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07.01
The log for today (1st July) was written on the 2nd July, for reasons
that will become clear very soon. Up at 0615 after a very restful
night. I left at 0720, under power (as it was very calm) and switched
to sail at 0945 hrs. To make a long story short, I had to reef fifteen
minutes later and, shortly after having reefed, I also had to furl the
jib to about 20%. That says it all!
As I was running very low on gas and that I certainly did not have
enough to make Egmont, I had no choice but sail as far as I could then,
when within eight miles or so from Egmont, I would turn on the motor
and make it to port. I tacked a minimum of forty times across the
various reaches (I stopped counting after the 27th tack) and all the
sailing was done at a 25/30 degree angle of heel! Very, very pleasant
sailing but, very, very tiring.
Where I nearly bought the farm or the fish....
Then, it happened! I had promised Jules to wear a lifeline if the sea
was rough so, I kept my promise and wore one. it nearly caused me my
life! At one point, while tacking across Prince of Whales Reach, the
jib's line was caught in the forward bow cleat and, not thinking that I
was wearing the lifeline (secured to the bottom of the port stay), I
swung around the boat and my foot got caught in the trailing
lifeline......... I cannot describe how I did it but, before I was
totally Immersed in the water, (I sank in up to my armpits),
I was already climbing back on board! The only damage, besides my
pride, turned out to be a slightly dislocated shoulder and a warped
stay strap. I must have been terribly tired to do such a stupid thing.
To begin with, I was clipping along at a good 4.5 to 5 knot, keeled
over some thirty degree and then, I put 'George' in charge of the
tiller, instead of heaving to into the wind, crawling to the bow
through the inside hatch etc,. I don't remember doing so but I must
have crawled forward and unscrambled the jib line then crawled back to
the cockpit somehow. All I remember was sitting in the cockpit (on the
floor, not the seat) and then realizing all of a sudden that I was
within 100 feet of shore! I quickly changed tack then let go all lines.
Then, the wind drifted me BACK about one mile before I came to my
sensesl and resumed my run to Egmont. Wow! That one was close. While I
was drifting back, I changed my clothes and put on the woolen sweater.
Soon it turned dark, and I was about four miles past Vancouver Bay. I
switched on the outboard. it was Lucky that I knew my way into Sechelt
Inlet and Egmont because it soon turned pitch black! I turned into
Sechelt Inlet the moment I had passed the small islet off the tip of
the Inlet and, as soon as the spotlight hit the first dock I saw at the
Chevron marina, .... it was home for the night. it was then 11 o'clock.
Now, that's sailing.
The run to the head of Queens reach is a cinch, with high tail winds
and the tide helping. But to return, next time, I will make the run at
night, with the tide and, if there is wind, it will be on my tail. I
was fast asleep twenty minutes after tying up.
No... it's not Sofia! My daughter... Joanne
07.02 Thursday
Fantastic day! Weather was lousy but, no rain. I had a super night
rest and got up at 0630. I made it right away to the public dock at
Egmont, one mile downstream. I spent a few hours shooting the breeze
with fellow sailors, such as Ed Snyder, a super fellow. Then, I
explained my problem regarding the chart table I wanted to make. I was
referred to the wharfinger, an old Native lady by the name of Vera.
She Is also the caretaker for the fish processing plant facing the
bay in Egmont. I went to her place and she rummaged through her shed
until she found a piece of plywood which would fill my needs.
When offered payment she totally refused, saying she was glad to be of
some help. She also offered me a coffee and we talked. Boy, that lady
should write her life story, not for her troubles but for the wealth of
good information she could pass on. She spent all her life on the
coast and has become an expert in marine ecology. She also passed me
some good recipes for house plant fertilizer. I saw her houseplants and
they're way out.
On the way to head of Hotham Sound. Very dark... cannot actually see the end of the Sound!
After doing a small shopping for perishables I sailed on to Hotham
Sound. I motored just far enough to get me cleared the entrance then
just lazily drifted away toward the sound. This Is another gorgeous
area. I hugged the shore and passed right in front of the falls which
drop a sheer 1456 feet, straight down! Some sight.I had heard much
good said about the Harmony Islands and, especially, about a good
anchorage spot in a nice cove between two of the islands. All true. But
by the time I arrived, some fifteen other boaters were dropping the hook
and tying stern lines to shore. Too many for me, thank you.
So I headed for the head of Hotham Sound. I had a nice tail wind to
take me right along. It's a beautiful sight, although a little scary
at first. The head is surrounded by very high mountains and it is very
dark in there. I dropped the hook about 150 feet off the shore into
about fifty feet of water yet, at low tide, the rudder had about only
six feet under It! Because there is always an Inlet wind, the bow is
always pointing toward the channel thus, there is no danger of drifting
off into the sound itself. But the anchor line has to be strong
because, at times, it can get wild in there.
Also, the stern of the boat is riding only thirty feet from the shore.
It's an experience. As I was pretty tired I ate then just listened to
music and drifted asleep around ten. Beautiful day. Goodnight world.
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