Day 376 Sailing away

We took off nice and early for Boho Bay at 0830 hours.  The forecast for North of Nanaimo was for 10 to 15 knot winds from the Northwest.  We got lucky and had 18 to 25 knots still from the Northwest.  We needed to go North so we sailed as close to the wind as Zephyr would allow.  

We hoisted the mainsail but this time reefed it so that only about 90% was out.  A mainsail is built so that when you put it up, you can fasten down a bit of it at the bottom so that all of it won't go up all the way.  You have to pull the sail out to the end of the boom with special lines so that it will work in the wind instead of just flapping(yeah, I know--more sailer talk).  It was the first time we have reefed Zephyrs sails.  Luckily, ours has three reefing points so we can still have some of the sail up, just in different amounts in different winds.  We made sure to set it all up for reefing before we ever left Port Townsend.  We unfurled about 70% of the Genoa(big sail at the bow) and we were off across the Strait of Georgia.

We were making almost 6 knots on a bumpy ride.  There were 3 to 4 foot swells running and the kids were not impressed.  Just about every one of them left us a present(yark) below decks showing how dissatisfied they were with the present conditions.  We on the other hand were having a great time.  Blue and Snowshoe came up into the cockpit and just sat on the floor after a while.

As we headed out, other than a cruise ship heading up the channel, we pretty much had the strait to our selves.  It was beautifully sunny but let me tell you, sitting out in 20 knot wind can cut through you fast.  We were both bundled up well.  I even put on a fully insulated hood--you know, like bank robbers wear--just to stay warm. 

We traveled 35.8 miles from the South side over to the North and into Boho Bay(49 29.817N 124 13.897W) by 1730 hours.  As the day passed, the winds got less and less and we finally let all the Genoa out and then raised the main to her full height.  The wind was down to 10 knots and we were slowing down.  Oh well, it couldn't last for ever.  

As the day passed, more and more sailboats were out on the water.  At one time, Tracy counted 15.  We have no idea where they came from but there were all around us and all appeared to be heading in the same direction we were--Boho Bay.  As the wind died, each took down their sails and motored--some with their main up and some with everything down.  We just kept pushing along under sail--slowly but under sail.  Once the wind was down to about 6 knots, we decided to lower all the sails and just motor the last few miles in. 

Just about all the boats we had seen out there were indeed headed for Boho Bay.  We were just about the last boat in.  We have 13 boats in here with us.  While it's a decent size bay, once you put all the boats in here it can get a bit crowded.  We are anchored in 50+ feet of water with almost 160 feet of chain out.  That's deeper than we have ever anchored.  Another boat(about our same size) came in after us and tried setting his anchor over and over and over.  He wanted to be amongst the rest of the boats so it got even more crowded in here.  We had anchored a bit farther off.  Let me tell you, Canadians when they anchor they party.  There were dingys going from boat to boat and music reverberated off the walls of the bay.  We were the only folks from the USA here.  As we get farther and farther North, we are definately in minority.  

Today, we are off for the Harmony Islands up the Jervis Inlet on our way to Princess Louisa Inlet.  We will be using the motor since unless the winds are just right, it's the only way in.  It's a bit over 40 miles up  from the start of Jervis Inlet to Princess Louisa Inlet and must be timed to get there as the water over Malibu Rapids(yes, there is another place called Mailbu)is at slack.  Nothing going in or out.  If it is not that way, the currents are so strong, you can't get into the inlet.  With luck, we will be there on Monday.  The forecasts, last I checked, were for some rain and cloudy.  I guess we will see.  Yesterday was supposed to have a 40% chance of rain.