2010 Trip 1 - Pacific Grace

Our office has been in regular contact with Captain David and the voyage is going very well. They are enjoying the warm weather and warm waters of Desolation Sound. Around dinner time last night David said they had all sails up except for "the fisherman." I could tell they had their hands full of sails and they promised to send a trip log as soon as they have time, at which point we will attempt to post it. In the mean time we encourage you to read the posting(s) on the Pacific Swift page (the two ship´s companies are sharing many of the same experiences). Our "sat phone to website" uplink is having some technical difficulties and we are doing our best to overcome them. We apologize that there have not been the frequent updates (every day or two) that we normally provide. We have a professional cinematographer aboard Pacific Grace this week (a rare occurrence!) filming content for a new SALTS promotional video, which we´ll gladly make available to you when it is finished late this year (November or December) so you can catch up on some of the trip highlights you missed. It will be a 7-8 minute promo video for all of SALTS programs, likely with a few minutes of footage from this trip.

Loren (executive director)
director [at] salts [dot] ca
250.383.6811

The following are the logs from the past 5 days.

Day 1
Slipped lines in fine weather at 14:00 and ran east around Trial Island, through Baynes Channel, and headed north up Haro Strait.  First lessons while running; all hands getting to know each other.  Ran under power through dinner; left Active Pass and Gossip Shoal behind at 18:00 and set the deck up for a short night run to Vancouver.  An unexpectedly intense pink sunset exploded in the NW as the sun dipped below the horizon, lighting up horizontal ribbons of cloud in a wide arc of purple grey sky.  We ran into Vancouver Harbour between anchored deep-sea freighters and the lights along the Spanish Banks. Dropped the hook in English Bay off Kitsilano at 23:30, with the great display of city lights as our backdrop.

Day 2
09:30 weighed anchor and set all sail except the fore tops´l in 6 knots of easterly wind.  Reached up and down in front of Stanley park, tacking just shy of the West Vancouver shoreline.  Videographer David Vandas boards at 12:45.  Sailed west out of English Bay; lowered sail at 14:10.  Lessons in the afternoon.  Set 4 lowers off White Islets. Ran into Malsapina Strait at dusk and had a wonderful night sail north with a following breeze all the way to Savary Island.

Day 3
Dropped sail after breakfast off Major Island and motored north into Desolation Sound.  Anchored in deep water off Cassel Falls in Teakerne Arm.  Short hike up to the lake for a swim, followed by showers in Cassel Falls.  David Vandas is aboard to shoot video for a promotional video about SALTS.  He had quickly fit in as a member of the crew. The Pacific Swift joined us for games and mug up--the hold of the Grace very full with both crews below for singing.  Set prawn traps before nightfall.

Day 4
Pulled the prawn traps (a modest catch) and weighed anchor at 09:50.  Set sail in 18 knots of wind from the NW. Set sail in Lewis Channel heading south to round West Redonda Island and head up to Roscoe Bay.  Three miles off our starboard bow, we spied the lovely schooner Alcyone coming out of Refuge Cove, with our friends Sugar, Leslie and Darby on board.  Anchored with Alcyone in Roscoe Bay, launched the dories, rowed west to the end of the long narrow bay and hiked into Black Lake for another swim.  The crew and six trainees from Alcyone soon followed, and we had a nice swim and visit together.

Day 5
After breakfast, David interviewed trainees on the rocks of Roscoe Bay with the Grace in the background. We finished Junior lessons (exams will likely be tomorrow), and then set all seven sails in a light breeze in Waddington Channel--good film footage!  Another spectacular sunset: orange, cerulean blue and ultramarine in the northwest above fading layers of indigo mountains; mauves and soft purples in the southeast sky. Anchored for the night off Savary Island.

Day 6
Awoke to a cloudless sky in our Savary Island anchorage, with the Swift anchored a few cables away.  Went ashore and hiked across the island to the south side for a terrific game of sticks on the beach, folled by a swim.  Skipper and Zak pulled the prawn traps (a slightly better catch this time); lunch back on the boat and we weighed anchor at 12:45.  Junior review and intermediate lesson underway, followed by Junior exams.  Crew and trainees then began preparations for a paella dinner on the boat (we now have a propane burner we can use on deck for occasions when we cannot light a fire on the beach). Anchored in Tribune Bay just as we started to cook, with many trainees helping. The Swift rafted up after dinner for games and another shared mug-up. A fine day.

The following are the logs from the past 3 days.
Day 7
After a "blue moon" breakfast (sleep in) we were off to the expansive sandy beach at Tribune Bay, Hornby Island, where we played out our own version of the FIFA World Cup, those who sleep on the starboard side of the ship taking on those who sleep on the port side. The port side prevaled three - nill. Once back at the ship we motored to the North end of Lasqueti Island and a lovely anchorage amongst the Fegen Islands. During our "Sunday service" (day 7 of each trip) we were treated to yet another beautiful sunset.
Day 8
After breakfast we weighed anchor and headed south down Sabine Channel in the hopes of finding some Northwesterly wind in the Strait of Georgia. The "weather man" did not disapoint as we were able to set all sail just off Windy Bay on Lasqueti Island. During our reach down the strait we were able to make speeds in excess of 10kts. Four miles North of Active Pass the wind fell light so we dropped sail and headed forour  anchorage in Ellen Bay on Prevost Island. During the sail all testing was completed with many of the trainees doing very well.
Day 9
After another wonderful breakfast (Erin and Kayla have worked very hard at treating us well!) we were once again able to set all sail but by lunch had to drop due to a large flood tide. Once the sails were down we were able to Zodiac David over to the Swift so he could get some film footage of their vessel from the deck. Travelling in company with the Swift we were witnesses to a spectacular whale show off of Lime Kiln light on San Juan Island - the "icing on the cake" to what has been a fantastic voyage. Next we set sail and were able to tack our way through Baynes Channel - both the Swift and Grace making for a great sight for "Cameraman Dave" as he and Tristan zipped around both ships in the Zodiac. Our evening was topped off with the traditional "Talent Show" with both trainees and crew participation.
Day 10
Once again we are treated with a morning full of sunshine as the trainees and crew clean the ship and pack their bags in anticipation of our arrival in Victoria. See you all soon!