Irish Goodbye

Elliott Bay Marina to Port Townsend 

Gorge Harbor is a great marina with all amenities. Stayed a second night. Topped up port and starboard fuel tanks (haven’t used center since filling last month) with 230 liters/50.5 gallons of diesel. Added fuel stabilizer to center and starboard tanks. Topped up propane. Easy motor to Prideaux Haven. Beautiful anchorage. Met up with Darryl, Caroline, Joe and Emily (and Priscilla the bulldog) on Montecristo. Picked up Piper from Kenmore air at Refuge Cove on 7/12 using Darryl’s Boston whaler. 

Gorge Harbor to Prideaux Haven

Fantastic afternoon motor. Sun again! At least until the very end. Calm conditions. Saw orcas and seals. Gorge Harbor is awesome. Narrow cut entrance to the bay. Redeemed myself with a very nice touch down port side-to. Beautiful marina/“resort”/campground. Super clean, friendly staff, great amenities. Looking forward to the hot tub and live music.  

Savary Island to Gorge Harbor

Rain again this morning. Woke to the wind shifting to WNW and worried about the shallow water on the now lee shore behind. Departed earlier than planned but that allowed for a great stop on Savary Island. One of the few sand vs rock islands. Anchored probably too conservatively far offshore but safe and the electric dinghy did the trick. Fantastic walk/hike around the island as the weather cleared. Super cute general store had wasabi, need to get fishing! Hiked beach to beach at low tide, then on to Gorge Harbor. 

Blubber Bay to Savary island

Rainy day. Turned very windy on the Strait in the afternoon. Docking debacle at Beach Gardens with the wind and narrow fairway. Extracted myself and sailed across to Blubber Bay on the north end of Texada island. Safe anchorage but not scenic with the huge gravel operation and BC Ferries. Had it to myself and it got the job done. 

Ballet Bay to Blubber Bay

First solo sail of the big trip! Motor that is, beautiful calm day. Up the inlet to Sechelt Rapids. Negotiated with no issue. Then past Backeddy and on to Ballet Bay. Well planned transit through Telescope Passage. Waggoner’s, internet, google satellite and polarized glasses. Lots of rocks. Same with north entrance to Ballet Bay. Good holding with lots of company. No issues solo anchoring. Hot! Went for a swim and the water was amazing. Sunset kayak. 

Sechelt to Ballet Bay

Easy trip down from Princess Louisa yesterday. No problem with Malibu. Docked into current at Backeddy without issue. Dinner at the Pub. 
Planned departure today to run Sechelt Rapids. Well planned, no issues. Beautiful run down the inlet to Sechelt. Farewell to Christy, back to Seattle via float plane.  

Backeddy Marina to Sechelt

Stayed in PL for the 4th. Great hike up to the Trappers’s cabin. Amazing views! Early birthday dinner for Christy. 

Princess Louisa to Backeddy Marina

Amazing downwind sailing up the inlet to Malibu Rapids and Princess Louisa. Sailed with just headsails, jib poled out. Malibu rapids were well planned and easy. Not much water change so went through early. Picked up a mooring ball in front of personal waterfall with a great view of the main waterfall (and all the many others). PL absolutely lives up to the hype. 

Green Bay to Princess Louisa

Early sunny departure from Vancouver. Monitor Ch 12 for Harbour traffic. No issue with comms on 16. Nice downwind sailing. Experimented with sail configurations. Green Bay was a snug anchorage. Windlass jammed deploying but anchor set, issue resolved. 

Coal Harbour Vancouver to Green Bay

Early start from Sucia across the Strait of Georgia. All motoring. Little wind early and then wind from NW. lots of commercial traffic especially around Tsawwassen. More current against than expected. More planning with tide/current. Under the Lion’s Gate bridge to Coal Harbour downtown Vancouver. Farewell dinner with Hakan at Chop steakhouse. 

Christian McLaughlin