Port Sidney to Tugboat Island

Saturday, December 19, 2020

Karalee in the Cockpit of Sea Bird as we Leave Sidney

The morning marine forecast had strong, but manageable winds. We left in 5 knots of wind fifteen minutes after sunrise. A challenge of winter travel is managing the short daylight hours if you want to travel in daylight (we did).

We got off the dock smoothly and motored out the channel. The previous day a Catalina 28 had sunk along the breakwater. When we looked the previous day, the mast of the Catalina 28 stretched half way across the entrance to Port Sidney. As we left Port Sidney, we could see the dinghy marking where the sunken boat was located. There was no sign of the mast. We assumed it was still lying just under water across the channel and hugged the starboard side as close as we dared.

Having made it out of Port Sidney successfully, we started on our route. It took us to Salt Spring Island, then along Prevost Island, before rounding Nose Point on Salt Spring Island. Then it was a long trip up Trincomali Channel. We tried sailing, but the wind was dead downwind. We couldn't seem to get a sail combination that gave us enough speed. As we had to enter Gabriola Passage exactly at slack tide, we had to keep our speed up to arrive at time.

We enterred Gabriola Passage right at slack tide, exactly as we planned. Once we were through the wind and waves increased dramatically. Thankfully, we didn't have too far to go to Silva Bay where we tied to the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club Tugboat Island outstation. We arrived only forty minutes before sunset. Then it was time to turn on the heat, snuggle in the main cabin, and make dinner before going to bed early. It had been a big day (39 NM) and we were asleep early as Sea Bird gently rocked us to sleep.

View of the Instruments On Board Sea Bird