Saturday, August 25, 2012

Pre-Departure Checklist for Labour Day

We've been busy on the boat when not at work in Edmonton or Vancouver.  The toe rail has now been varnished and is looking really beautiful.  Checking the tides for departure on Friday, here is what we have:


New Westminster Tide for August 31, 2012


What it boils down to is a fast trip down river on the ebb tide and the flood tide with us as we sail to Newcastle Island.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Ship's Sextant

We just acquired a used sextant - a Plath Navistar Professional like the one below.

Friday, August 17, 2012

More At Anchor

We never see Terratima from afar unless we are off the boat.  Here are some pictures by our friends Brad and Aline:













Saturday, August 11, 2012

From the iPad

Here is a little video we shot from our iPad as we sailed back across the Strait of Georgia



Friday, August 10, 2012

Clam Bay

Here is a photo our friends Brad and Aline took of us as they left Clam Bay.  we were rafted up for a night, enjoyed their company and good cheer.  Thanks for the pic.



Saturday, August 4, 2012

4th Year

This month we start our 4th year as liveaboards.  Here is a summation of our feelings about the past 3 years:


  • We have all our "stuff" in storage and we miss NOTHING.  We have decided to review it all, decide on the very few items we will keep and the rest will be auctioned or given away.
  • We cannot image not living on the water.  
  • We are comfortable as can be and definitely made the right decision on our boat - an Island Packet 465.  She is a solid sailing performer, comfortable on the hook, at the dock and underway.
  • To answer the question people have about continuing to work on land:  I travel a lot on business, have no problem doing it, but I'd rather be cruising. 
  • Len loves to do the boat maintenance while on land he hated cutting the grass, painting the eaves and cleaning the eves troughs.
  • Our son loves living on board.
We love it and the only regret we have is not doing it earlier.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Cruise Map

Here are the maps of our summer cruise (click on maps to enlarge)



Part 1
From North to South (north is at the top)

Shelter Island (Home Port)
Point Roberts
Roche Harbor, San Juan Island
Rosario, Orcas island
Sidney
Victoria


Part 2
From South to North

Victoria
Sidney
Ganges Harbor, Salt Spring Island
Clam Bay, Thetis Island
Nanaimo


Part 3
From South to North

Nanaimo
Pender Harbor
Comox
Gorge Harbor


Part 4
From North to South

Gorge Harbor
Refuge Cove
Comox
Schooner Cove


Part 5
From North to South

Schooner Cove
Clam Bay, Thetis Island
Shelter Island marina (Home Port)

COMPLETE THE STORY

 Hello all.  I must admit to being a bit reticente in completing the story of our trip to Mexico.  It is marred by an incident of mental hea...