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2002 Seattle Reports |
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2002 Seattle Reports |
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Purpose Course Descriptions School Yachts Schedule of Courses Ocean Training Cruises ASA Certification Registration Info Our Location Our People Contact Us |
Monday, 29 July- We all met at-the marina in
Anacortes by three in the afternoon. We were David and Matthew Gifford, D.R.
Bryan, Fran Brown, Stuart Kaplan and myself, Captain Bill McClure. We introduced
ourselves all around and began the process of sorting out who was taking what
course which included the ASA 101, 103, 104, and 106 levels. After discussing
objectives for each course, we called it a day and went ashore for dinner. Tuesday, 30 July- After an early rising and showers
and breakfast ashore we got busy learning the boat beginning with all the
through hulls and the location of all the safety equipment. A quick survey of
the boat showed very few problems. The small wear holes in the headsail where I
had previously applied sail tape to prevent any further chafing were not any
worse for wear. We left the Skyline marina and sailed to Anacortes to provision.
Then sailed for three hours to anchor for the night in Shoal Bay on Lopez
Island. Dinner aboard, lessons and some sea stories and it was time for a good
nights rest. Wednesday, 31 July - We began the day with breakfast
followed by lessons. Safety issues were discussed and watches assigned While the
crew practiced reefing and further familiarized themselves with the boat, the
101 student and I covered a lot of-the basics. Soon everyone wanted in on the
nomenclature review so we started at the front of the boat and named every
component we came to. By noon we got underway and headed for Victoria, spent an
hour off the southern tip of Goose Island watching Orcas whales and were in
Victoria at the customs dock at 7:35 in the evening. After a walk around the
beautiful Parliament lawns we split company and went our separate ways to
dinner. Thursday, 1 August - The morning was cool at 60F and
not a cloud in the sky. We did classroom studies, until noon then sailed out of
Victoria around Trial Point and north to South Pender Island. It was a
delightful sail with snow covered Mount Baker in the background and another show
by the Orcas off San Juan Island. Arriving at Bedwell Harbour we practiced a
couple of dockings and then got a slip for the night. Stuart fixed a wonderful
dinner of baked salmon then we studied and said goodnight. Friday, 2 August - We dumped our trash and pumped
out the holding tank and had a wonderful breakfast aboard and were just about to
cast off when a lady approached the boat with fresh hot apple and apple rhubarb
pies. We bought two pies and sat down to a second breakfast. Departing the dock
we practiced maneuvering under power and man overboard drills before leaving the
harbor at noon for Active Pass and the Straights of Georgia which is the primary
shipping route into Vancouver and up and down the west coast of Canada. Lots of
traffic good winds, (on the nose), deep water (600 ft plus), and plenty of
sunshine made far a great sail. For a while in the afternoon the winds died but
then as night fell they picked up and increased as lightening and storms passed
to our south. Afterwards, the winds went light again. Friday, 3 August- The winds continued light, and
soon after arriving at Texada Island we realized we would never make it all the
way around before dark so we made a turn and headed back; by 0800 were once
again just south of Texada Island. At 4:00 in the afternoon we arrived at Silva
Bay on Gabriola Island and tied up at Pages Marina. Sarah the lady who runs
Pafes had made fresh pies so once again the pie brigade struck and two more
fresh pies were purchased. We invited a Canadian couple from the next boat to
join us for desert and coffee. After dinner we had to forego lessons as everyone
was ready for a casual evening in the company of new friends. Saturday, 4 August- The barometer was up and the sun
bright as we left Gabriola Island at 0830. The wind was light so we motored
sailed down the coast past islands covered with seals basking in the sun. Three
times we spotted the spouting of whales but were not able to get near enough to
actually see them. Then, as we came around the south corner of Susha Island, we
saw otters playing near the shore. Seals came to visit the boat as we were
anchored overnight inside the harbor on Susha Island. Sunday, 5 August- We spent the morning reviewing
what we had learned and some objectives of the courses, then raised anchor and
made for the customs dock at Roche Harbor. I had to pay for a 2002 Customs
Sticker ($25.00) but otherwise the customs clearance was very easy. We moved the
boat down the dock and went in search of fresh seafood to cook for dinner, found
what we wanted, and were then underway. We anchored in Garrison Bay, and I went
ashore while an early supper was- being prepared. Back on the boat we had
dinner, and a last review before motoring to Shoal Bay for the night. Monday, 6 August- From Shoal Bay to Flounder Bay in Skyline took only few hours. Students took their final tests, and were finished by noon. Tests over, good-byes said and everyone was headed back home. All agreed it was a great week spent on the water.
S/V FULL MOON, IP40 |
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