Reef Encounters

I have not written much because the mood was not a good one on board.  It was nice having my daughter and guests aboard, but I ended up more tired than when I first set out and that is NOT good for navigational, boat handling or personal relationship issues.  So we returned to our home marina to decompress and I had a couple of medical issues to attend to anyway.  Here was the result of our encounter with the rock as we struggled to retrieve an anchor and 80 feet of chain.

Impact points at the leading edge of the keel

Impact points at the leading edge of the keel

The largest of the scrapes

These two were on the flank of the keel about half way 

back to the rudder.

The damage was minor and the repairs we're made and we're back.  We left Nanaimo and went over to Gibson's, then back to Shelter Island.  

There needs to be some basic ground rules set before we leave again:

1. Avoid marinas and anchor out
2. Make sure everyone knows how to get the outboard going (by the way, the Mercury 3.5 4 stroke  is JUNK). 
3. All meals on board with few exceptions

The idea is peace and solitude, not a port marina that resembles a used car lot jammed with people and boats and tourists.  

Update On The Hard...II

It's confirmed, we splash at 4:30 PM.  Work will be complete by noon.

Update On The Hard

Four patches have been made with epoxy gel coat mixed with glass fibres.  The mixture was applied, cured and sanded.  It will continue to harden overnight. Hopefully. we'll be off tomorrow late afternoon on the high tide.

Interesting Comment...

The boat yard fibreglass expert came by and had a look.  He said the fix is easy and he'll have it done in no time.  Then he mentioned he didn't understand why all the boats in the Pacific Northwest were not built like this Island Packet.  He had spend all winter putting fin keels back on boats that had them ripped away when they grounded.  

Damage...

...to the boat: damage minimal.  We are now on the hard once again.  The point of impact is right at the front edge of the keel.  There are three additional scrapes along the length of the keel.  All else seems OK.  The insurance adjuster will have a look with me in the morning.

The offending bolts that caused the chain pipe to separate 

from the deck.  The front edge of the pipe was being held by the barest of 

pressure from the edge of the washer.  We replaced the bolts and it is now 

seated well.

Hauled yet again.  This is extremely expensive.

It took a bit to get the balance right with only 2 straps instead

of the 3 used at our own marina.

... to the vacation: damage severe.  We will return to our home marina when the repairs are complete and decide on an alternate holiday time.  

Still Waiting...

...to get into Stones Marina and Boatyard.  Here 's the problem:

Low Tide at 12:30 Pacific Time

We can't get hauled if we can't get to the dock because the dock does not have enough water under it to have us stay afloat.  This pisses me off.  It's a hell of a way to spend a holiday.

"Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan, Pan-Pan..."

Once I had an engine quit on the light single engine airplane I was flying.  I declared an emergency with the dreaded term:  "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday...".  Today I used the "Pan-Pan" call as a result of our anchor failing in high winds near a reef.

We had intended to leave Nanaimo and sail across to Gibson's.  Unfortunately, the wind strong warnings were out for the Strait north of Nanaimo, but calling 15 to 20 gusting 25 Kts.  This is not a big deal for a large Island Packet, but both Christopher and Carolyn were reluctant to face the largely windward sail, so I turned around.  No place at the marina, so Newcastle Marine Park is across the Newcastle Channel and we went there and dropped our anchor.  The winds were so strong that by the time it was set, we had drifted back across a "no anchor" line and the Nanaimo Port Authority boat came by and told us to move.  So we started pulling up the chain and the chain pipe separated from the deck and jammed the chain in the gypsy.  Trailing almost 100 feet of chain, dragging and in danger, I made the "Pan-Pan" call.

They were on us immediately, but we hit the reef none the less and we had a diver check out the bottom and we were not taking on water.  We will haul her out late Monday to assess the damage more closely.  So much for a holiday.

On From Sidney

With friend Russ aboard

Dusk in Montague Harbour

From the Cockpit Moored 

at a Mooring Bouy

Twilight

Early Morning in Ladysmith - at Ladysmith

Maritime Society Marina

The Marina Filled with Habitat for the Endangered

Purple Martin.  They Seem to be Thriving

Nanaimo - Mexican Food on the Pier

Waiting for Lunch

Visit From Vanessa

Vanessa left this morning to return to return to Brazil.  It's a bit lonelier on the boat.

Carolyn, Chris and Sister Vanessa

Same Crowd

Carolyn

Chris, Some Old Coot with Hound and Vanessa

Vanessa brought us a Brazilian Courtesy Flag:

Brazilian Flag

We thought the colours would look good on a spinnaker.

Spinnaker Layout in Brazil's Colours 

Couldn't get the green quite right, but 

Sailrite, here's the Scheme.