Perfection Continued

July 18, 2008 Cowichan, BC

Well, almost! I am beginning to see the difference between cruising and simply sailing for the joy of sailing. Two months ago, if asked honestly which I felt more comfortable and/or preferred, I would have said motoring – sailing if the wind was around 10-15 knots. Now I am finding that with cruising to reach a destination and taking into consideration all factors: passing rapids, using slack currents to one’s advantage, opposing tides puts time constraints on the sailor. Motoring or motor sailing is the mode we most often use. Yesterday we had one of those spectacular mornings when there was a light wind varying 10-12 knots, and I really wanted to sail. The water transformed itself to Eisenberg Ice rhinestones with flecks of cerulean blue. It was so vibrant, so glorious and I wanted to savor the moment! Two months has given me a chance to learn the basic sailing fundamentals and gain confidence in myself. The Doyle Stackpack along with the powered main winch enables easy deployment of the main and letting it down. The phenomenal number of halyards and sheets I’ve learned to ignore, they are for racing. Today I wanted so badly not to rush but to “play” with the wind and simply sail for sailing’s sake!
We were happy leaving Silva Bay Marina where we had felt captive due to strong winds and tight moorage that kept us at the dock an extra day. Should we need to stop in the vicinity in the future, we definitely will go on to Page’s Marina for a night.

While on watch for obstacles after leaving Gabriola Passage, I noted two crab pots off the starboard side at 1 o‘clock. About 100 yards beyond us, the sailboat that left the dock minutes before us did not notice these crab pots, and went right over one snarling the crab pot’s line into the prop. Perhaps it was due to having the jib up, creating a blind spot. Or, maybe the sparkling effect of the sun on the water hid the danger. Either way, the damage was done. We stopped to offer assistance as they were lowering their dinghy off the bow. The pot’s buoy was snug against the portside stern. They were hoping that simply cutting the crab pot line would allow the propeller to free itself of the line and said for us to continue on. What a sinking feeling that must be, not knowing how compromised the use of the engine is. They were fortunate that it was not within a narrow passage, or home to rocky shoals or rapids, but an open expanse of water near Pirate’s Cove. Yesterday’s lesson at another’s expense gave value to looking harder at the surface of the water, questioning everything in the waves.

We arrived at Chemainus, BC and were offered help docking by Harmon Bootsma, the marina’s manager. He is well-spoken of in Waggoner’s Cruising Guide. He was no longer sporting a straw hat that he was renowned to wear. Similar to the affect sun has on mainsails; too many seasons of summer’s sun may have caused it to deteriorate. He cheerfully gave us tips of places to go, things to do and being a racer, enjoyed talking to Pat about the racing attributes of Liberte’. The concrete docks are new, and decently spaced. The heavy docks prevented wash from the nearby ferry’s activity from rocking the boats within the marina. The washrooms are clean and secure. The smell of freshly cut lumber hung in the air in a most pleasant way as we walked about the town. A large lumber yard is adjacent to the marina. Many a skipper might be hesitant to use the marina, when they see the large log booms beyond the breakwater; fearing the hassle of fighting a maze of obstacles. This was not evident during our stay. This marina will be used on our next trip north.

We had fun looking for the world famous murals painted on the majority of buildings; by just following the yellow footsteps that meander through the town. Old bicycles were recycled and incorporated in a couple of the scenes most effectively. Horse drawn carts and buggies were available for tourists to clip-clop their way around the town to see the same paintings, only they were told the stories and history of Chemainus.

It did not take us long to discover a perfect hangout -a used bookstore and coffee shop! Here the woman behind the counter offered us insight to the local live theater, Chemainus Theater Festival. With her directions we found the theater at the other end of town, bypassing many ice cream parlors, a few more coffee shops, bakeries, shops and restaurants that had offerings for the locals as well as tourists. We bought tickets for the 8 PM performance, the story of Joan of Arc, “Saint Joan”, by George Bernard Shaw was the performance for the evening. The presentation was done in a contemporary format; simple costumes to depict the era, minimal props and the use of lighting to represent location (i.e. inside a church) or an action, (burning at the stake). The rest was left to the actors and actress to draw the audience into the story. They did just that. We will return to Chemainus whenever we take a cruise north so we can attend another performance.

This morning the water’s appearance was darker and the wind felt cooler as we continued our journey southbound to Cowichan Bay. Looking back at one point, dark clouds dropped down over the higher hills of Vancouver Island giving the perception that rain could be eminent, for them. Salt Spring Island, on our portside, had a few big white clouds with a bright blue sky. Pat’s plan was to hit the Sansum Narrows at slack current. He remembers going through with the water running 4-5 knots many years ago. He said he felt like he was going downhill. To complicate this, fishermen dangling their lines gave an added dimension of excitement. His planning paid off and we just had about 1 knot working against us; .5 due to wind on our nose and .5 due to the current. Once around Separation Point, we traversed Cowichan Bay to Fisherman’s Wharf Marina. Liberte’ looks like a princess among the well used fishing vessels. They are in the process of re-doing and adding to the marina yet they offer all the amenities, laundry, showers electrical and water. All they are clean and it is quiet.

We took a leisurely walk along the main street that follows the shoreline. Whenever you can look between buildings your line of sight is filled with other marinas. It is hard to determine where one ends and the next begins. Boats of every description are worked tightly together. We have talked about it and figured that it takes quite a bit of planning and many skippers to move a boat out in most instances. It is like a puzzle similar to a rubrics cube. Rather than matching colors you have to avoid extending anchors, protruding struts and poles, tenders attached loosely all add dimension to re-positioning. It will take a third party to help us leave in a couple of days, but we will work that problem at that time. Tomorrow we are planning on taking a local bus to the town of Duncan.

Talking to the locals; it took half a dozen, to plan where to catch the bus and get a time schedule. I went online and learned that Duncan is hosting Khowutzun Warmland Inter-tribal Pow Wow, a Bluegrass Festival, Free vineyard tours and tastings, a farmers’ market, and an art show. Besides all these offerings we were heading over there to look at the totem poles that are placed throughout the town. I do believe we will be busy exploring inland tomorrow. If you don’t hear from me within a week, you know that I got lost! That shouldn’t happen because I have my Captain with me and he is great with navigating.