Vancouver Boat Show 2018

The Vancouver Boat Show is one of my favorite annual traditions.  In years past I outfitted a 40 foot Folkes Cutter Rigged sailboat, sailed her to Mexico and around the Sea of Cortexz, up to Alaska and the Queen Charlottes and eventually solo to Hawaii in winter  and around the Hawaiian islands in summer. I sailed  the boat back to Canada with a friend, but had to jury rig a mast after it broke in a major blow.
 The boat show has been the place where I’ve often learned of new advances in technology and safety. It’s also been the place where I’ve got some incredible deals.  I love looking at what ICOM has each. I love seeing the Cooper booth and remembering years ago taking night classes on Granville Island learning coastal navigation those early years with Sherrie.
Now with my sailboat out east ,where I go to sail the Great Lakes ,making my way slowly to the Atlantic with the dream of another ocean crossing, I don’t have any immediate major needs.  Offshore blue water fair winds and following seas beckons but these days I’m getting real joy from camping on shore and boating on the inland lakes.  I’m not into winter scuba here any more either but would like to get a motor and snorkel arrangement like the one I saw in the US at West Marine. The boat show is full of surprises and often has things I never thought up but come to get later in the year.
I  completely revamped my boat with three generations of advances in technology over the last 30 years. I got the SV Giri  barebones from a fellow who wanted to sail but found being a captain didn’t suit him as much as being crew on other’s boats. I had to outfit the boat completely while coast cruising the Strait and Vancouver Island and Juan de Fuca. Every piece of equipment seemed to come the day after I needed it.
One of the most memorable was was  the “pea soup” fog experience winter sailing and  coming into False Creek following a fishing boat.  My ex wife Sherrie was leaning off the bow trying to keep her eyes on the commercial boat ahead of us, shouting back directions.  I couldn’t see as far as my hand. The next day we got our first radar.  Another time after  a back breaking experience in Desolation Sound trying to anchor in 80 feet and the anchor wouldn’t set,  we got  our first anchor winch.
I’ve even had plates added to the bottom and new sails and rigging.  It’s an ongoing maintenance thing with a boat. The ocean is a harsh environment.  There’s little that compares to anchoring in a isolated beyond Desolation cove and diving for clams to chuck on shore.   Nothing compares to eating fresh caught barbecued fish on deck at anchor.    I’ve so many incredible experiences of sailing the west coast. Big Whales off the Mexican coast. Dolphins and Killer Whales surrounding the boat in Georgia Strait.  One of my favorite trips sailing back and forth among the islands between VAncouver to Victoria. I love the coast islands and their habours and anchorages. The San Juan Islands are especially special.
On the main floor of the exhibit I always look for the Metal Boats where the amazing engineers make Landing Crafts. Today the idea of driving a boat with my Honda ATV up to an island and driving off Rambo style seems so appealing.  I hunt and imagine this would improve my moose hunting which hasn’t been up to standards for years. I got a grouse and a rabbit last year. But if I had that landing craft I’d be back in the game! Sure enough I found it. These guys make such sturdy craft. My sailboat is steel and I love seeing the workmanship in the metal boats.
I also love the luxury coastal cruisers. If I won the lottery I’d buy one tomorrow. They’re so elegant. I always imagined myself in white trousers and a blue blazer. It’s never happened. I’ve always been more like Humphrey Bogart in African Queen.
Recent years I’ve been comparing the amazing Yamaha Wave Riders with Seadoos.  I have a Harley for land but I ‘ve just thought the equivalent on water might be something I ‘need’.    I’m also interested in  the fishing pedal boats that Western Canoe and Kayaking brings. They’re not expensive but I have no room to store them despite loving them so much.   There are so many good things.
Over the years it seems I’ve got everything Honda Centre produces from their amazing generators to their ATV’s and off road motorcycles. I’m loving my side by side Honda 500 Pioneer and loved the CRF off-road 250 before that.
There were even floating house boats that people take to the Okanagan lakes for the summer there.  Lots of rental opportunities and getaways.
I really need to win a ‘lottery’ and go to the Vancouver Boat Show ‘flush’ . It really is the ultimate boy and girl toy store. There were even these new water skiing boats there this year that looked like something Vin Diesel would drive.   I’m more a OO7 sailor because sailing I can go long distance quietly and cheap. But I do like speed.  The Vancouver Boat Show has everything in every price range.
