Day 438 Into Mark Bay again.

We set off this morning planning to get to Dog Fish Bay but found that the currents to even get near it would have had us wait till after 1800 just to stand a chance and it looked like we would be there by 1500.  We opted for a change to Mark Bay just out side of Nanaimo where we stayed back in early May.  Almost exactly two months ago.

We took off this morning at 0520 and headed South again hoping to find some wind so we could hoist the sails.  Our decision to head to Mark Bay came about 1130 as we knew there was no other place to stop that didn't involve tidal flows.  About the time we made the decision, the wind turned from on the nose to about 120 degrees off the port side.  Out went the Genoa and off we went.  The engine was finally turned off and we were making over 6 knots with just that sail up.  As we didn't have that far to go, we left it at that and, dodging fishing boats and their nets, skipped along just off the coast of Vancouver Island.

We saw lots of other sailboats--some with sails up and some bare pole.  Plus fishing boats galore and even a Coat Guard Cutter out on patrol.  They have a weapons testing area called "Whiskey Gulf" that is just North of Nanaimo.  Each day, you have to listen to the weather forecast to see if it is "active"--are they testing bombs and torpedoes that day.  If not, you are free to go through the area.  If they are, you might experience a detour of an easy 20 miles to go around it.  We got lucky and there was no testing today.

About 1430, we turned into the harbour and dropped our anchor in Mark Bay(49 10.825N  123 55.953W) after a 50.6 mile trek today.  I spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning up both inside and out.  The deck needed scrubbing and they got it.  Anchoring so much, I bring a good bit of mud on board even using a bush to scrub the chain and anchor as it comes up.  I have it attached to the boat hook.   It does a decent job, but nothing take it all off.

Being a Friday, the bay was quickly getting packed with boats.  One after the other came and either picked a spot or left for another area.  We got there at the right time and picked a good spot between several boats.  At about 2030, a power boater that was anchored nest to us--he'd gotten there before us and had been there all afternoon with us, said he felt nervous having us so close and asked us to move!!  OK, it's Friday evening and it's Summer.  The place is packed but up came the anchor and off we went.  That's boating etiquette, just done poorly.  If he wanted us to move, he could have said something when we dropped the anchor at 1430 not waited 6 hours to say something.   We headed out farther into the harbour and dropped it again.  This time a fishing boat behind where we had dropped called us on the VHF and asked us to move as he was also concerned.  Up came the anchor again and we move farther out into the harbour.  Down it went and we were set finally.  Now all we have is the wake from passing boats to contend with through the night.  The anchor light is on, so we should be just fine till tomorrow morning when we set off again.  This time, we have no stopping place in mind.  We hope to again hoist the sails and see how far we can get.  We'll let you know where we end up tomorrow evening as long as I can get on the internet.

A fellow sailor stopped by in his dingy to talk as I was washing the deck.  We got to chatting and swapping stories of our boats.  He's in a Hallsberg-Rassey 42.  A top of the line cruiser.  Big bucks!!  I told him of our refit last year and where not to go for work--Sea Marine and why.  He said that he though he had already heard my story and mention "Randy and Sharon".  These were the tow folks aboard Blue Heron we had spent late January and early February with in Brownsville outside of Silverdale down in Washington.  Apparently, they have published my story about Sea Marine on the internet to advise other boaters of what we had to go through.  Sharon is big on the Ham and SSB radio chat rooms and loves to talk and our story of how we were treated at Sea Marine in Point Hudson was big news and not the the first time it had been reported.  What a small world but it's not the first time we have run into people that know Randy and Sharon.  They have been sailing up here for over 20 years and they know just about everyone.  Hopefully our story will save other the grief we had to endure.  It was great talking boat talk to another sailor for a while.

Well, it's getting late and bedtime is calling.  More tomorrow from some where else.  We just don't know where yet.