Pacific Grace 2009 - Trip 2

We are currently in Victoria Harbour awaiting the arrival of many trainees tomorrow.

All trainees arrived safely to Victoria and at 1100 were finally able to board the Pacific Grace. Everyone seemed very excited to be aboard and after safety and deck introductions were complete all hands were on deck to slip lines and set sail for Desolation Sound. Unfortunately the wind has been calm all day, but a lovely sunny day of motoring through the Gulf Islands was a comfortable way to start and with promises of southeasterly wind tomorrow all hands are looking forward to a smooth day of sailing up the strait. Our first afternoon was spent getting know one another and learning about the routines that make up shipboard life. Many trainees have already tried climbing up to the top of the mast or out in the whiskers.  Jordan taught junior knots to everyone, and returning trainees who have already passed their junior level were able to assist in teaching the newcomers. We anchored up at 2100 in North Cove at Thetis Island for our first night together and after much fun and laughter during a game to help learn each others names (which involved a whack with a pool noodle if you couldn´t think of it fast enough) and rousing first mug up, all hands were sent to bed with chocolate chips cookies and hot chocolate courtesy of our assistant cook Lydia.

This morning was an earlier than usual start at 0620 when starboard watch woke to weigh anchor so we could catch the slack tide through Gabriola Passage. It was a beautiful and clear morning with a disappointing amount of wind until sometime around noon when it starting picking up from the Southeast to drive us forward up into Malaspina Strait reaching a top speed of 10.4 knots. Having a whole day to spend at sea allowed plenty of time for lessons; juniors learned about terminology and rules of the road and intermediates received lessons in predicting tides and currents and buoyage. We were able to sail all afternoon, lazily enjoying a one-sitting lunch of hashbrown casserole and gybing back and forth in the strait. With all hands helping out to handle sail we quickly made our way up to the seemingly tropical Savary Island to be anchored at 1900 just in time for quick after dinner dip before a rousing game of Horses, Knights, and Cavaliers. Highlights of the day included: swimming after dinner, having a chance to chat to get to know one another better, and the awesome sailing!  Everyone is looking forward to tomorrow and a magnificent day on the white sandy south beach of Savary Island and warm waters of Desolation Sound.

After a safe night anchored in Keefer Bay at Savary Island we awoke to an overcast sky, but that didn´t stop us from launching the dories for the first time and heading ashore. Everyone needs to help in the process of launching and rowing ourselves ashore; it is a great lesson in teamwork to get a whole watch (around 12 people) into a 20 foot open boat and row your selves to the beach. Once ashore we hiked up and across the island to the beach on the south side. The view coming down on the other side is amazing as you hike down the winding grassy slope onto the white sand beach below. The trail is usually littered with garder snakes and lizards, at least at the front of the line, they have usually scampered into the grass by the time the tail of the line comes around. We played an excellent game of ´sticks´ which is similar to capture the flag, but played with sticks stuck into the sand. The teams (port side vs. starboard side sleepers) were very evenly matched with starboard coming out victorious at the end of two games. Many people took advantage of the beach entry to take another swim in the warm shallow waters and Olivia and Caitlin´s shampoo was even brought out for the first salt water wash of the trip. After a quick visit to the store we came back for a relaxing one sitting lunch and then took off sailing up into the heart of Desolation Sound. The sun broke out through the clouds and we set almost all sails this afternoon including both topsails and sailed all the way up to our current anchorage at Tenedos where we rounded up in a dramatic fashion to lower sail and set anchor in a tiny crook of this stunning bay. More lessons were had, chartwork for juniors and rules of the road for intermediates and once we were anchored another swim. It is such a treat to have waters warm enough for swimming in and we have been taking advantage of them every chance we get. It was a late night with tuck and tidy (TNT) and the Swedish judges Hanz, Franz, Panz, Olga, and Zachsquatch, making an appearance to announce their decisions on the winners of TNT. The fo´c´s´le (girls) have won two nights in a row now, but I have a feeling the guys having something big planned for tonight...

Once again the day started overcast but dry. We had dories launched soon after breakfast with some of the intermediate trainees leading the process of getting the boats safely into the water. After a brief row across the bay, and a short hike in some of BC´s beautiful coastal rain forest, we arrived at pristine Unwin Lake. The water was inviting and a raft of logs was found making our swim all the more enjoyable. Once back on the ship we raised dories and set sail - beating our way out of Desolation Sound under clear blue skies. Tonight we are at anchor in Teakerne Arm with the sound of the Cassel Lake falls as a soothing background lullaby for our slumber.

Another beautiful day in paradise. Our day began with a trip to Cassel
Lake followed by a row to the falls. In the falls trainees and crew members
alike enjoyed the exhilarating feeling of a shower that begins tumbling from
75 feet over head! Once back at the ship we had a BBQ lunch on deck in the
sun shine, and then set up a rope swing from the main gaff. From Teakerne
Arm we began the trip south; motoring our way to Malaspina Inlet and
anchoring in Grace Harbour. Just prior to our anchorage we thought we would
give our prawn trap a try. In the morning we will haul the trap and see how
we did.

This mornings hauling of the prawn trap yielded nothing more than a
hand full of Jellyfish - rather disappointing as we were excited at the
prospects of prawns for lunch. Despite this failed expectation the day
continued to with many great events. After breakfast the Juniors reviewed
and wrote their exam while the Intermediates studied the finer points of
plotting a position and laying off a course. The day continued, as we
motored south in the windless Strait of Georgia, with many of the trainees
revealing themselves as talented guitar players, singers, great
conversationalists and crafty secret friends. Once anchored at Tribune Bay,
Hornby Island, many enjoyed a much needed swim - gaining momentary reprieve
from the intense sun. This evening marked the return of our Swedish Judges
for a double or nothing Tuck and Tidy. The girls were up by two, but a
"frouffy pouffy" bunk lead to their demise and the boys took this round,
evening up the game and setting up for a exciting finale.

This morning we rowed ashore to play on the beach in Tribune Bay,
Hornby Island. The row was longer than usual, but everyone is a pro by now,
and the beach was well worth the extra effort. Once we arrived on the beach
we had a rousing game of Ultimate Frisbee. Port side sleepers exacted their
revenge after the double loss of "Sticks" at Savary Island, allowing only
one goal by the Starboard side sleepers after their seven or eight.  Post
game all hands enjoyed a swim and some hang out time on the beach before
rowing back to the Grace for lunch. Post lunch, we had a lovely Sunday
service with eagles soaring overhead and the sun shining down on us as we
gathered in the stern of the boat. After service we got underway setting
sail to start our only night run of the trip, heading back down south to
Victoria. We sailed for a few hours while enjoying a roast beef dinner as
the sun set in the background. The evening continues with the engines
roaring as we motor south onto Narvaez Bay.

We arrived at Narvaez Bay at 0620. We anchored for a quiet breakfast
after a long night of motoring down the clear and starry Strait of Georgia.
Intermediates spent the morning reviewing and then wrote their test as we
motored down Haro Strait before setting sail of Kelp Reef. We set reefed
main, foresail, jumbo, and jib in anticipation of the strong forecasted
winds. We were not disappointed and had a exhilarating sail as we beat our
way through Baynes Channel to arrive at our anchorage in Cadboro Bay in
dramatic fashion anchoring without the assistance of the engine. Tonight´s
festivities include the conclusion of TNT and the highly anticipated Talent
Show.