a week in the Gulf Islands!

it was nice to get off the dock and the weather was superb....cool nights and warm days...walks in the park and lots of beach combing....


...our sturdy craft got us there safely...

...the wildlife provided entertainment...

...stunning views of the Pacific North West....

...foraging at low tide....

...a feast for the eyes....

The passage home and some stats!

TOWNSVILLE TO HONIARA             1048 NM        8 days

HONIARA TO MAJURO                       1315 NM      15 days

MAJURO TO VICTORIA                      4693 NM       44 days

              TOTAL DISTANCE        7056 NM

The passage across the N Pacific was made in three legs from June 1st to August 30, 2012! 

"love, love me do"

 

"....it was 50 years ago today, Sgt Pepper taught the band to play...."

another sunset

we were often treated to spectacular skies as the sun went down....

Videos en route!

A few short video clips on the passage from Aus to Vancouver Island.....

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxWLB_X4lew

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItWWdbbtf-M

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWJeVhXtNbw

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KW7Yu7rzUg

 

 

Home again, Home again!

Sorry for the long delay in providing the closing chapter! 

 

Yes, we made it into Victoria Harbor that Thursday night on our 45th day from Majuro in the Marshall Islands, three months from Aus.  I have not calculated the distance yet but would estimate that last leg as approximately 4500nm and the overall passage as close to 7000nm. 

 

We were piped on to the customs dock in true scottish fashion, thanks Darroch and greeted by sign-waving fans.....:)...what a great feeling that was. 

 

So Toketie is tucked away into her slip in Maple Bay Marina for the moment.  After a few days of R and R, we began the tedious process of cleaning and sorting through the list of chores on board.  But it is beautiful fall weather with hot sunny days and cool nights so the work is going slowly and we are enjoying the peace and quiet.  It is wonderful to have Toketie back in BC and are looking forward to local cruising for the next while. 

 

More pics and info on the N Pacific passage to follow as I get them sorted......

A true Canadian Welcome!

Prospects were looking bleak...after close to 7000 nm from Aus, we found ourselves a day off the coast of BC, with no wind and no diesel!! But the Gods were kind and smiled down on us...a ship appeared on the AIS and on further investigation turned out to be the Canadian Coast Guard Science/Research vessel "JP Tully"....so I called them up and asked if they could spare a bit of fuel! Two hours later, 80 liters more diesel in the tanks and we are steaming under moonlight on a calm sea! And they gave us two containers of home made chocolate chip cookies!! Now isn't that a true Canadian welcome!
A few glitches with air in the fuel lines were resolved and hopefully solved the problem. Not to temp fate but with luck and continuing on our current course, we could be at the entrance to Juan de Fuca Straight before midnight on Wed...another 65 miles overnight could see us in the inner harbor sometime Thurs....keep your fingers, toes, ankles and arms crossed for us as we are ready to come home!!

Well, the trials were not over and the engine quit several times. Hours spent bleeding air out of the lines and transferring fuel proved futile but changing all four fuel filters seems to have done the trick. We are now motoring up Juan de Fuca Straight and could be in the inner harbor by midnight....Neptune willing!

end game!

The home stretch, as it were! And what a stretch! After the cold, the fog, the beating to windward, the calms and heavy winds, you would think Canada would be opening its arms to welcome us through our ordeal! But we are having to work for every mile, currently headwinds are making it difficult to close the coast. Having come through the squash zone between High and Low pressure systems, with only 260nm to the entrance of Juan de Fuca, the winds have gone light and right on the nose! If we had 60 more liters of diesel, we could motor all the way but we have to save what we have for the straight with its tides and busy shipping! Getting tired of pasta, rice, crackers....down to last can of chicken so maybe one more curry. Looking forward to fresh fruit, salads, anything green and some protein on the barbeque!! Soon we hope!

