September 20 2014 - Private trip from Mosquito Creek to Sidney

I have allowed Hank to post his adventure trip from Mosquito Creek, Vancouver to Sidney, Vancouver Island. He helped pilot a new Benteneau Oceanis 41"Chloe Marina" back to her home base in Sidney (Island Cruising).

Hank was offered a ride on the new Leopard Catamaran or a new monohull... leaving just after the boat show at Mosquito Creek. Since Hank has already sailed a few times on the Cat, he decided to see what the monohull was like. ... Definitely a great boat, but not a cat. Chloe Marina is beautifully appointed, with almost every option you can think of.

They motored most of the way over, with a very brief moment of sail (10 minutes or so). They left at 4:30pm and arrived at 12:30am

Leaving the marina, just before the Lions Gate Bridge

Just going under the bridge, with a tank going into port

Looking back at Lions Gate Bridge

Dusk, looking west.

 What can you say eh! an unbelievable sunset. Hank motored most of the way to Active Pass (4 hours plus). Lots and lots of commercial fishing boats... looked like herring trawlers. As it became darker, Hank found it difficult to pick out so many lights from the fishing fleet, Hank had to wake up Bill, to help him out.

When the sun finally sank into the horizon, it became extremely dark (no moon). The trip was to go through Active pass.

very dark out there!

 Going through Active Pass, they got a call from Marine Traffic on channel 16, asking to go to channel 11. They ask what our intention was in the pass... Bill responded the we are on route to Sidney, and was aware of the BC Ferry about to entry the pass. "Chloe Marina" has a built-in AIS sender and receiver, allowing us to pin point the ferry. Hank was amazed how good the AIS system works! a must for every vessel. Without AIS, the marine traffic and other vessels would have no idea that we were in the pass... they could run you over.

Bill, at the helm and radio

note the big butt on Chloe Marina!

 Now sitting at her berth at Sidney Marina
Hank slept aboard.

The trip home almost took as long as the trip over...
BC Ferry ride, then BC bus, then SkyTrain, then the SeaBus, then a taxi back to the van.
All and all, a great experience!

As for me... Tarka... just around getting extremely bored!!
Waiting to Hank to return...

Tarka out!

September 04, 2014 - Strut inspection

Good day all,

Well today we're off to the yacht club to inspect what damage, if any, occurred to my shaft strut, due to the rope getting caught in the propeller.

Hank's greatest fear would be that when we motored to the yacht club (about 3/4 hr motor), the strut would break off, creating a major leak.

Hank's friend Murray, did making an underwater movie of the strut with his gopro camera... it looked OK, but Hank wanted peace of mind... hence taking me out of the water for a closer look.

Hank's brother Will, and his grandson Jake, came along for security... in case I sprung a leak, they were there to help.

Hank cleared the area for easy access to the shaft, had rags, hammer, lights, bars, large slotted screwdriver, all set just in case of a leak. In addition, instructions were given to Will how to deploy the anchor... VHF radio checked, emergency phone number checked... all set...off we went. Oh ya... with Tarkie tagging along behind.

We arrived at the yacht club lift without any problems what so ever!! :)

Up I went...

Found that all is 100% no problems, just a bit of mussels growing along my shaft, propeller and a bit along the bottom of my keel where Hank could not paint last time.

Since I was "up on the hard", Hank decided to power wash my black bottom and clean the water line strip.

My brother grandson, Jake

The boys went for a well deserved lunch at the club. Jake rowed little Tarkie to the dingy dock, placed her on the rack, covered her over with her winter blanket...then off for a sail.

We sailed around Passage Island... arriving home around 5:30pm.

All and all... a great day

Now resting in my slip, waiting for Hank to return and clean up the cabin.

Tarka out....