2010 Trip 4 - Pacific Swift

All hands boarded the Pacific Swift yesterday in high spirits, ready
for adventure. Once all the safety orientations were complete we slipped
lines and bid farewell to Port Hardy. There was a fresh breeze blowing
in the bay and we wasted no time in tucking a reef and then a double
reef into the mainsail. We spent yesterday afternoon beating up into a
strong wind  getting everyone involved in sail handling early on. While
we were surging along we had the treat of a visit from several playful
porpoises that dove and darted about the bows of the heeling ship. We
also spotted a lone humpback making his way southbound. We tucked in to
Port Alexander last night to allow some weather to move past and get a
good night´s rest before rounding Cape Scott the following day. It was
nice to enjoy the evening programme of singing and games at a calm
anchorage. Starboard watch awoke early this morning at 0600 to take
advantage of the tide on our last northbound leg. It was a calm misty
morning that eventually socked in with thick fog near breakfast time.
Amidst the swirls of fog, a pod of orcas appeared and accompanied us
northward.  It was breathtaking to stop the ship and allow the 10 whales
to ghost past, with just the sound of their breathing to break the
silence of the fog.  Rounding the top of Vancouver Island we remained in
the fog as the seas built to welcome us into the open Pacific. It was a
bit rolly but everyone remained in good spirits despite the
protestations of their tummies. Once clear of Cape Scott (invisible in
the fog a mile off) we found the breeze favourable and wasted no time in
shaking out the courses, mainsail and square topsail. It was a welcome
distraction and the trainees turned to with good will, with even a
couple brave souls setting out to loose the topsail. It wasn´t long till
we were making a heartening 9 knots down the west side of the Island. It
was a glorious moment when we burst from the fog bank, the last tendrils
of fog clinging to the topmast shrouds, to emerge into the sunshine and
blue Pacific accompanied by the wooded shores of the Island on our port
side. The seas calmed, the ship steaded, the sun shone and we sped south
gradually restoring everyone to full vim and vigour. In the late
afternoon the breeze eased off just enough to allow us to pull in a fine
salmon, the first caught by second mate Niki. The fish was from hook to
fork in 45 minutes and disappeared even more quickly into the eager
mouths of the trainees. We made calm anchorage in North Harbour nestled
in Quatsino Sound shortly after dinner.  Trainees are happily fishing,
playing guitar and getting to know one another as we sit in the last of
the day´s sun.