5 weeks...almost

34 days from Majuro in the Marshall Islands! About 3500nm under the keel on this leg so far and exposed to a bit of everything from calms to surfing downwind in 40 knots winds. A wave found its way into the cockpit and took out the fridge, not a great loss at this stage as we were down to the last eggs and one onion! The UHT milk for our coffee or tea seems to keep in a sealed bag and the cheese is not mouldy yet! Morale is high, though we are both tired and look forward to the warmth of the down blanket after our four hour watch. Sail changes are constant and sap our energy, but we are moving steadily towards the coast, with 1100nm to the Swiftsure Bank. Still hoping to make the Juan de Fuca Straight by the end of August though a High Pressure system is forming ahead of us which may push us further N or leave us without wind so it is too soon to predict a landfall. Motoring through the night at the moment in very light winds with the sound of Willie Nelson to remind us of the world that awaits us. Had HF contact with 'Daydream' out of Rebecca Spit the other night, was nice to hear familiar voices and envied them their warm summer evening sipping wine at a secure anchorage!

week 4

as the 4th week draws to a close, we find Toketie with 1800 nm to the Swiftsure Bank! we dug out the down duvets as the nights are cold now, refreshing after years in the tropics! have had strong winds for many days as three Lows compete with several Highs for territory, we being in the middle of it all! but we are going the right direction, visited by several of what appeared to be Minkie Whales who surface nearby and make a circuit around us before continuing their migration NW!

day 22

finally we are pointing home! had to go far N to get around a High and now being squeezed from N by a Low but at last going E!! need a bit of wind now!

week 3

it has been eventful! lots of great sailing and a giant mahi-mahi! been feasting on fish for days! caught in large High Pressure system though and being pushed N, now motoring in light air to try to get over it to turn E. visited by pod of killer whales and large family of dolphins, crossing shipping lanes, cooler at night now, have to put a shirt on!

week 2

was going great, a few scary lightning nights but the tropics are behind us now and the air is cooling, furler line broke in the night, now limping along under storm jib, have replaced line but waiting for less wind to hoist jib again, the curry was good though!

Wed July 25 GMT

One week since we left on this 3rd and final leg of the passage from Aus to Victoria. Whatever prayers you loyal fans are offering, keep it up! At the risk of saying it (touch wood), this leg has been near idyllic so far! Constant steady tradewinds in the 10-20 kt range, close reaching and seas not too lumpy. Having my son on board is wonderful! Not only does he 'hand, reef and steer' but he knows how to trim sails almost as well as his old man :) Not to mention good company with stimulating conversation. We are even into cooking! Forecast is good at this point for the next few days. Thanx for the wx routing 'Argonaut'!! (of course the winds just died out and we are motoring to find more)

underway!

spent a peaceful night at a small island, snorkeled over fuselage of plane and helicopter, now heading for the pass and N.....very light wind but no rain at the moment...

The long and winding road!

Clearing customs today and spending a night at a nearby island preparing for early departure tomorrow!  The very long last leg back to Victoria....looking forward to that Juan de Fuca Straight......

Toketie preparing to depart!

Well, my son finally arrived after a missed connection, being bumped, and a cancelled flight...6 days in Hawaii....thanks United...you are so customer service oriented...all those nice people did not mind a bit having their lives turned upside down because one of your pilots had a cold or hangover or whatever!!

Anyway, Toketie is fueled and hopefully watered today, though the heavy downpour last night would have filled the tanks pretty quick if only....hope to clear out in a day or so and head N for the long leg home....Inshallaw!

marooned in Majuro!

Well, my crew member has decided not to continue the adventure.  Not a big surprise as this was a particularly tough passage and the lifestyle is certainly not for everyone.  My son arrives in a couple of days and I have a list of repairs to do on the boat and no facilities, resources or materials available here to carry them out!  Have connected with a handful of local cruisers though and will see what we can manage.  Not sure at this point what the future holds!!

Toketie in Majuro!

Well, we made it! This was a very tough passage! Took 17 days from Honiara, 1200 miles, some of it hove to in rough winds and high seas, last two days beating into 20-25 kt winds and seas to make the pass in Majuro and running on diesel fumes through the pass and 12 miles up the lagoon to tie up to mooring ball after midnight. But it is a friendly place, big fishing tournament on today so national holiday, of course that meant overtime rates to have customs and immigration come down! Repairs to do, laundry to do, need a shower and a cold beer!

truckin'

motoring toward Majuro! front or trough earlier delayed us for hours with heavy rain and 25kt winds...on the nose of course! main halyard jammed and had to cut it to lower mainsail...100 miles to go! now thursday, 30 miles to go, fighting strong headwinds, squalls, currents..enough fuel for the pass only...if we get to it!