The first person I met walking around the second floor was Selim. I loved seeing him.  He and his brother started Steveston Marina. This guy really talked to the fishermen and boaters and learned what they actually needed. He always has the ‘best’ ,most ‘reliable’ and ‘safest’ products. I outfitted my boat for the trip to Mexico completely at Steveston’s.  Everything worked. When you’re 100 miles from land and can only see rough seas and threatening clouds around you, it’s important that the recommendations you got and equipment you have is right.  I’m forever thankful to Selim and Steveston’s for those early years.
It was all I could do to resist upgrading my Mustang offshore suit this time. Stevestons always have great deals and Mustang folk were there too to show me the improvements in fabric and design. My offshore clothing is nearly as important as the boat stuff especially in winter sailing.  Mustang , the best, has improved greatly on it’s boating wear taking lessons from the Navy Seals learning.   I don’t ‘need’ new gear “now”.  It was with great restraint I resisted. Selim will have it tomorrow.  I wont get boat show prices but if it’s sold out he’ll get more in.  I could always rely on Selina.
Walking around that arena circle with all the vendors was for me la walk through my personal history. I love my North Sails. I just got a new genoa a couple of years back and will need to replace my main sail again soon. It was last repaired in California when I was anchored in Sausalito before heading out under the Golden Gate to sail solo in Winter to the Hawaiian Islands. I’d hit hurricane force winds off the Columbia and taken some chaffing Despite the torture that North Sail took in those ugliest of conditions it really only needed some luff repairs that have last another decade and a couple of ocean crossings. North Sails take a beating.  But like all good things there’s a time to replace them. When I got the new Genoa from them I was amazed at how much closer I could sail to the wind.  My sailboat was so happy feeling.
I stopped to talk to the greatest riggers of all time,  Pro Tech Yacht Services!!! They’ve done all my rigging and do the rigging for the offshore racers as well. Years back I had a new roller furling and was trying it out solo in the North Pacific.  I was going like a bat out of hell in 60 knot winds  only to find that I couldn’t get the sail in.  Sailing solo and trying the new rig out , I was feared pitchpoling as wind and seas increased.  I was considering cutting the sail to slow the out of control speed but an Angel, God watches over solo sailors, reminded me  I did have a hamm radio/SSB.   I got  a phone patch to Pro Tech.   They’ve helped countless offshore racers and they explained really simply what I was doing wrong, knowing I was likely hysterical and probably unable to follow complex instruction.    Solo in the big seas I didn’t want to come about and broach, and was dependent on an autopilot which wasn’t going to hold me in those winds.  I listened to that wise experienced calm voice tell me what  I needed to do. I did it. I  didn’t pitchpole.  I didn’t destroy thousands of dollars of  sail that I would need later to to get to back to land .  That pro tech self furling rig served me on two ocean crossings too.    Pro Tech has done all my off shore rigging even lovingly putting in the guidelines that kept my dog from going overboard. They’re incredible.
The smoked wild salmon display caught me too. It’s called ‘Indian candy’ for a reason.
I loved talking to the folk about the new EPIRBS.  Mine needs to be re stored or recalibrated. It’s a decade old but with new battery should work. The price has come down. An EPIRB is triggered by water pressure and gives off the position the boat goes down.  Major insurance. What I liked this year were  the Personal miniaturized satellite connected wearable devices. Considering my first EPIRB thousands of dollars and 3 feet long,  6 inches wide the advances are amazing.
I have that fun each boat show, seeing the technology improvements.  I’ve a Volvo inboard engine I got to replace my Yanmar that lasted 20 years. It’s half the size and weight of the original ones with better performance and power.  Seeing these advances makes me so proud of the human race making such advances in science and technology.  The boat show is always a high for me in this very positive way.
I was looking for a folding boat to replace my canoe. I simply don’t have storage for my perfect Clipper Kevlar canoe I bought a decade back from Western Canoing and Kayaking in Abbotsford.  So many years ago I started white water canoeing with a Grummon Aluminum. I think of my 40 foot sailboat as a really big canoe.  The actual Kevlar canoe I have now hasn’t seen any white water, just fishing on BC lakes.  It’s the ultimate Skookum canoe . It just takes up too much room in my storage locker. What do I learn when I’m talking to the Western Canoe guys at the boat show , really there to lust after their pedal boat, is that they’re consider a trade in. I love this.  It’s always a hassle upgrading unless I can trade something in as I’ve no time to sell on line even if there’s more profit.  So while I didn’t find a folding boat I found a solution.  So many times I’ve been at the boat show talking with people and learned what I needed to learn in just this way.
