Day 359 Sailing away!!!

Yes, that's right, I said SAILING!!!  We finally got to raise our sails and use it to move Zephyr forward for a change!  The forecast when we left Sidney Harbor was for 10 to 20 knot winds from the West swinging around to the South.  Perfect!!  The only winds we found were from the EAST!!!  And which way did we need to go--EAST of course.  So we hoisted the sails and tacked back and forth through the islands.

We left about 1230 hours and headed into the harbor from the marina.  Up went the sails and we headed to the Northeast as close to the wind as we could.  A sail boat can only sail--at least normally, up to 45 degrees into the wind.  After that, the sails won't fill with air and the boat will stall.  Something about aerodynamic or some such thing.  Any how, that's what they told us when we started sailing 27 years ago.  We pushed Northeast just to the South of Moresby Island trying to skirt the Southeast shore point.  Nope, Mother Nature would have none of that.  We had winds in the 9 to 10 knot range for most of the afternoon with an occasional gust to 14 always from the East.  As we got closer, the wind just kept shifting more and more to the North cutting us off from making the point.  We tacked(turned the bow of the boat) to the Southeast and headed out into the Haro Straits.  This is where we had so much fun playing chicken with big freighters a few days ago.  I went below and fired up the computer we use for navigation that is equipped with a GPS and AIS(automatic identification system).  Yep, up the strait were coming two nice big freighters.  We weren't going to fast so we figured if we played our cards right and tacked at the right time, we would miss both.  As we approached Turn Point on the West end of Stuart Island, we tacked and headed back across the strait and got our butts as far from them as we could.

That's Tracy at the wheel.  As you can see, it's still not quite Summer temperatures.  She's bundled up with a Winter coat, gloves and a wool cap.  I was dressed the same.  In the wind(you need to make the boat move) it can get chilly but we were not about to complain.

We're now at South Pender Island in Bedwell Harbor(48 45.007N  123 13.920W) with the hook down and firmly anchored in what ever is down there.  We're well protected from most breezes and we've had them ever since we got in here.  North, East, South and West they have come in here.  The East winds changed to a West wind with showers a few hours after we arrived.   We had looked back at Sidney a few hours after we left and could see they were getting poured on.  We got just enough to rinse the deck and spot the windows.  Gusts to 20 and then gone.  Mother Nature is playing games again.

A nice dinner of leftover quiche and a salad and a relaxing evening at home.  Tracy was researching the Canadian parks for what is to come and then promptly fell asleep.  All the "furr people" were doing the same so I was the only one awake in the boat.  I just sat back and read another sailing magazine.  Tracy finally gave up and actually went to bed about 2230 hours.  I figure I'll be following her shortly.

After we dropped the anchor, I spent a while checking charts and books to see where we will go next.  Not sure yet.  We will have to see what the wind is tomorrow.  Oh, by the way, all the time we were out there with the winds from the East, the National Weather Service kept broadcasting that the winds were from the West so either my compass and GPS are way off or they are.  I think I'll trust what I have in front of me and not what they are saying.  As I have said many times "Trust not lest ye be screwed"!!  We'll see what tomorrow brings and go from there.

We're finally out here "living the dream"!!  It's about time!!