Pacific Swift 2009 - Trip 3

The Swift´s annual circumnavigation of Vancouver Island began with the embarkation of 28 excited trainees yesterday morning in sunny Victoria. There are a surprising number of returning trainees on board, with only 5 people joining us for the first time! Hopes are high that the degree of experience will lend itself well to the voyage. All trainees were very welcoming and ready to embrace the shipmates and adventures to come. We departed Victoria around 1400 to the distant waves of the remaining parents and well wishers. The afternoon passed swiftly with junior and intermediate knots lessons prior to dinner. Jackets where slowly discarded as we moved away from the chilly air of the Juan de Fuca. The breeze was calm, so we motored north through Active Pass . The aim was doing a night run to reach the southern rim of Desolation Sound. We were pleasantly surprised, after exiting Active Pass, to find a nice little SE breeze opposed to the moderate NW that was forecasted.  All hands wasted no time and amid a backdrop of rich oranges and purples, all available sails were shaken out. We glided north under courses, squaretop, main and maintop as the trainees and crew marveled at the warmly back lit sails. We continued undersail for several hours while mugup (games and singing) trundled on. As the day wound down near midnight so went the breeze and all hands turned to, to take in sail for the night. The work was done under crisp stars and a sliver of moon while the phosphorescence swirled about us leaving the sea ablaze in twinkling green. Once sails were tidied and stowed everyone was sent below for cookies and hot chocolate.  The rest of the night passed uneventfully with only the glow of the binnacle and a few tugboats and cruise ships for company. Dawn broke gloriously amid the hills and mountains of Malaspina Strait. The morning was left to more lessons and settling in to the rhythm of shipboard life. After lunch we found calm waters and rest at Savary Island where our anchor settled on its sandy bottom. No time was wasted as the dories were launched and put ashore to stretch our legs on the fabled beaches. All reports are that all watches performed very well in the small boats. Once back aboard the anchor was hove up to shape a course for Teakearne Arm in the heart of Desolation Sounds.The plan is to raft up to the Grace in front of the rush of Cassel Lake falls and enjoy and evening of hearty games and singing with the crew and trainees of the other ship. The weather has been more than lovely and there are many a rosy cheek to attest to the beautiful sunshine. The trip has been busy and enjoyable so far, with everyone looking forward to taking a break in the waters of Cassel Lake and bathing in the falls tommorow.