Pacific Grace 2009 - Trip 2

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.