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| Granthams Landing |
In much of Canada,Victoria Day weekend is considered the start of summer and the unofficial start of the boating season. For us the weather was not particularly summery but we did start our boating season!
Lisa and I enjoyed an extended long holiday weekend at our Gibsons Landing cottage and I was really happy to get Bluster into the water for the first time this year!
I launched at the always friendly Gibsons Marina ramp and at the same time booked Bluster a marina slip for the next two nights. The weather was gusting with some dark clouds but I thrilled to be getting out! I started out with a jib run north down Shoal Channel and when the wind moderated I raised the mizzen and main sails for some fun dingy like sailing.
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| Down wind jib sail |
The southerly inflow winds are such that my starboard tack was pretty much straight across the channel towards Keats Island but the port tack was straight up the channel. Great fun hitting five knots sitting on the coaming.
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| Racing a couple of cement trucks |
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| Readout is still set for km/hr not knots! |
Rain clouds were forming up so I tied up to the Granthams landing public dock and went below for lunch, book and a little nap.
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| Granthams Dock |
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| Shelter from the rain |
Discovered a small leak in the companion way hatch - likely due to dried out sealant.
When the rain eased up later in the afternoon I motored back to the marina and my slip there.
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| Gibsons \Landing \Marina |
The next day was pretty crumby weather so we did chores around the cottage. Boating consisted only of relocating Bluster to another marina slip and then hanging out there in the evening when sun finally broke through.
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| Sunset |
On Sunday Lisa joined me for a jaunt down Hopkins Landing then over to the north side of Keats Island. Again we had some good winds and saw lots of other boats enjoying the day. It was chilly and touque (Canadianese for knit cap) and gloves would have been nice.
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| First mate at the helm with Gambier Island in the background |
Just before we wrapped it up I noticed the horn on the gaff crutch had broken off where I had made my repair last year.
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| The dangling bit is part of my gaff crutch |
With the gaff no longer attached to the mast lowering sail consisted of more than the usual flapping and tugging but eventually things were furled and we motored back to the ramp.
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| Motoring home |
Bluster was hauled out of the water and to her new temporary home in a local storage yard. Before covering up with the tarp I epoxied the gaff horn into place and backed up the repair with some counter sunk screws.
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| New storage site |
A great weekend with some nice sailing and a renewed enthusiasm for the season ahead!
Here is a link to short sailing movie:
