Aug 26 - 28 2011 - Bowfest Days

Hi all,
Another year has gone by, back at Bowfest on Bowen Island - Snug cove. I laid happily at my favorite Slip A07, unfortunately next to mostly all power boats.

Caroline and Hank really enjoyed themselves... watching the Bowfest parade, having great dinners at Milka, and hearing the performers on stage only a clam shell throw away. The party went on until 11:00 pm, with music and wine and beer flowing like Dodson Narrows.

With regards to sailing... none... just an easy rest of all of us.

Oh ya, I did see some otters on the dock next to me... no, they did not chrissen me with their "presents"... they have respect for their movie star "Tarka". But did leave their mark on the others people life-jacket left on the wharf.

Hank made reservations for next year's bowfest... :)

talkin to ya later.... :)

Summer Touring

Another beautiful day in Vancouver... took my parents for a wonderful sail around the neighbor. Great winds, reaching up to 7.0 knots on a board reach. We tried to have a drink break at the yacht club, but the place was full, with no temporary moorage :(. Too bad, it is always great to be sitting next to those larger sailboats.
Caroline and Hank were not too happy to hear about the no moorage, but oh well, a great sail anyway.

Coming back into my new slip, we had too much speed and ran into the end of the slip. Now I need a bit of blue paint to cover the collision point. I guess it could of been worst, we could of had a audience, but luckily no one was around to see the grand entrance. It goes to show, even the best has the occasional mishap.

Sitting along side me, is Tarkie... I can see her bottom is getting a little green from sitting too long... hopefully Hank will take her out and clean her bottom soon.

Tarka signing out.............

Aug 11 2011 - sailing trip for Hank

Here I go again...
Taking Hank to Elliott bay, by himself. The winds going was great 10 - 15 knot winds. sailing at 25 degrees, all the way over. only had to tack 3 times... great ride.
Got there, to find only new people with lots of kids... Hank was a bit bored.
Early next morning we set sail, (or should I say motored - water was like glass) for Gibson to see Hank's friends Robert and Dan. Hank went for lunch with Robert, while I sat calmly at Gibson marina.
After lunch we're off to Plumber Cove where we met up with Tim, an old racing buddy of some sort.
Sailing back to Gibson, dropped of Robert, then set sail for home... nice strong breeze taking us all the way home.

Aug 7 2011 - drink break at the club

I took Caroline, Hank and two new friends (Rob and ? oops forget her name) for a tour around Passage island and then to the Yacht club for drinks.

Nothing really to mention, but the winds were great going there, but very little coming home.

Oh, not sure if I mentioned it... Hank got me a new berth to sleep in. It is only a few slips down from my old place. this new berth is much wider, has better electrical and water connections, and has a double wide finger (walkway along side me). The only possible problem is that this berth is next an otter entrance. The previous  vessel berth here was used as an otter sewage dumping ground. I'm hoping that since I was named after a famous movie star otter... "Tarka the Sea-Otter", they will leave me alone. :). So far so good.

...

July 31 2011 - Overnight stay at Snug Cove

Going again... so I thought! The plan was to go early to Snug Cove today... all loaded up, overnight supplies, drinks, ice, etc. Hank started my engine, but after a few minutes my engine was being to get very hot, like no raw water being circulated to cool it down, something is wrong!! possible: stainer plugged, empellor not working, or intake plugged. Hank shut down my engine right away, and began looking for the problem. after a lot of exploring, he found that the intake valve was plugged. Quick thinking, he used the curved brush, in hopes to clear the valve... having my bottom rubbed was great... and it worked!!
We sailed under jib only to Snug cove.
Great stay as always....We met up with three of our sailing couples there... seems like they are always there, when we are there. Great time catching up with their lives.
We went out for dinner at the local pizza place - Tuscany... WORST PLACE!! never go again...

expecting good food and service- none of all - Caroline even got sick.
When it was time to come home... Hank got all the normal stuff done prior to leaving i.e. take down and store the sunroof, begin Tarkie along back and remove her motor - mounting on my stern rail, replace all sheets, etc... As Hank pushed off and got behind my steering wheel, something was missing... MY STEERING WHEEL! Hank removed it, as it is always in the way when docked. With quick actions, the wheel was replaced and all is well again.
Seems like a lot more learning needed. :)

So Ends another weekend... til next time... Tarka.