Polar Bear Coming Up 2008/2009

Time to bust out the long underwear; the Vancouver Rowing Club is setting up its annual winter series. The SEA WEASEL has a real shot this year at carrying away Div 2. The only question who is in to crew her. Of course her skipper, Curt-Ass and D-Hog are in but this year a full crew would be the way to ensure victory. So if any of the others or have friends are interested let me know and we will ge them aboard. I will be setting up a few trial races soon to build up our skills.

Guy Cruise 2008: After Action Report

SEA WEASEL's course.

Guy Cruise 2008 got off to a late start Friday afternoon when Mike, Dave, and Tyler finally left the dock at approximately 6:30pm with the boat fully stocked for a long weekend adventure.  We all decided to bring hot dogs so this was going to be more of a sausage fest than we imagined.  Our initial plan was to sail over to Gibsons the first night and then on to the Northern Gulf Islands.  As we motored out into English Bay I began to have my doubts.  The wind was coming right out of the west at about 15+ knots.  We rigged the 140% genoa and got started beating out to the west.  

At about 10:00pm we were off the South Eastern tip of Bowen Island in 25+ knots of wind and 2 meter sees.  We were taking allot of water over the deck and the three of us were soaked; well except for mike who had rain pants on.  After Dave began purging over the side we decided Gibsons be dammed and turned for Snug Cove on Bowen.  

It was a long weekend and the Union Steam Ship Marina was supposed to be full.  We broad reached under jib alone into Snug Cove before firing up the engine and hoping to find a slip to tie up to.  As usual half of the small boat transient slips where empty.

We tied up to the first one we came across; and after almost being mauled by a giant Doberman Pincer on the boat next to us we set about the important work.  The boat was a mess down below: bilge water slopped around the cabin, our gear was all over the place, Mike had busted a light off the bulkhead trying to use the head.  We had had to cut one of the jib sheets off when it had become fowled in a block and rope bits were everywhere.  We decided to tackle the most pressing issue first and went to the bar.  

At 11pm on a Friday night there is only one place in town to go and that is the pub up the road.  If you don't know which one I am talking about you have never been to Bowen.  Calling it the cultural hub of the island would not be an understatement.  There we encountered the "townies" as we called them.  There were actually a ton of people and a live band there.  The music was a mix of AC/DC and other stuff and the crowd half dirty hippy and half red neck.  After several hours and corresponding pints we decided to turn in.  

In the morning we staggered out of the boat in search of food at the local cafe.

Recovering from the night before with breakfast.

Following breakfast and a ill-fated shopping trip we decided to head out on the next leg of our adventure.  We inflated SPARKLES and chucked her in the water only to discover bubbles pouring out of her.  She had 3 minor but constant leaks.  We hauled her out and patched her up.  While waiting for the patches to set Mike tried his hand at catching little dock fish to use as bait.  We did catch one and left it in a beer can filled with water.  Then it was time to head to our next destination Port Graves.

Inflating SPARKLES turned out to be more of an adventure than originally planned.

Mike hunts for bait fish with the other three year old kids.

SPARKLES begins to take on water as we sail fast over to Port Graves.

The trip over to PG was one of the most pleasant of the voyage with a stiff following breeze we made excellent time.  Even when we reached the end of Bowen and had to head up wind we found that with a few tacks we were in PG with only one hitch on the way.  SPARKLES being pulled along with no weight in her rear had nose plowed into a few waves and taken on water.  We had her line out either too far or not far enough.  Despite that it was a great sail.

At PG we spent the afternoon crabbing and fishing.  We had no luck with the rods except for some freaky blob thing I dragged up but did manage to catch two medium sized Dungness crabs.  After night fall we took on a covert op but I am sworn to secrecy on this one.  

What the fuck is this thing!?

The following morning we headed out for Gibsons getting caught on a crab pot.  "Damn you O'Donnell! Heading to Gibsons we were informed that they were full so we diverted to Plumper Cove on Keats Island.  We were in a pickle however as many vital supplies had been exhausted and we were going to have to make it over to Gibsons.  We anchoured at Plumper Cove and with a strong inflow and flooding tide we opted to rig the outboard on SPARKLES and motor over.  

About half way across the engine made a funny noise and a loud bang.  The engine had just blown up.  Dave having had the good fortune to be sitting in the rowers seat began to row us towards Gibsons.  As the tide and wind began to take control we moved further and further down the shore line away from Gibsons.  After over 2+ hours we finally made it ashore on a muddy beach near only beach houses.  

At this point a older man approached us and said that he had noticed our problem and wanted to know if we wanted a tow to Gibsons.  While inside my head I was screaming "Why the hell didn't you offer us this when you first saw us out there!?!"  I took the tow from his adult son over to Gibsons.  It was super nice of them and we really appreciated.  After a overpriced and mediocre lunch Mike was sent out to get the vital supplies we had risked our  lives for; beer and steak, and Dave and I headed back to get the WEASEL.   This time the wind and tide where in our favour and the row took about 40 minutes and was quite pleasurable.  

Back at the SEA WEASEL I climbed aboard and tied the dinghy off.  Dave began to get up and when the dinghy lurched he preformed a backwards somersault into the ocean.  With one of the crew thrown overboard I lept into action.  They are my responsibility when at see after all.  I managed to get the camera and photograph him as he climbed up the side soaking wet.

Adrift at see we contemplate the inevitable.

My rescuer tows SPARKLES over to Gibsons.

Dave crawls aboard the boat after a swim.

After Dave's swim we pulled up anchour and motored over to Gibsons where we recovered Mike and prepared a feast of steak and crab.  

How to kill a crab.

After a rather rough night's sleep we awoke and had breakfast at the famous Molly's Reach. Following that we cleaned up the boat and set out for home. With the wind now a South Easterly we beat all the way back to Vancouver. Guy Cruise 2008 had been eventful the absence of Curt-ASS and D-Hog was the only low point.

The boys enjoying a big warm one at Molly's.