Family Cruising around Salt Spring Island

So after the Fort McMurray fires had caused much upset there was a happy time with family on the boat cruising in the Gulf Islands. Mum and Dad were over from Australia, my brother was able to make the trip over from Alberta too and along with Loree and the dog we had a very full boat with much fun had by all. The trip started in Sidney on Vancouver Island then we headed north and preceded to sail around Salt Spring Island in a clockwise direction. There hikes, sunsets, beers, kayaking, exploring and so on. See below a story in pictures.

There lies one good looking boat

Up the mast to do last minute repairs

Sailing from Sidney to Burgoyne Bay

Burgoyne Bay hike along the shore



Burgoyne Bay Hike up Baynes Peak



 


Sailing From Burgoyne bay on the West side of Salt Spring Island to Ganges Harbour


  Above pics from site seeing in Ganges Harbour 

Proud moment, my old Townsville Sailing Club burgee presented to me by mum and dad. I think that makes the club international now.

Dad showing the way home


 
Family  picture with the whole Vancouver Island crew what a silly bunch

Boat work part ??? I have lost count now - Watermaker install

So the watermaker finally arrived and it is a Spectra Ventura 150 manual. When I saw the size of the box that it came in I was left wondering how it was going to fit on the boat. However it was packed really well to protect it and once all the foam came out it was more managable. The next week it looked like a bomb had hit the boat as it turned into a workshop, floorboards came up, holes were drilled, tools came out and the dinning room table became the work bench. But hey its a boat and there is only so much space. Finally install was completed by me by myself in about 6 days which I though was pretty quick.

Getting ready got the final step of putting in the filter membrane and pump

All done now just to clean up

Other little projects were done as well such as make the dock step into a collapsable one to save space

And now the mast comes out

The work continues this time its mast that comes out for a class C rig inspection and to install a new removable inner fore stay. Upgrades just keep on coming. Serge from Delta Rigging was fantastic coming up with an inovative solution to my request for a removable inner fore stay. They did a great job and also took the time to teach me about the rod rigging and how to do an inspection on it. Serge and his team at Delta Rigging were very professional as well as friendly and I would gladly recommend Serge and his team to anyone else needing rigging work done.

The mast comes out

Enjoying the sun set as a short term motor boat awaiting the rig modifications

The mast is complete and coming back so excited

The guys from Delta Rigging putting the mast back in

Time to change all the through hulls

So after the last boat trip it was discovered that yet another through hull fitting had broken off. This lead to great concerns about the integrity of the rest of the through hull fittings. Considering that one failed fitting can sink a boat quiet easily it was decided that it was time to change them all. Also took the chance to replace the mooring chain in preperation for the winter storms. These two jobs combined to take up all my time with no sailing at all for two weeks what a bumper. I guess that is what they say about being a boat owner spend so much time working.

Yet another through hull that has broken note the wooden plug

Pulling the boat out to change the through hulls

The journey home after the job is all done and the boat is back on the mooring is by kayak and foot back to my Aunt and Uncles.

NQ sailors showing a Fort Mac famliy the ropes

More of the Fort Mac crew (Mike and Barbara) came out to try their hand at sailing for the first time and we found ourselves with a lovely break in the whether where the rain stopped for a great sail over to Sidney Spit and back. The NQ family friends Judy and Greg were still here too from the previous trip and we all had a great day. Mike proved to be a fantastic cook; cooking us up a storm it really felt like five star cruising.


Its a tough way to spend the day cruising over to the Sidney Spit


Exploring the beach by Kayak

I say that looks like the head of a giraffe there Greg

Back in Sidney after a tough day and a good BBQ on the way 

A great way to wrap up another fantastic day.

NQ sailors Judy and Greg just drop in for a visit from Australia

So long time family friends Greg and Judy came by for a visit on the boat to drink and be merry on "just dreamin" while catching up on old times. Unfortunately time was too short for this trip and we only had a quick blast over to Pender Island and back.

Judy and Greg try out the kayak

The NQ sailors enjoying the Gulf Islands

Pretty little crab

The serenity

Tough life having bacon and eggs for breakfast

Judy sailing the Canadian dinghy

Greg making the most of the light wind

Sailing from Sidney to Nanimo and back

So Loree and Vada came for a fantastic week of sailing and exploring the islands from Sidney up to Nanimo and back. It was Vada's first time on the big sail boat and she was quite apprehensive at first but she eventually became used to it. Vada had a dog life jacket which proved to be a marvellous solution for moving here around as it has a handle on the back to easily pick up a dog.

Loree and Vada enjoying the sun as we sail past another boat.

Vada looking ahead while Justin sails the boat

There were many adventures most of them revolved around seeing how Vada would do on the boat in preparation for taking her on the big boat trip down to the Caribbean. Once Vada had swimming lessons to make sure we could pick her up if she fell overboard we then took her kayaking.

Good thing its a big kayak

Trips ashore to explore the island and we figured out how many bikes one can fit in to the dinghy. I must admit the packing skills impressed others when we came ashore in one trip with two adults, a dog, back packs and two full sized bicycles.

And there is still room for one more

Loree and Vada in the forest (left) and one tired dog after keeping up with the bicycles (right)

Some pictures of life amongst the islands. I must say it is a tough way to live.

The famous "dinghy dock pub" in Nanimo