I even discussed sailing down the Eerie Canal or up the Lawrence with one of the Blue Water Cruising Association  folk. Laura and I had been on their watch for years helping get the advertising and maintain the Current’s Magazine when Blue Water Sailing Association was only volunteer organization. It was a lot of work maintaining the funding for the magazine, hunting down contributors, getting new folk to advertise.  We learned a lot.
Blue Water Crusing Association really was a great place in those volunteer only years with mostly folk who had been offshore or were going offshore. But organizations get bigger and often better.  I stopped going one year where there seemed to be too much coastal sailing stuff. Everyone has their preferences.  Work always overrides and competes with recreation.   I got more involved with writing too. Living aboard for years, and always sailing.
 I enjoyed talking with the BC Marine writers at their booth.  I really must write another book, I say, seeing such productivity present there.  It’s just that a book takes more time than a blog. I’m really so busy with adventures now I don’t seem to get around to recording them in a form for books and stories. It’s on the bucket lists.  I’ve got miles of film and journals from several offshore trips and whole lots of stories.   I remember when I thought I’d give a presentation but never got around to it. I used to teach offshore wilderness medicine courses to cruisers but even that fell by the wayside.
There just never is enough time to do the things you want to , to quote Jim Croce. When I was docked in San Diego I remember so enjoying eating crayfish in Ingrid Croce’s awesome restaurant.  Those were the days I was playing guitar a lot and singing Jimmy Buffet’s iconic sailing song, “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes. We sang and playing a lot of music on the back of my boat in Mexico.  Where does the time go?
There are young and old and whole families at the boat show each year.  I laughed at my doctor friends who we sailed with who loved having their small kids in the cabin knowing where they were. They were doing all those family things together that so many land lovers miss out on.  Theres’ a real ‘vacation’  and ‘summer’ feel to the boat show.  People in Vancouver have that ready for summer look in their eyes.  You can almost feel the sand underfoot. Such a contrast to the cold dreary rain outside.
This year I was alone. Other years I’ve gone with so many different people.  In the past I’ve enjoyed the lectures but now it’s like I’m over the hump. I’ve been there, done that, got the t shirt, wear the ball cap and worry I sound like a boring old man. I suppose I can rest on my laurels. It’s a place where I’m truly an authority. I’m part of an elite group.  We know each other when we meet.  It’s good to talk together.  This a few of us reminisced about our silly running aground experiences. I am planning more sailing for sure. It’s too much fun. One day I’ll turn in the offshore sailing boat for a coastal 26 footer and water ballast with 50 hp. I sailed around VAncouver Island with a couple of guys who had these and loved them. Because they’re trailerable they’re not only all round less costly but easier and cheaper to store.
These days I’m mostly interested in inland camping and fishing. I want a folding boat that I can take on top of my new Mini Cooper S.  I’d like to go out for a day, and keep it easily at home without having to go to the completely full storage locker. I have a little Honda 2.5 hp kicker that I want to use more too and a flat bottom boat will be easier on Gilbert the dog now that he’s blind.
I loved truck camping last year and am already preparing for the weekends fishing with Gilbert even if we never seem to catch fish. Hunting in the fall were’ more than lucky.  Sailing I caught so many salmon and ling cod in tidal waters.  I just dragged hooks behind the boat and reeled in supper. Lake and stream fishing requires more patience.  I’m not known for my patience though I keep believing I’m working on it.  Sailing is a lesson in patience.
Another great Vancouver Boat Show year for me.  Thank you all,  you incredible people who make it all happen. Thank you for  those who make the  great stuff, those who  supply the great stuff and those who sell the great stuff.  You’ve made my life so much richer with your incredible equipment and advice.

Vancouver Boat Show, 2016

I love the Vancouver Boat Show. I’ve been coming for 25 years and it just gets better and better. When I first began coming I’d bought a Folkes 40 foot  Steel Sailboat and was delighted to be able to compare prices for all the accessories I’d eventually have. My Folkes would eventually take me to Alaska, Mexico and I’d winter sail solo San Francisco to Hawaii.  I’m still sailing but thanks mostly to West Marine, and Stevenstons and other suppliers at the Vancouver Boat Show I have outfitted my boat three times over and don’t need anything for it right now. The last couple of years I’ve bought dinghies and Honda Outboards and Generators.
