Cover Girl

While attending the Sucia Small Boat Rendezvous http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sucia/ back in July of 2006 we anchored Bluster in Fossil Bay while camping ashore.  Josh Colvin, editor of the wonderful Small Craft Advisor magazine http://smallcraftadvisor.com/ snapped this photo from the cockpit of his boat one morning.  I think it is just magical and apparently SCA did too as it graced the cover of the Sept/Oct 2006 edition. 
Thanks Josh, I bought eight issues!

Dock Time

As trailer sailors we rarely get to experience the "hanging out on the dock" scene those folks with the bigger boats enjoy.  This past summer I splurged and booked Bluster into a slip in the Gibsons Marina. This allowed for me, alone or with guests, take her out for a spin without the rigging, launching, etc. and spend the nights at our cottage just down the road.

The challenge is making a sharp ninety degree turn into our slip during a cross wind in an 20 ft.unballast centreboard sailboat with the five hp outboard mounted directly aft of the rudder (good forward, wanting reverse).  Dock her in one shot and you look like a pro. Anything other that this makes for good neighbourhood entertainment.  Grabbing our lines and fending us off is how we met a lovely couple with a Nonsuch 26 in the adjacent slip. 

Late one day we headed down to the marina for an evening of drinks and socializing aboard Bluster and to enjoy the bustle of the marina and those pesky Canada geese.

Not Really Marine Equipment, But Useful on a Small Sailboat Post #2

Shower Radio

This little battery operated portable AM/FM radio was purchased years ago at a local drug store for $15.  I enjoy listening to the radio and I thought that a radio designed to operate in the shower would be more likely to stand the rigors of a life a sea (so to speak).  When they were youngsters my boys would get a kick out of hanging out in the cabin and listening to music and so it was left on board and eventually lost in a bin for years.  Whilst on a recent outing I finally made time to tidy things up below and rediscovered the radio.  I cleaned off the surface mildew and was surprised to find it still worked.  Hanging it on the boom allowed me to enjoy local CBC talk radio while puttering away on Bluster in a pretty anchorage - smugly enjoying the rush hour traffic reports!

Not Really Marine Equipment, But Useful On A Small Sailboat Post #1

Counter Top Collection Bin

I think these are just great for organizing gear around the cockpit and cabin.  It is an approximately 6" x 8" by 8" deep beige plastic bins with lid but the best thing about this is the lip on the rim that allows you to hang the bin on any vertical surface 7/8" wide or less.  Unfortunately the lid is not 100% water tight but it is fine for keeping out a bit of spray or dew. 

Lee Valley Tools - $11.50

http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=67384&cat=2,40733,40734&ap=3

A Midweek Break - Exploring the South Shores of Gambier Island

My work schedule this past week offered me up a couple of midweek days off and with a good weather forecast I decided to slip in a mini cruise near my home port of Gibsons Landing BC. 



Gibsons Landing Marina



After working until midnight the previous night I caught to 0720 hrs ferry to Langdale which is just down the road from Gibsons Landing where we have a cottage (my wife's blog is http://cottagerswife.wordpress.com/) and I store Bluster on a trailer.  By 1000 hrs I had packed, launched and tied to the wharf at Gibsons Marina.  A gorgeous but cool fall day and quiet at the launch ramp which makes things so much easier when working alone.  The rough plan was to spend the day exploring the bays and shoreline along the south shore of Gambier Island and then end up a Plumper Cove Marine Park (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/plumper/) on Keats Island where I would grab a mooring buoy for the night. 

 

Shoal Channel



Motored past the breakwater and into Shoal Channel where I set to mainsail and enjoyed a lovely broad reach with a little help from the Honda on occasion.  Upon reaching the head of West Bay I planned to anchor and prepare a hot lunch but a convenient float was just too convenient so I tied up. 

After lunch and some time tidying and organizing Bluster I then set off to sail, motor and motor sail around the corner to Centre Bay and Grace Islands.  Later, West Bay and the free float were calling me back so I skipped my plans for Plumpers Cove and returned there to spend the night.

Once the sun slipped behind the nearby hill the temperature dropping quickly and considering lack of sleep the previous night I was cozily tucked into my sleeping bag enjoying the warm light of a candle lantern by 2000 hrs.      

 



View from bed

 

Still air and mirror flat water greeted me the next morning.  By 0730 hrs I was motoring back to Gibsons and by 1000 hrs Bluster was back on her trailer and tucked into a stall in the dry land storage area of the marina.  I like to time my recovery with high tides to improve the odds of getting my 2wd car and trailer back up the ramp!



Return to Gibsons Landing

      

An excellent little cruise and a good opportunity for me to evaluate the Chebacco's potential for solo multiday trips.   Until now I had never been on an overnight cruise alone in Bluster and I must say I certainly enjoyed the luxury of the extra space!