2011 Trip 2 - Pacific Grace

With all on board we were underway by 1430hrs. As the wind was calm our goal was to motor up towards the north end of the Gulf
Islands and anchor for the night. Our weather man has forcasted SE winds between 15 and 20 kts near noon tomrrow so we plan to exit the Gulf Islands throught the beautiful Gabriola Passage at 1130hrs tomorrow and ideally catch the forcasted wind under sail and make our way north up into Desolation Sound. All are well and settling into the watch routines and getting to know
each other. We have some returnng trainees from last year and they are graciously welcoming the newcomers.

Today went mostly as planned. We were underway by 0900hrs and transited Gabriola Pass at 1130hrs. Wind was calm until we reached the open Strait of Georgia and began heading north. As predicted the SE wind came up to about 15 kts which allowed us to set sail and enjoy a glorious run up to the opening of Jervis Inlet. We have just lowered sail and plan to run up the inlet to a favorite spot in Princess Louisa inlet known as Chatterbox Falls. Our goal is to remain in the inlet tomorrow and then head up to Desolation Sound the following day. You may not hear from us for a day or two as the Sat. signal is not too strong when we are deep in these tall sided fjords, so don´t worry i will send a note as soon as possible. All are well on board and you can see a recognizable increase in community development from yesterday to today despite the damp weather that visits periodically.

As mentioned earlier we have spent the last day or so in Princess Louisa inlet which is located at the top of Jervis Inlet on the mainland coast. We arrived at the out dock near the entrance to Malibu Rapids at 0200hrs yesterday and enjoyed a short sleep before having to make the 0630hrs tide into Princess Louisa Inlet. Anchored near the Chatterbox Falls we spent our time yesterday visiting the falls, teaching lessons, rope swinging from the Grace and swimming in the ocean. Thankfully the sun showed up for most of the day which warmed us all up. During our trip up to Chatterbox Falls 30 waterfalls were counted, these due to the high level of snow still present in the surrounding 6000-8000 foot peaks. Truly a spectacular area. Last night we broke out the barbecue and enjoyed chicken burgers while admiring the sights around us. Presently we are just exiting Jervis Inlet and will be making our way up to Savary Island for the night. With the weather clearing our hopes are set for a sunny day on the beach in the morning and sailing into Desolation sound during the afternoon. All are well onboard.

Since my last mail we have been fully enjoying
most of what Desolation Sound has to offer. After leaving Jervis Inlet we set
sail and made our way north to Savary Island. Arriving at 1800hrs we decided to
mix things up for a bit and instead of having a regular mug up we went ashore
after dinner dishes and spent the evening walking the glorious north beach as
the sun set. Today we returned to the island during low tide and made our way to
the south beach to play soccer on the great expanse of sand bathed in sun. All
were a part of the game and enjoyed the chance for some competition. Following a
post game swim we all made a "pit stop" at the island store before returning to
the boat. We continued north during supper time and anchored around 1930hrs in
Teakern Arm, an all time favorite stop for the SALTS boats. Anchored near the
falls our plan for tomorrow is to shower in the falls and then climb up for a
swim in the lake above. This evening we all got together for an informal
discussion during mug up with the topic of identity. All participated and it was
encouraging to see these young people being honest and vulnerable with each
other. Today feels like we have turned a corner in terms of group strength. We
are more united.

No wind today so we spent the morning at the lake and the falls, enjoying the warm fresh water. Our afternoon was filled reviewing with the Juniors and making a treat stop at a nearby, well known, ice-cream stop. We sent the zodiac on a stealth mission while the trainees were studying into Refuge Cove for Float Fixings. After the review we all enjoyed Coke and Root Beer floats with the mountains of Desolation Sound as our surrounding background,´delightful. Needless to say the treat was well received. Tomorrow we plan to leave early and catch the forecasted NW wind, beginning our slow return home. All are well on board.

Unbelievable day of sailing today. We weighed anchor at 0730hrs and set sail at 0900hrs. We have just anchored in Taylor Bay on Gabriola Island. From Desolation Sound to here we have enjoyed sailing under topsails reaching speeds near ten knots. Clear sky and warm temperatures helped to make today unforgettable. Juniors had their exam today while the intermediates ran the ship. Tomorrow is our sleep in day with brunch after which we will continue south towards home. All are very well tonight.

Sleep in day today! Breakfast of French Toast, bacon, sausages and all the fixings. We re-entered the Gulf Islands at 1000hrs through Dodds Narrows then continued south to Saturna Island for a shore visit and games. Today was boat
Sunday so after dinner under the stars we enjoyed this time together. Another very full, very satisfying day. All are well and delightfully satisfied. Presently we are enjoying fresh baked Pumpkin pie under a thrilling canopy of stars.

Great day of sun today but unfortunately no wind. As we made our way south from Samuel Island we were treated with an unexpected but thrilling Orca show. We spent about an hour traveling with the whale as we progressed down Haro Strait. Our destination was Chatham Island just outside of Oak Bay. After an afternoon swim and a delicious dinner on deck everyone settled down to enjoy our traditional last night talent show. There were many great acts and endless raucous support for our talented actors, great fun for all. Well tomorrow is the dreaded day. Reluctantly we will make our way home. We as a crew have enjoyed having your young people aboard a great deal. It has been a treat to get to know them as individuals and watch them grow as a community together. Thank you for sharing them with us they are great kids. See you tomorrow.