The only thing I’m in the market for right now is a scuba diving ‘snorkel’.  West Marine has one. It’s an 80 foot  hose which attaches to an air compressor which floats on a tube on the surface while you swim 60 feet down alone or with a partner. Having all the scuba gear, wet and dry suits I’ve found  the weight and paraphernalia tedious with age.  20 years ago I saw this compressor at the Vancouver Boat Show and haven’t seen it since. I’ve often regretted not buying it because I got my scuba licenses first to be able to untangle anchors and lines around the prop offshore sailing. Scuba diving took on a life of it ’s own and I became a Rescue Diver and trained as a Master diver. I loved scuba diving but eventually like black diamond skiing I got older and lost interest.  I’d still like to be able to swim deep and spear fish and untangle props and anchors but I don’t want to carry air tanks so this is the possible solution.  They’re on line but I don’t want to buy it on line sight unseen.  I don’t know how it will work with my dry suit and really want to see one before I commit thousands of dollars.
That’s the joy of the Boat Show.  l’ve also been hankering after what I call a water motorcycle. I’d looked at SeaDoos last year and thought they’d advanced to being a really useful craft.  When I first rode one at a resort in the pacific I thought they were a toy but not very useful. Now they’ve made them sturdier and people are actually commuting Vancouver to Bowen Island and back on them.  Both Sea Doo and Yamaha Wave Rider make this model which allows you to remain dry while riding too and from work.
This Boat Show I was truly privileged to learn every question I could ever have about the Yamaha Wave Riders from a brilliant young technician for Yamaha.  I’d not even considered a Yamaha though I have had a Yamaha motorcycle and love my Yamaha Quad.  So looking for the Seadoo I came across this young fellow who literally took me through the range of products that Yamaha has telling me all the advantages of each of the products, what they could do and what features each had.  It was a marvellous learning experience.  The young man was a technician and not a salesman but I never knew a young man to love engines and performance like him.  I was able to discuss the Wave Rider engine in comparison with my Harley Davidson motorcycle and know that this fellow knew exactly what he was talking about.  It was all I could do to resist buying this one particular Wave Rider right there.
I looked at the Sea doo after and while they had some features  I liked still,  the Yamaha seemed better made , sleeker, and with lovely hidden cleats and hidden tow lines, fine lines and performance details.   The seadoo was rugged and the helpful salesman also answered my questions. That’s the beauty of the boatshow.  This same Canadian company makes the Bombardier and the much loved Spider Trike.   Mostly thanks to the Boat show I was able to compare and consider purchases that I will likely make in the next year or two if Canadian money retains any value and I can justify spending on a vehicle I could clearly use for commuting, fishing and transporting me up streams to hunting areas.  I have a terrific little pontoon boat but my friend and I considered how much better it would be if we each had a water craft out hunting like two guys with quads.  We have the communication gear for working two areas but there’s a whole lot of fun involved in being able to travel alone. Of course I could take a girl and a dog on the back of a water mobile too.
I don’t need another boat.  The Vancouver Boat Show is a place to dream. The fact is I’d never have got the 30 hp Honda and the hard bottomed AFB were it not for seeing it at the Boat show and after a year of considering it, realizing it really was what I needed for fishing. It’s been a delight for fishing and a lot of fun hunting ducks too.
I don’t need a Sea Doo or Wave Rider. But I want one.
There were luxury yachts that movie stars might like but I’ve got a sailboat so I’ve not been looking at these so much. Every year I’ve lusted after a front loading landing craft that would allow one to take a quad in the boat and land it on an island.  Tom and I hunted an island last year and this would have been clearly the way to go. If one had a $160,000.  It’s worth every penny but not something I’ll be getting unless I win the lottery. But if i did that I’d probably get one of the luxury yachts there.
I loved running into Anthony Dalton, the famous adventure writer.(www.heritagehouse.ca)  He was there with other writers at the Marine books . We caught up on life and friends.  I’ve read a half dozen or more of his works and love his experience, detail and sensitivity.  HIs work on Polar Bears is a classic.  I hadn’t read his latest novel so now look forward to reading “Relentless Pursuit”.
The other delight of this show was meeting Neil Hamelin.(www.neilhamelin.com ) He’s an amazing marine artist and I simply loved his painting. Sailing the coast as much as I have I saw he captured the West Coast Maritime like Emily Carr captured the forest. There was love in his work and it was a joy to meet him.   (I'm sorry I chopped off his head in the picture with the new 'live' feature in the iPhone plus.
Of course there were shoes and every other fashion known to the boat world there.  I’ve got the Mustang Off Shore gear and loved browsing through the latest expedition clothing.
