Pacific Swift 2009 - Trip 5

Getting underway at 0700 today we proceeded south on the 215 mile
journey to Victoria. Todays weather was a mixed bag, a little sun,
mostly cloud and one good dump of rain. The wind was contrary today so
we pushed down under power. We experienced the largest swells of the
trip today, but everyone was feeling much more comfortable with the
motion with a couple days under the belt to acclimatize. The coastal
peaks loomed in and out of the mist as it occasionally drew back it´s
smoky curtain. We had a welcome diversion of some salmon fishing, with
one escaping from the net and one hoisted triumphantly on board. A great
team effort had the fish out of the oven with in an hour of being caught
much to the delight of the poised forks and appetites. Nootka Island,
historic focal point of the west coast, hove in sight mid-afternoon.
Curious sea-otters took breaks from their relaxed dinning to gaze at the
Swift coasting into their familiar waters. After a sweeping rain squall
the dories put off to explore the mysterious coastline. It was a scene
reminiscent of the first days of discovery on the coast, the ship´s
boats fanning out to explore and the otters relaxed and unsuspecting
prior to their dessimation at the hands of the Europeans.  Discoveries
included a large sea cave and an old shipwrecked freighter dashed and
twisted into grotesque shapes. The calm, tranquil waters of Mary Basin
beckoned us deeper into Nootka Island offering the first stillness we
have experienced since Ucluelet. Everyone is in fine spirits and coming
together as watches and as a whole.