Pacific Grace - Trip 1 Summer 2018

Day 1 A note from the gateway to Desolation Sound after a full first two days of this trip, which is only just beginning. Day one saw us leave the dock shortly after 1400 and within the first hour we had orcas feeding right beside us, porpoises chasing us and people settling in to the comfortable places around the deck. Small conversations turned into longer talks - which seemed to move very quickly from friendly introductions to jubilant laughter - and have since grown closer after a full day engaged in life onboard.

 

Day one was beautiful but unfortunately flat calm and we opted to make use of the longer days and decent weather to push north towards Nanaimo. A knots lesson soon had all hands gathered together around crew members with looks moving from confusion to relief as one by one trainees mastered each knot. After traveling through Active Pass we motored north to an anchorage in the Flat Top Islands, arriving just in time for the sun to set and anchor watch to take its first crack at a night on deck. Our plan was to lay and wait for the Southeast wind, forecast for early the next morning, and make use of it on the following section of our northerly run rather than motoring in the flat calm night.

Day 2 We got underway just as morning watch came on deck for cleanup, and as decks were scrubbed and brass polished we headed out into the Strait of Georgia in search of wind. Shortly after breakfast dishes finished up we set sail in a light following breeze with no grand expectations of what the day might hold, but enjoying the quietness and motion that sailing brings. As we travelled up into Malaspina Strait the wind continued to build and we soon found ourselves doing between 6 and 9 knots as all hands helped to set, lower, gybe and steer. Individuals onboard continued to blossom today as different parts of peoples lives come out in conversations and interactions everywhere from the wheel, to the galley, to the bowsprit. Shortly after 1900 this evening we dropped anchor on the north side of Savary Island beside our friends on the Swift and enjoyed a relaxed sunny evening of mug-up games, singing and treats. All are well and looking forward to whatever tomorrow may bring.

Day 3
( Day 3 &4 logs generously composed by one of our trainees, Myra Kobasiuk)

The day begun akin to the many before and to follow. Port watch took up their cloths, scrubbers, and firehoses to bathe the ship and prepare her for the hours of sailing yet to come. Heading away from Savary Island and towards her crew’s first off-boat expedition was a quick journey that carried her upwards of 6 knots. Finally, she anchored alongside Teakerne Arm and the crew launched the zodiac towards the shore.They journeyed by groups of nine or so towards the dock that hung from the land mass by a long metal branch, eventually reuniting to make the short trek towards Teakerne’s prized Cassel Lake. Joyful laughter and the splashing of fresh water echoed throughout the watery heart enclosed by tall mountains. Fun and good hygiene was had by all as the lake washed away the musk gathered throughout the crew’s travels; though the lake wasn’t the only aquatic force used to cleanse oneself. Once the chilly lake water had satisfied the crew’s desire to swim, they returned to the dock, to let the zodiac carry them to their second destination that day.

Some still wrapped in their towels from the lake, the Grace’s crew stepped over the sharpened oyster shells towards the roaring waterfalls that misted up water around them. Though not all the members chose to brave the forceful pounding of the falls, those who did found themselves rewarded with what up until now had been only rumoured in hushed tones: a shower. Returning to their home upon the Grace’s deck, they organized a meeting with her sister ship, the Pacific Swift. Though careful maneuvers and well-placed anchors, they found themselves hull to hull, tied and rafted together as one. It was the birth of a new compound ship which now held nearly eighty crew members, one herby known as the Pacific Gift. This new creation’s crew then joined together where much fun was had as they too fused the beginnings of their once separate mug ups. Games were played and songs were sung at volumes that rivaled even the most violent of thunderstorms, but eventually, they realized the difficulty that would come about if they were to bring over the former Swift’s set of mugs over to the previous Grace’s hold, and the crew split back to their home ships, closing the night with echoes of the joy that came from the union of Salts’ two iconic tall ships.

Day 4

As morning rose, the Pacific Gift was forced to split as navigating them through the waters would prove challenging and the Grace and Swift had different destinations in mind. The Grace began sailing towards Tenedos Bay. With her anchor raised and deck swabbed by Starboard watch, she made quick time, the crew teaching one another as she continued on her way, eventually stopping in what would be the spot of the second on-shore expedition.

 

Rather than the zodiac, the dories where launched and each watch took charge of navigating one of the infamously tippy row-boats. They made their way to the shore in good time and began another trek towards Unwin Lake. In its waters, a battle of sub-epic proportions spawned forth as floating logs were tugged away from the shore to serve their noble purpose in boats to be rammed against each-other until one group was proven victorious. Though the resolve and desire for victory was quickly dissipated into squealing terror as Braedon, snake charmer for a day, made his way towards them, armed with his largest specimen. Though the snake was quick to flee the scene, finding refuge in a log far away, the damage was done.