It’s just such a great place to see everything all under one room.  It’s the best place for deals as I’ve got so doozies in years past.  Somehow I got out without buying Sea Doo or Yamaha Wave rider.  But I know I got my Harley Electraglide after I fell in love with one at the Vancouver Motorcycle Show, having my picture taken on it and never believing I’d ever be able to own one.  I had a HD Roadster at the time.  Thanks to God’s Grace I found a second hand Electraglide at Trev Deely a couple of years later and am so glad I didn’t miss that deal.  That bike has brought me so much joy. Now I’m thinking one day I may be the happy own of a water motorcycle.  You never know. It doesn’t hurt to dream.
All round a great show

 

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Honda Center, Vancouver, BC and the Honda 2.3 hp Outboard Motor

I love Honda Center, on first at boundary. My favourite person from the Kits Honda moved over to this Honda and by luck I found them.  I'd bought an incredible CRF 250 off road on road Honda Motorcycle.  It was a jewel of a machine.  When I needed to buy a 30 HP  Honda Outboard marine motor  I bought it here. I 've bought Honda Ruckuses and several generators over the years so really admire the Honda reliability, design, manufacture and service.
Now I’ve just bought my 2.3 Honda outboard.  The 30 hp honda goes on my AB 12 Profile hard bottom inflatable with centre console.  I have that for fishing and getting about in harbour.  Lots of trips to the Lonsdale Quay for weekend shopping.  Even some trips from Coal Harbour round to Granville Island to shop at West Marine over there.
 Now over the years I’ve had a lot of outboards. I have always had an inflatable dinghy on my sailboat with an outboard.  25 years ago I had a huge  zodiac and a 15 hp.  I was young and muscular. I could lift the motor from the dinghy up onto the sailboat deck, no sweat. I had winches too but sometimes didn’t bother.  Then I moved down to the 9.9 hp and after that the 6 hp and smaller lighter dinghies.  Age makes one more reasonable and my back began to rebel at lifting motors from bouncing dinghies up to sailboat decks. I just gave Tom my  almost new 4 hp outboard motor in exchange for boat work because the last time I sailed over to Nanaimo lifting even that little motor back onto my sailboat was dicey.   Hence the 2.3 hp portable Honda Outboad. I still have the choice to tow the big dinghy with the 30 hp.  I certainly couldn’t tow that off shore so the 2.5 hp is the ultimate motor to get me from boat to shore anywhere.
The Honda 2.3 4 stroke outboard motor weighs only 12 kg.  And it is a sweet machine. I am so looking forward to using it. It fit in the boot of my Miata sportscar it was that portable.  Excellent for my canoe on inland lakes too.
Normally I look at all the motorcycles but this time I couldn’t help but notice all the lawn mowers.  The guys gave me a real great demonstration of my engine in the service area with some great ideas for long term maintenance techniques.  You can easily drain the carburetor on this one for longer term safer storage.  Laura and Gilbert came along for the shopping adventure.  Thank you Honda Centre for all the great products and service.
 

Seasickness on the SV GIRI

She was crying huddled in the corner of the cockpit, holding her stomach.  A huge wave had hit the boat broadside crashing through the canvas dodger and soaking her thoroughly.
“Should we call the coast guard?” she whimpered.
“No” I said, “The boat isn’t in any distress. We’re going to be just fine."
Even the little dog was shaking. He had his life jacket on and was cuddled beside her, the two of my charges trying to take comfort from each other. I didn’t think I was very reassuring.I’d taken them out in this mess.
But then I know this is sailing.  I know this is life and the wilderness and that anytime something can come up to change things instantly.  She knows this too. Intellectually, Experientially is always a different matter.
“How long is it going to take?” she asked.
“Hours,” I said.  I didn’t mean to be mean.  I often give people information when they want ‘sweet lies’.  Later I’d say ‘we’re almost there” when we were still many miles away from our destination.  My concerns weren’t here and now. My concerns were with the pass.  This storm had slowed us down to half our speed.  So we were going to miss our window of passage through the narrows.  That window, the ‘turn’ is the calm time between when ebb tide and flood tide change.  I’d already consulted the tide and current charts issued annually. I ‘d looked at the time and confirmed the negative sign of the ‘ebb’ and the time of the turn and added the hour for ‘daylight saving’.  We would be lucky if we’d get there before the maximum rate of flow.
I’d been headed for Active Pass originally  but there the flows through the narrows can be 20 knots. I’d diverted to Porlier Pass where the  the chart said maxim flow today was  4.8 knots.  My 40 foot steel 13 ton cutter rigged sloop sailboat with its new  Volvo 40 hp diesel only did five maybe 6 knots.  I was supposed to have some extra reserve for going against current but I was towing my rather large hard bottomed dinghy with the high centre console and 30 horse power motor. I’d been looking back often to see it was riding well behind us.
