07.17 Friday Day 28
Boy! What a day again! Life is full of imprevus, is it not? Up at 0700 hrs and decided, just like that, that I should go to Comox, get hold of Jules, and see what I would have to do before I got on with the cruise. Departed at 0730, right after breakfast, and without making sandwiches for the day in case I got busy out there. That was a mistake because it sure got busy... The Gulf looked so calm from where I was sitting and I figured it would be nice to just drift along and make my lunch, somewhere in the middle! But it wasn't to be.
I motored until 1015 hrs and, as I passed Copeland Island light, I got under sail. I rounded buoy Q25, the buoy marking the sand/rocky area off Savary Island at noon and, from there on, away we go Bozo....! The wind really caught on and I became worried about making Comox as I didn't have a chart for the entrance. I asked directions to Comox to a passing motor boat and, instead of giving me directions, the skipper gave me his chart. Nice fellow and, a good thing he did too!
It must have been the fastest, steadiest and most interesting sail I ever had in a long time. Swells and waves of four to six feet and yet, with winds of twenty to twent-five knot, I didn't have to shorten sail at all... it was that steady! But the drawback was that I didn't dare latch the helm and go down below for food. I aimed 180 degrees and, at 1515 hrs sharp, I was rounding Cap Lazo! So far, so good.
Just a fantastic sail. But getting into Comox Harbour was another matter. The winds got really fierce, as they are well known to get around these parts. But I knew the whole area was full of rocks. I asked and received help from a passing sailboat. They were heading into the harbour and I simply followed. But it took me nearly two more hours of hard sailing (and some motoring) before I docked at the public wharf. Docked at 1700 hrs.
Phoned Jules and, gave her the list of missing things and she will see if Dan might be able to bring it
to me in Comox. I also need a whip antenna for the VHF antenna as the one I had bent got whiplashed out of existence as I crossed today. No wonder, with those winds.
Talked a good deal with several people around the docks and hit the sack around midnight. Quite a day indeed.
07.18 Saturday Day 29
Another 'what a day that was!' Up early. Tried to call home but there was no answer. As it turned out, Georgette and Dan were already on their way to see 'le petit moi!' They arrived shortly after I had phoned.Dan bought me a hardbook copy of Gypsy Moth by Chichester. A nice gift and, although I have read that book twice already, I am looking forward to read it again. It is a super book and the ideal one to have aboard a sail boat while cruising single-handed. Jules brought all I had asked for and some fresh strawberries to boot! Mium, mium. Georgette and I went to the shopping centre together while Dan visited the local area.
It seems pretty sure now that Georgette will not be able to come sailing this summer and she 'convinced' me to continue my cruise and roam Desolation Sound. Lucky moi, I have a few more weeks to get Desolation Sound out of my system.
Relaxed.... it's a breeze!.
Because of previous commitments, Georgette and Dan left early. I had planned to stay at the dock till tomorrow and maybe meet some of the fellows on the Base but then, I said the heck with it all and left for the Sound. Four weeks sailing alone and already, there I was with no great desire to go to the readily available Officer's mess and shoot the breeze with old acquaintances! Wonder what kind of anti-social outcast I'd become if I ever decided to single-hand the Pacific and was gone for two months?
So, with a good set of charts and a good stock of sandwiches, I left the dock and headed for paradise. There was no wind to speak of and I had to motor all the way across to Copeland Island! The exact opposite of what it had been like yesterday. This is what fascinates me about the sea. It can change so very quickly. I couldn't help but remember the situation we had been in on Georgian Bay when anchored for two days in absolute flat waters then we'd been hit by that hurricane! But that's another story. I arrived at Copeland and dropped anchor at 2000 hrs, after a five-hour run, non-stop. The funny thing is .... it took me longer to cross under full power as it had taken me to come over under sail.
The spot is crowded but we should be OK. Unfortunately, I discovered that the dinghy still leaks. I will go to Squirrel Cove next and, besides trying to rig up the staysail, fixing the antenna etc, I will also try to patch up the dinghy. But I must install the staysail a.s.a.p. Then, I'll see where I go from there on. I now have lots of magazines to read as Jules brought me all the copies which had arrived in the mail for the past month.
I just cocooned myself and sprayed the interior of the cabin because the mosquitos are out in force. Darn it! One would think one is back on Georgian Bay!
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