Returning to the boat, the dories were loaded up one by one, though the last encountered a problem and filled with water, still floating just a centimeter under the waves. While most of the watch officers worked hard to empty the boat of water, failing many times before finding success, some of the other crew members, still in their swimwear, took the opportunity to leap from the Grace into the salty seas, swimming happily among the waves. Eventually the entire crew reconvened on deck and shared a fine dinner as a single unit, undivided by watch groups.

 

Day 5 A slow start to our morning in Tenedos Bay saw us taking time for an intermediate tides lesson as well as junior rules of the road. We enjoyed the calm quiet of our teacup of an anchorage next to the steep cliffs that rise out of the ocean as long as we could before weighing anchor and making our way south to Savary Island for the low tide in the afternoon. Meandering our way through the Copeland Islands and between patches of light air and flat calm, we dropped anchor in Keefer Bay where the dories were launched (much to the chagrin of some trainees). The long stretches of sandy beach proved worth the effort and the afternoon was spent playing sticks, swimming and wandering the driftwood in the sun before returning to boat for dinner. The boat as a whole has a wonderfully inclusive atmosphere about it this week which has continued to grow as the days go by. All of the trainees clump together amidships during one sitter meals and every person has a unique place to fill in the group.

Day 6

After a breakfast of pancakes made on the griddle and enjoyed on deck I the sun we weighed anchor and headed south, bound for a destination of Hornby Island with the hope of some wind to carry us there. Unfortunately the wind dont materialize but we enjoyed a lovey show of several humpbacks feeding, breaching and surfacing on the run. Arriving in Tribune Bay, the juniors completed their test and the intermediates knocked off another section of lessons before a one sitter dinner. Tomorrow is boat Sunday and as such, we are planning to sleep in and enjoy the beach before continuing south in search of wind and more adventures. It is well past bedtime now but gales of laughter are still echoing from up forward and the attempts at moving trainees towards their bunks are still plentiful and futile.

Day 7

After a much anticipated sleep in by all this morning, we headed to the beach at Tribune Bay. The sky was slightly overcast which was a welcome relief from the blazing sun of Desolation Sound. Dories were loaded and began the long row to the beach. Upon arrival, a lively game of frisbee ensued followed by a trip to the store to stock up on various sugary treats, in case there were not enough sugar filled deserts on board...

Arriving back at the boat, we made a collective decision to make use of the building northwest wind and we quickly weighed anchor and headed south into the strait. Hoisting four lowers and a fisherman staysail we were soon clipping along at 6 knots with a lovely following breeze. All hands were on deck enjoying the motion and quickly jumping to lines as they needed to be tended. To top it all off the cooks had been concocting a delicious meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes, roasted veggies and Yorkshire pudding in honour of boat Sunday which was enjoyed by all on deck, judging by their prone positions and groans of contentment.

We continued southward under sail until, as the sun began to set, the wind fell light and we lowered sail before proceeding through Gabriola pass at dusk. We motored down inside the gulf islands into the night before dropping anchor early in the morning on the north side of Prevost Island.

Day 8

Today was a full day of beating southwards under sail as we made our way to within shooting distance of Victoria. Eventually the wind fell light and we were forced to set the iron jib to make any head way. Motoring south to Sidney Island afforded the Intermediates time to review and write their test while the juniors piloted the ship to its anchorage for the evening. After dinner we had a short Sunday service and some great discussion amongst the whole boat afterwards before heading to bed for some much needed sleep.

Day 9

Our last full day on board has proven to not be a slow one as we still find more things to do, places to explore and wind to sail in. This morning we moved south to D’Arcy Island to go explore the beaches, trails and remnants of the old leaper colony which existed there until 1924. D’Arcy is a quintessential gulf island with its rocky beaches and thin underbrush interspersed with fir, oak and arbutus trees, quite different than anything we have seen so far on this trip.

After returning to the Grace for lunch, we weighed anchor and our lucky wind streak seemed to hold strong so we set almost all sail and began beating south towards the Chatham Islands reaching up to 8 knots at various times. The Swift was also taking advantage of the conditions and we had a chance to do some sailing right close together as we both worked upwind toward our anchorage. Beating all the way down, we were able to anchor under sail in time for a delicious dinner of butter chicken.

As I write this, multiple different acts are being prepared for a talent show tonight including song and dance routines, piano pieces, Christmas carols and wild human phenomenon, who knows what will come out on the stage.