My brain, wants to go to a myriad of possibilities of things that can go wrong. It’s definitely got a contract on my ass.  Sailing across the winter pacific through storm after storm alone from San Francisco to Hawaii I’d had to shut the thing off repeatedly since it was constantly  running every nightmare scenario. What if a killer wave caves in a window?  What if the engine fails? What if the pumps don’t work? What if I fall and break a leg?  What if? What if?
“I’ve never been in anything this bad, “ she said.  “Those waves are so huge”
My boat and I’d survived worse, 40 foot waves at one time.  But these were 6 feet deep and white capped with spray trails running across the sea.  It was hard to see very far. A gale really.  It was the first time the boat was out this year, except for an hour run to Bowen for an overnight.  She’d sailed with me before.  She knew the boat and my history.  I had  experience and the boat did too.
“Your father as a tug boat captain would have worked in this often. Did you ever go out in his tug with him.?”
“No,” she said.  Her mascara had run a bit.
Off shore I have harnesses and ropes to tie us to the boat.  She didn’t have a life jacket. One was inside the cabin at hand reach but I didn’t want her to go below and I didn’t want to leave the helm. When I put the boat on autopilot the course was worse. I could at least turn into the ‘hundredth wave’, those big ones that comes along like clock work and confound autopilots.
“Could we call somebody to tow us in faster?” she asked.
“No, we’re going along fine. We’ll getting closer.  You'd feel better if you sit up high and watch the horizon.  If you take the helm, the sense of control makes the seasickness worse. "
“I”m okay”, she whimpered, hugging herself tighter.
 I told if she need to throw up she should as that would make her feel better. But she said she didn’t want to throw up. Which brought to mind another time I’d been sailing across the Strait with a couple of women and another guy and they’d all been spewing in just these type of conditions.  I was thankful my days of sea sickness were behind me but I’ll never forget that worst of all possible feelings when all you want to do is curl up in a fetal position and lie in your own puke.
“I was just thinking that this was like child birth.”, she said, " There’s the pain and horror and nothing to do but wait it out.”  She was a mother of three and I couldn’t argue with her comparison given my own lack of experience in that regard.
“That’s about it.” I said.
“My dad said they’d have nights of storms like this and how they just went on and on up and down one wave to the next."
“I’m thankful the sun is out.  It’s also quite warm not like those crazy Alaska fishermen have to deal with. Also I always think of the North Atlantic in WWII when they had the worst of sea conditions and had to contend with submarines shooting at them as well. It’s enough for me to deal with Nature than to have to contend with psychopaths trying to kill me as well."
I remembered how everything got better sailing in the south too when I was just wearing shorts and the spray off the  sea was warm.
Another big sea crashed right over the deck spilling water into the cockpit.
That was another problem. The drain hole in the cockpit on that side was plugged.  It had been last year too. I’d been meaning to fix it. But all last summer when water had come into the cockpit when I was sailing alone and burying the railing the boat had been heeling on the other side and I’d simply forgotten all about the plugged drain.  There was now a foot of cold seawater sloshing around on the floor.  My shoes were soaked and the dogs belly was in cold water contributing to his shivering.  Warmth and comfort reduces sea sickness. I didn’t want to do it but I turned the boat directly into the wind, heeled onto a different tack and let the water run out through the starboard drain.  Then I took the boat back to the original course cognizant of the fact that by keeping the boat quartering on the sea I was pointing higher than Porlier Pass.
“We’re not going to capsize?” she said.
“No, we’re perfectly safe.With the sails down we have a huge keel below us to keep us from going over. We could even batten down and heave to and wait out this storm but the weather report says it’s going all night. Indeed it’s supposed to get worse at night so I’d just like to cross the Strait rather than wait. We’re getting there. It’s not that much further."
“I think the winds getting less, “ I lied.
I also didn’t mention my concern about the Pass, the heavy dinghy or even the new window I’d thought the workman weren’t being conscientious enough about.   There’s always something that can go wrong in life. A boat is just a tiny capsule of reality as we see it. I could be about to have a stroke and the incidence of that might be greater than the possibility of wear and tear on a guy line leading to disaster.  In 30 years of sailing I’ve experienced a whole lot of misery at sea, broken mast, stove in sides, leaks, broken pumps, fowled props, storms and even running aground.  Mostly the worst happens at night or in fog.
