel to Wallace Island seemed to stretch on and on. Of course by this time it was around 7pm so thoughts of hamburgers on the  new Sea-B-Que were dancing through the crew's heads.

The entrance to Princess Bay is quite narrow and actually for some reason felt a lot smaller than I was anticipating. There were a half dozen boats already moored for the night when we arrived. The head of the bay was crowded so we dropped anchor closer to the mouth. When the captain of a large powerboat saw us dropping the hook, he flagged us away and told us not to anchor there. He suggested we stern tie along the Western shore of the bay. I disregarded his unsought advice and dropped the hook in the middle of the bay.

The crew had the new bar-b-que lit and the burgers on the grill seemingly before the anchor hit bottom! We all enjoyed a wonderful feast followed by libations til' midnight. I was suffering through a nasty case of stomach flu and so I was thankful for T2's head right up until the marine toilet stopped working. Fortunately it stopped AFTER a good flush.

Tom enjoys a well deserved beer while relaxing by the heater.

The crew relaxing below deck on T2 at Wallace Island.

The proud Skipper