Port Sidney Marina...Then Onward

We decided to stay a couple evenings in Port Sidney Marina.  It is a marina much favoured by our American friends.  There are many US boats here - many of them motor yachts and quite large.  They dwarf our sailboat.


We leave tomorrow bound for Victoria.  We may stay in Oak Bay or anchor elsewhere if we can find a spot.  Then Thursday we go into Victoria.


We did change plans today and will be headed for Port Townsend on Saturday and then on to Seattle  to have our diesel heater serviced (properly - because it has not happened up to now).

Bedwell Harbour

After a frustrating attempt to sail upwind, we ended up motoring into Bedwell Harbour to join our friends there.  There is something amiss with the forestay jib furler that needs to be investigated a bit to help the boat point higher.  In any event, the destination was worth the trip.

Bedwell Harbour - Poet's Cove is just out of sight around the bend to the left

Late afternoon sun and boats moored on the Marine Park buoys

Just clearing up the cockpit

Low sun and the tide coming in 

The next day and we ready to depart for Port Sidney Marina

Our friends are already on their way back to Salt Spring

Bit of an overcast day

Poet's Cove Resort

Rounding the point into the Swanson Channel - nice site for a house.

Saturna Island - Winter Cove

After a night at Port Sidney marina, we set sail to join our friends at Saturna Island in a little quiet bay called Winter Cove.

Chafe preventers are needed on those two shrouds

Winds are light and just under 4 knots

A straight line - no tacking

Having a drink in the late afternoon sun with our friends aboard

The gentlemen in the background are playing crib

Concentrating on the cards

Our friends on their dinghy on their way back to their boat - a Hunter 34

Only a few boats.  We spent two nights here because it was so quiet

and beautiful

Boat Pass - opening up to the Straight of Georgia

The Annual Ganges Harbour Crab Pot Slalom Event..../2

..here is the view you look out at sitting on that little park bench:

Gabriola Island in the background and the mainland beyond

Another glimpse through the trees

St. Mary's lake in the foreground

Crew of S/V Terratima (minus mascot)

Our friends' house on Salt Spring

A view that's incredible

Canadian navy training vessels docked in Ganges.

Their next stop was Nanaimo

Walking along the dock - there were 4 vessels in all

A tranquil Ganges Harbour Marina

The Annual Ganges Harbour Crab Pot Slalom Event

Approaching and leaving Ganges is an adventure in not running over crab pot buoys and getting your prop entangled in the lines.  They are everywhere just waiting for the inattentive skipper to trip up.

Crab pot heaven

Keeping a sharp lookout for the hard-to-see crab pot buoys

Moored in Ganges and off for a walk

Ganges Harbour from above

Great breakfast spot

A small perch to watch the boats come and go

Having a walk with John - our long time friend who lives on 

Salt Spring

John, Carolyn and Chris

More to come....

Montague Harbour

The next stop on our trip was Montague Harbour which is always a favourite spot.  Certainly not as quiet as other locations, but the Marine Park and the mooring buoys help.

Genoa partly furled, Staysail and Mainsail full

BC Flag and burgees on the starboard spreader

Rowing to the dock to walk the schnauzer

Boats at the mooring buoys at the Marine Park

In the cockpit enjoying a drink

Our neighbour moored

Across To Clam Bay

Winds were from the northwest at 15 kts so the sailing was terrific.  The rip at the entrance to Porlier Pass was giving a few skippers heartburn. but we were anchored in Clam Bay before long and had a serene evening.

Underway at last

Approaching Porlier Pass

Ain't it beautiful!!!!

At anchor in Clam Bay

Dusk brings still water and a fading sun

A sicle moon, a contrail from a high flying jet and a boat
at anchor
Evening at Clam Bay