Driving the boat this sunny day I remembered  another time the seas were like this and there were four of us aboard all accomplished sailors.   A ferry had gone aground and half dozen boats had had may days in the freak storm, seas similar, winds about the same. It just came out of nowhere and caught everyone by surprise.  The radio today didn’t have any may days, just a few of the next level of concern “Pan Pan.”  There were several of those,  A sailboat was unable to get it’s sail furled and was careening scared somewhere on the Strait. Another boat’s engine had failed and it was drifting towards rocks.  Someone had fallen overboard.  The radio is a background of negative possibilities when a storm comes up.
“Why aren’t there any other boats? “ she asked.
I could have waxed poetic about why 90% of sailboats and sporting boats never leave English Bay. Those that cross the Strait only do it in July or August in the best of weather. I sailed all year round. If it wasn’t for her being sick I’d be rather exhilarated. Like the feeling of riding a motorcycle in an increasing wind. That feeling that you and machine are going to make it through this.  Not that I wasn’t praying. I’d been praying, “All Shall Be Well. All Shall Be Well.  All Manner of Things Shall Be Well” from the moment I decided to take in sails. That prayer worked for those in the European plague years so I figured it would work for whatever I had to face.  It certainly beat psyching myself out with “We’re going to die!. We’re going to die.” Mostly my greatest fight is with myself.  Fear and despair really don’t help a situation so there’s no need fuelling them.
Also I’m blessed with a guardian angel or some kind of sailor intuition.    I get a ‘feeling’ that I should reef the sail and every time I’ve been just a moment ahead of disaster.  There’s a lot of things like that. I think I should check the pump and find that only one is working.  There’s a sufficient level of obsessive concern.  I don’t have the money or time to ensure everything is perfect. That’s what wealth brings.  More security but even in the offshore races disaster strikes despite every contingency considered by the best of minds. I love following the NASA stories for this reason.  It’s like watching the great chess players or reading the Glass Bead Game by Herman Hess. In my little way I’m part of this bigger picture. In my little world I’m doing that sort of thing.  It’s like Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance or tying the perfect fishing fly.  Today I’d delayed on responding to the feeling and was feeling a bit old, fat and slow.
I actually am old, fat and slow.  I certainly felt it when I winched the sails up today. I have to factor  age and shape into the equation and I simply don’t have the physical reserve I had 10 years ago to deal with unforeseen contingencies.
We’d been sailing, close hauled, all sails up, 15 knot northwest wind, calm seas 1-2 foot, going 4 knots,towing the dinghy. It was a glorious day. Laura was loving it.  It was mid April and my friends out in Eastern Canada were still battling snow storms.  Here we were on the west coast in paradise sailing across Georgia Strait.  Life couldn’t be better.
And I got that feeling. And ignored it.
The weather report had been for increasing winds later in the afternoon and evening but it was only 2 pm then.  Everything was perfect except my premonition. That’s when the railing first went underwater.  Not a bad thing racing but obviously a concern cruising.  I took it as a time to get up on deck and reef. I started the iron jenny enjoying the sound of the engine purring into action.
The more wind, The harder it is to reef.  Using the engine and autopilot I could have turned direct into the wind like the text book says, trusting my autopilot but instead I just hauled the main sail down to the reef point and winched it tight in place.  It all just took too long and I was quite tired by the effort.  Back in the cockpit I saw the boat speed had gone from 4 to 5 knots and reefing wasn’t doing anything. The railing buried again.  More white caps.
Back on deck.
It’s dangerous on deck without a line and harness.  I had told Laura how to call Coast Guard on 16 and unleash the foresail rope from the winch to let the boat stop but if a freak wave hit and  I went over, hypothermia would get me before rescue.  “One hand to the boat always”.
Now the main sail was down and we were riding pretty good but the wind was rising and the sea was growing.
Just to be safe I began to roller furl the new genoa in.  I remember doing this in the Pacific by myself for squalls in minutes. I was fast back then and strong.  Now too long at a desk I was really taking an inordinate amount of time to winch the sail in even with the boat turned up into the wind.  Laura was helping by letting out the lead rope but it was all going so slowly. My shoulder was killing me. I began thinking I’d damaged my rotator cuff. But eventually I had the sail furled to a third the size.  We were riding exactly like I like it in a storm, the sail being enough to create just the right lean to cut into the seas but not enough to worry me. I was back to using the engine which was keeping us going at 3 knots.  Normally it would be five or six.  I looked back at the dinghy and it was riding just fine.  Big seas slowed our forward motion to 1.5 knots.  They just slammed into the boat submarining the bow.
“I don’t like when you go on deck,” she said.  The boat was actually fairly okay at that moment. I was comfortable with everything and just had to persevere.  I saw then that Laura wasn’t doing well.  And that’s when the broadside slammed into her lifting the canvas and soaking her.
