I returned from a fun winter back in Newfoundland and am excited to undertake more adventures onboard of Alleluia.  I touched down in Vancouver and hung out with a couple of friends downtown for a few days before heading over to North Vancouver to see how Alleluia made out after the long winter.  Things were pretty much as I had left them but there was a bit of mould and mildew growth which formed during the cold, wet months.  After a few weeks of cleaning, organizing and provisioning Alleluia was looking ready for another summer of sailing.

I had Alleluia hauled out at the marina and Dad and Mom flew over to give me a hand cleaning and polishing the hull.  We had a nice few days and when we were finished she looked like a new boat, well the hull did anyway…

I felt a bit rusty so spent a few weeks sailing around Howe Sound and Southern Georgia Straight to get my sea legs back in shape.  This year I had plans to venture further north and began to make plans for a trip to Desolation Sound.  A girlfriend flew over from Newfoundland to meet up with me and we provisioned the boat for our trip north.  We set sail from North Vancouver and sailed up the coast for a couple of days, past Powell River and spent the night at Savary Island.  We headed to Desolation Sound the following day.

Desolation Sound is a remarkable place that feels untouched and it’s serenity and vast beauty connects you to the earth.  When you sail into the mouth of the Sound it feels as if you are embarking on an adventure that will change you forever.  We stayed at many beautiful anchorages, visited large waterfalls and hiked ancient trails.

After a couple of weeks it was time for a crew change so we flew back to Vancouver in a float plane and I picked up my father from the airport and we flew back to Desolation Sound.

Dad and I sailed around Desolation Sound for a week or so and then headed towards Vancouver Island.  We spent the night in Campbell River and sailed down to Denman Island and Hornby Island.  Dad grew up around boats his whole life but last year was the first time he had had sailed and he was a little apprehensive about the whole thing.  He didn’t really like his lack of control and how the boat tipped when the sails filled.

We spent a few nights in Tribune Bay and planned to cross over to Lasqueti Island on the third morning.  We awoke to a sunny but breezy morning with a southwest wind.  I checked the weather and it was calling for 25-30 knot SW winds but the passage across the straight was only 8 NM and with the wind to our back it would make for a quick exhilarating crossing.  Right?  Boy, did I underestimate the seas…  It was only after we were out of Tribune Bay that I realized what a ride it would be.  There were large rolling waves behind us and they kept getting bigger the farther we got across.  Because of my inexperience I was flying full sails and had them reefed in tight…  The boat was heeled over on her side and water was spilling in over the gunnels.  The strong weather helm was trying to turn the boat and I gripped the tiller with both hands as it bent under the strain…  Dad wasn’t doing well and was white in the face as we roared across the straight out of control.  Finally I let the main out a little and the boat straightened up but the rollers kept building behind us.  We would look back and the little row boat that I was towing was above us on the edge of a large wave and we’d be surrounded by walls of water.  And a few seconds later we felt like we were looking down on the world as the wave passed under us.

We rounded a light beacon at the north end of Lasqueti Island and entered Sabine Channel and, as quickly as we found ourselves in the middle of huge turmoil, we now found ourselves in calm water!  There were important lessons learned that day…  Glad I got to share it with dad…

We sailed back to Vancouver and dad caught a flight back home to Newfoundland.  It was an eventful trip which will always be remembered…