New Years Day Race Video Out

2009 NYD Race Video.  Produced by Niko.

The video is out!  This was this year's New Year's Day Race.   It was unique in that we had Lemans start where all the boats started at anchour with all the crew below decks.  It was a ton of fun.  Watch and enjoy.

TCYC Represents at the 2009 Robbie Burns Dinner

TCYC at the 2009 Robbie Burns dinner in Snug Cove (Left to Right: Curtis, Joseph, and Sam)

I had known who Robbie Burns was and I knew of the Burns' Suppers but I had never attend them. Considered a sort of Scottish, working class poet there have been annual dinners in his honour since his death in 1796. For years TCYC has been attending the annual dinner held at Doc Morgan's in Snug Cove on Bowen Island. I thought I would brave the freezing weather and sail over on the SEA WEASEL. New TCYC member Joseph brought his boat FIRE CHASER along for the ride too.

Robbie Burns circa 1759

With little wind we motored most of the way in close formation. I did try a few valiant attempts at sailing but they did not last long. Getting into Bowen we made our way to the Bowen Island Pub for some craft beer and a appy. Then we made our way back down the hill to Doc Morgan's. The food and company was quite good. There was the traditional addresses and a live piper who played a few tunes. I was surprised to find that haggis was in fact quite good. It tasted almost like a turkey dressing of sorts. Following the three course meal we made our way back to the SEA WEASEL and were later joined by past TCYC members.

The next morning with a moderate inflow we made our back home. It was a cold but pleasant sail and Curtis and I took turns warming up next to the diesel heater. The Bowen Island Robbie Burns dinner is going to be on next year's agenda.

Vancouver Fog Cancels Latest Polar Bear Race

Vancouver looking like a city in the clouds.

Last week Team SEA WEASEL headed out for the latest installment of the VRC's Polar Bear Series. Vancouver had been socked in for over a week with thick pervasive fog. The morning of the race Curtis, Dave and I made our way down to the marina. The fog was supposed to completely lift by noon and in the creek it was a little lighter giving a half mile of visibility. We decided to fire up the GPS and head out there to see if the race would go ahead after the fog lifted.

As we motored out between the Ganville and Burrard Street bridges visibility roped off to 20 meters. We found ourselves motoring out with SHAWPA and FANCY FREE. It was eery with nothing visible at all. You could not tell where the city was the shore or the sun. I did not have the start line pre-programmed into my chart plotter so I opted to follow FANCY FREE who did and also had radar.


We arrived at the start line and as we drifted we saw the dim ghost like shapes of sail boats moving around us. I thought we were the only people fool hardy enough to head out in these conditions. There we sat waiting for the fog to lift. The only point of interest was listening to a temporarily disabled PSYCHO DUCK calling for a tow lost in the fog. FANCY FREE even with radar and GPS was unable to meet up with PSYCHO DUCK until they were able to get their engine back on.


Finally after a long wait the fog just got worse and the Race Committee threw in the towel and the race was cancelled. We fired up the GPS and motored back blindly. In the fog with less than 10 meters visibility we radioed the Vancouver Traffic VHF channel and were given a green light to head into false creek. The chart plotter really proved its worth guiding us all the way back to the marina. In all this was the third failed Polar Bear race due to weather.

Winter Getaway

The two boys enjoying the high-life in Gibsons.

After the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, parties, and visiting with family and friends I needed a bit of time away from it all.  Early January looked like the prefect time to go on a short winter cruise and get away from it all. 

Kingsley hiding out down below.

I set out on a Wednesday afternoon.  As usual I had planned to get Gibsons the first day but because of my late start I opted for Snug Cove.  The boat was a mess as I was in the middle of redoing the headliner and insulated the main cabin ceiling.  By the time I got under way the boat was a little neater but it was late and I just wanted to get out there.  To complicate things I also brought Kingsley our 7 month old Boston Terrier.

When Kingsley did want to be on deck he had to wear his day-glow orange life jacket and be bundled up.

As I motored out into a calm English Bay I began to relax.  Kingsly is not built for the cold with very little fur, and even though I swore I would never own a dog with clothes I had him down below and bundled up.  About midway across the bay a breeze blew up and with no trouble I hoisted the #1 Genoa and sailed over to Bowen at about 5 knots.

At Snug Cove I found that the new floating marina building was in place and workers were fixing it up.  They are going to put in more washing machines and showers.  Also they are going to expand the chandlery and put in a "boaters lounge".  So it sounds like the facilities will be really improving at the marina.  Considering the prices they charge for moorage this is a good thing.

Motoring by Keats Island.

The next morning Kingsley and I set out for Gibsons.  The weather was grey cool and overcast.  There was not much wind at all so we motored for most of the way reaching Gibsons in 2 hours.  The transient dock was virtually empty except for a few live-aboards.  I tied up and set Kingsley on the dock and went about plugging into the shore power.  When I was done I turned around and could not see the dog.  He is not a big fan of being on docks so I assumed he ran down to the gate.  I walked down the dock to the gate and saw an older gentleman with his dog.  He had not seen Kingsley so I figured the little idiot must have ran down towards the other end of the dock.  I got down to the end os the dock and didn't see him.  Now the funny thing about docks is that there is usually no place to hide.  I looked back and between a boat and a dock finger I saw a little dog with a bright orange lifejacket swimming in the water.  I ran over and grabbed the handle on the lifejacket and scooped him out.  He was shivering badly.  I ran back onto the boat and stripped off my shirt.  I held his little quivering body to my chest and sat down infront of the electric heater.  Slowly he stopped shivering.  

Gibson's Harbour

With the crisis averted we went about a few enjoyable days wondering around Gibsons and reading books.  On the Sunday I was to return I woke up feeling extremely unwell.  I had eaten some fish the night before that had been in the ice box for a while.  Thinking back it had been in there longer than it should have been.  After a failed attempt at finding a hospital (the closest one is in Sechelt I threw up  and felt better.  

The motor back to Vancouver was cold but uneventful.  After surviving a near dog drowning, and food poisoning I was ready to be home.

Winter sailing is well worth braving the elements.  Marinas are cheaper, there are way fewer craft out there.  The only trick is being able to heat your boat.  With a electric heater and a diesel heater I was able to keep the boat toasty.