“Should we call the coast guard?" she whimpered.
When I was younger I would have ‘ordered’ her to pull herself together. I’d done that in my 20’s and am divorced. In my own fear and ignorance I’d thought that ‘female hysteria’ was something to slap into shape.  Talking to veterans about war times and men going crazy in battle I know there’s a place for slapping someone back to reality. But that’s only when the bullets are flying.  Mostly people, scared themselves, take it out on the one just a little more scared .   I ‘d been that way.  Putting on a phoney brave front and strutting about shouting orders in times of trouble.  I’d got everyone through those times. I’d been a good leader in that regard but today I knew myself better.
I was scared.  I’m always scared. There’s always some fear to living.  I know too that courage is going on inspite of fear.
Laura just wanted me to acknowledge her. She didn’t want to be alone.  The dog was cuddled up beside her and he didn’t want to be alone.
“We’re going to be okay. The boat can handle a whole lot more than this. I love my new Volvo. It’s doing an amazing job of pushing us through the sea.  We’ll be at the pass shortly. Not much further."
The job of a captain is the care and safety of the boat and crew. The job of the crew is to assist the job of the captain.  Laura wasn’t technically crew. More a passenger, really.  I think Gilbert the first mate dog was cuddling up to her to give her comfort though it wasn’t too clear if he wasn’t the one getting the comfort.
I comforted her. No harsh words.  Just reassurance. I also wished that I could take back all the harsh words I’d used in decades past as younger and stupider man.
Then we were in Porlier Pass. That was where I was really scared. And I didn’t share this. I’d also gone through a time in life when I thought that others needed to ‘know my feelings.’  I’d believed in that idea of letting it ‘all hang out’.  I’d believed in the group grok experience but knew from experience that has no place whatsoever in life and death situations.  People say they want their leaders to share everything and the silly media chants this day in day out but the fact is all that does is cause panic. I didn’t say a word when the boat hit the first whirlpool and I looked back to see the dinghy was riding high and hadn’t flipped to become an anchor I’d have to cut loose while the boat whirled in a ship killing whirlpool.  I just made a decision and gave my new Volvo Engine full open throttle and coupled with the ebb flow we were maintaining a straight line at 10 knots through literally boiling water waves jumping into the cockpit from both sides.
Then we were through.
“We’re okay now, “ she said. Smiling.
“How’s your stomach?”
“Its okay.I was just scared, that’s all. I’ve never been in anything like that."
“Sorry."
“It’s not your fault.It’s just what happens,” she said.
I loved her for that.  Over the years so many others had blamed me. They’d wanted to come along with me on some crazy journey and when the going got rough said it was my fault. I’ve been blamed by young women for lightning, broken down cars, winter, sickness, and just about everything that life can bring.  I always half believe them.  No one wants to be on a couch watching tv adventure more than me when I’m in the middle of a real adventure.  But the couch  isn’t real and if one stays there long enough they will get bedsores.
Trinicomali Channel was serene.  The bad was behind us.  We motored on the ebb flow down to Montague Harbour.  If my arms and shoulders weren’t like lead weights I’d have put up all the sails and enjoyed the fabulous wing on wing sails that Trinicomali Channel is famous for.  Instead I made us tea, drinking mine with Gilbert sitting on my lap in the cockpit. Laura went below to text her sister that with the nights wind warning we were going to stop in Montague rather than spending the night in Dinner Bay.
I love the cell phone.  I always look at all the technology I have, gps, radar, chart plotter, winches, charts, weather reports, VHF and thank all those intrepid professional sailors who went before and  made it possible for me to take this grand little vessel, my home really,  away for a weekend with pretty good likelihood of returning safely in a day or two. There was a time like they show in the Hobbit movies that an individual left his ‘safety zone’ at peril and never could be sure of returning .  Adventure was once a mainly professional matter and now we all do it as amateurs.
I certainly know that it’s the way I can get back to the office and enjoy the relative safety and routine of my office.
“My sister says that there’s been several boats in distress and they’ve been watching the winds and seas and are really thankful we’re okay."
Her husband is a marine engineer. They live on the water.  I thought it was a wee bit of a blow.  Hearing that, I guess it was.  So Laura wasn’t over reacting and it is good that we’re all safe and happy.
Anchoring in the protected harbour of Montague was a dream with the sun setting and boat lights going on. Below we made sandwiches but didn’t last very long before all three of us were bundled together  under a comforter falling asleep to soothing rocking motion of a boat attached to the earth only by an umbilical chord anchor.  The dog was snoring first.