I Have Been To The Pocket Yacht Palooza

This past weekend Lisa and I were up early to cross the US border and head to the beautiful town of Port Townsend, Washington to attend the Pocket Yacht Palooza.  This was held at and  around the Northwest Maritime Center which was the absolute perfect venue for this event.  Sixty five trailer boats, mostly but not all wooden construction and sail powered, were on display.   I spent several hours there mixing it up with the owners and other enthusiasts while Lisa wandered off to check out the rest of the town.

Northwest Maritime Center

The Saturday was set aside for static displays while the plan for Sunday was for on the water.

A couple of fetching open boats

There was one Chebacco boat  in attendance - Jamie Orr and his Wayward Lass had sailed over from Victoria to attend.

Wayward Lass - a well travelled Chebacco

Inside the shop

For any small boat trailer sailor in Southwest BC or the Pacific Northwest the Palooza is a 'must do'.  Its our tribe!  I'll be back.

http://pocketyachters.com/Port_Townsend_Pocket_Yachters/Calendar.html

Not Really Marine Equipment, But Useful On A Small Sailboat Post No. 6

Gerber Steady Tool

This little device is one of many of the multi tools on the market.  It has the usual multi tool features like assorted knife blades, screw drivers, pliers, etc. that make these tools so useful to have near by on a small boat.  The really cool feature that caught my fancy is that it transforms into a micro tripod that is sturdy enough to support a point and shoot type camera.  I like to use a tripod and often pack around a mini tripod (and a multi tool) so I picked one up.   It comes with a rugged nylon belt case that I carry on my right hip which is odd considering I am left handed.

The review:
The Gerber Steady Tool looks and feels on the cheap plasticy side.  The pliers are deployed by turning the hands inside out.  Curved textured grips are nice.  The neon coloured tips are for style I guess.

The fancy new kid

This is no more apparent when compared to my fifteen year old original Gerber Multi Tool that has the manly feel and heft of all steel construction.  

The original (no plastic or neon)

That said the Steady Tool delivers the goods and does the job.  The tripod is easy to deploy and reasonably solid.   Gerber claims this is made of 'stainless steel components' but I am seeing rust spots on all the blades that look more like painted than stainless steel.  Bottle opener but no can opener seems a little backwards these days (?)

Tripod legs deployed

The larger and serrated of two blades

While the Gerber Steady Tool may not become a family heirloom like its predecessor it is totally useful and get the job done and the tripod feature has already earned its keep.

http://www.gerbergear.com/Outdoor/Tools/Steady-Tool_31-001043

Canada Day Weekend With Friends

With nothing particular on the books for the Canada Day (July 1st) weekend I decided to get out on a little over nighter and and I put the word out to my small circle of sailing acquaintances for a possible meetup.  Most had plans but Curtis and his son Ben were keen so we decided to meet at Halkett Bay on Gambier Island as this is kind of between my launch at Gibsons Landing (closer)and Burnaby (much further) where Curtis keeps his Siren 17.   Comparatively my route was really straight forwards whereas Curtis and Ben had two significant tidal narrows, busy Vancouver harbour and the unpredictable Point Ackinson.

I was on the water by 8:30 a.m. after launching at Gibsons Marina.  The winds were light to nonexistent so I  employed combinations of sailing, motoring and motorsailing.

A beautiful morning to head out

With no big rush to get there I popped in to Centre Bay to check out the retired Canadian Armed Forces frigate that is being prepared to sinking by the artificial reef society.

Still above water

Upon entering the Halkett Bay Marine Park anchorage I spotted the characteristic Nonsuch 26 belonging to Mark and Nessa whom Lisa and I met in Gibsons Marina two years ago.  They very kindly invited me aboard for refreshments in their comfy covered cockpit.

I've seen this boat before...

Afterwards I picked my spot and dropped anchor then set up my rather unsophisticated Cockpit Cover 1.0 to get out of the sun.  Reading and a little nap followed.

Sun shade

Late in the afternoon Curtis and Ben arrived and they rafted up with Bluster for the night before we all set about making  dinner.

Neighbours arrive

Dinner

Later on Mark picked us all up in his inflatable for a lovely evening aboard their boat.  We counted twenty eight boat at anchor which is a fair cry from my last visit here when there was just a hand full.

Taxi

Early to bed and the morning Curtis and Ben headed over to the dinghy dock to do a walk about behead heading home while raised anchor and did a few lapse around the bay taking photos.

Morning

Siren at the dinghy dock

Bon journey!

Even though the previous night was fairly windy it was mostly calm for my motor back to Gibsons Landing where I picked up Lisa for a little spin into the Salish Sea before back to the busy ramp and the haul out.

Mate

A great holiday weekend and extra great to share it with some friends.