Day 427 Back in Canada again!!

We made it back to Canada!! It was an incredibly long day, but we're here all over again.

We were up by 0345 and on our way by 0430 with a very muddy anchor. Having been in the blows we have been in for the past 3 days, the anchor had set itself very deep and came up packed in mud. I'll take that any day to having it pull loose and letting us glide through an anchorage like the other two boats did two days ago.

We made our way out of Foggy Bay after three days of rain and lots of wind with gust in the anchorage of over 30 knots. I can't imagine how strong they were out in the strait. We'd heard predictions of 50 knots and wave over 15 feet. As it was, we ran smack into winds in the mid 20's to the thirties and 10 foot plus waves as soon as we cleared the bays entrance.

A short way out, we started seeing fishing boats all over the place. We changed course to try and avoid them making sure we were far enough behind them to not hit their nets. These fishermen drag very long nets behind their boats catching everything in their wake. There are typically big orange floats at the end of the string of nets but unfortunately, we missed one. We were passing behind one of the fishing boats when all of a sudden we heard a horn sound. They were trying to tell us we were about to run over their nets. All they had to do was pick up their VHF and call us. I put Zephyr into reverse and then neutral as soon as I saw the net. We couldn't stop in time, but luckily, Zephyrs bottom is a straight piece of fiberglass so the propeller isn't exposed. It's protected by the rudder so not much can get stuck in it. We glided right up and over their net with its floats and it popped up right behind our boat. No real harm done. I apologized to the fisherman and we continued South being a good bit more vigilant looking for nets. I later heard someone calling the fishermen to see if they were dragging nets behind their boats. I already knew the answer was yes. A few hours later, I got another call from a fisherman that I was close to his net. I turned to starboard and called him back to make sure I was clear before I changed course back to where we need to go. There was no response, so I turned Zephyr back South. I've never seen so many fishermen out at one time.

Making our way South, we cleared the peninsula and headed out into Dixon Entrance East. It was a mess after so many days of high winds and rain. The swells were coming in from the Southwest and if we went on the course we needed it would have made us swing from side to side. A VERY uncomfortable and dangerous way to go. If a wave comes at you big enough, it can swamp and overturn your boat. We decided to head up more into the wind even though it would make us go off course from where we needed to go. We couldn't take the chance of swamping Zephyr. Tracy went forward on deck and set up the forestaysail so we could have some canvas up in the wind. This is the sail that rides behind the genoa sail I have discussed before. The genoa rides right at the bow of the boat with the forestaysail about 6 feet behind it. It's a much smaller sail that is used when the winds get higher than the genoa can handle so that you still can have a sail up, just not a big one. The bad thing is that while Tracy was setting up the sail for hoisting, she got sea sick. It came on quite suddenly and she retreated for below decks where she stayed for the rest of the morning trying to get over it. It took a while, but she got passed it and came up on deck later. Meanwhile, we got the forestaysail up and running. It helped stabilize Zephyr but did little to add any kind of speed. I took Zephyr in a direction to counteract the rolling motion the waves were causing until I could get us far enough South that the Dundas Island could break their power. Once I felt we were past the worst of it, I turned East and headed over the top of Dundas till be could get in the lee of the island where it settled down. The winds were perfect for a nice sail, so we left up the forestaysail and the genoa and took off nicely. Winds had abated to the 10 to 15 knot range so the canvas we had up was perfect for the conditions we were facing. Just after rounding the top of Dundas Island,I talked to another cruiser that was headed North as to what they had faced on our VHF radio. They had face little wind and relatively easy waves so we know the worst was behind us. I let them know what we had faced so they would be prepared. There were at least 5 other boats traveling with the one cruiser all in a convoy. They were headed for Foggy Bay for the night.

On we pressed knowing that we had to get to Prince Rupert to check in with Canadian Customs and pick up a package that has been mailed to up three weeks ago that we didn't have the time to wait for. We arrived about 1530 and called the Prince Rupert Rowing and Yacht Club for a temporary space to get through customs and pick up the package. We had to wait a bit as no space was available for a boat of Zephyrs size. They finally found us a space but we would have to back in. Zephyr backs up like a drunken elephant in the best of conditions and we were still in some wind and current at the marina. We asked if they had another space by any chance. They took off to see what was available. They had one other slip but it was just as bad if not worse. There was another dock that came right out almost to the side of the dock they wanted us to pull in to. As I maneuvered in, we(even the marina folks) finally came to the conclusion that I would be better to just pull up to the dock that was pinching the space at the main dock. I had just passed that dock so I put Zephyr into reverse and (lucky me) backed right up to the dock so Tracy could just step off. I got really lucky with that maneuver. I walked up the ramp and checked in with Customs over the phone. No firearms and little liquor so they were happy. I got our check in number and took of for Zephyr. Onto the internet and got several other posts posted which I am sure you have all read by now. Down loaded emails and off we went. We still had another 15 miles to go and we had already covered 64 miles!!

Down the harbor and out we went. Off for Lawson Harbor at Lewis Island. We dropped anchor(54 01.286 N 130 15.115W)at 1900 hours. Actually it was now 2000 as we gained an hour when we arrived in Canada. That's a 14.5 hour day and 79.5 miles covered. Tomorrow, we're off for Grenville Channel. A 45 mile straight piece of water. Tomorrow will be an easy day of only about 55 miles. The odd thing about Grenville Channel is that here again like the Wrangell Narrows, the tide floods in from both ends and meets at the middle and then flows out each end. The trick is to start at one end as the tide is flowing in so that once it reverses it self and starts to ebb, you can ride that stream back out the other side. To do this, we will be on our way about 0400 all over again tomorrow. At least we should be at anchor at Coghlan Anchorage in Wright Sound by early afternoon so maybe we can get some rest before heading out for our next stop. Not sure where that one is yet but I'll know by sundown tomorrow, that's for sure.