W 10 kts. Freshening to 40 Kmh.

Overcast. Flood tide.

After weeks of being preoccupied by the sale of our house and move to Amphion I haven't been able to get out much. But that changed today when Tania granted me 4 hours liberty. Barnucka came over and chipped in. He drove me to Gyro Park and everything! T later texted me to stay out til' 5 if I wanted to!

I got to the boat with the intention of finally dealing with the mildew on the ceiling and throughout the head. I knew the forecast was calling for Westerly winds of 30 Kmh. but it was relatively calm when I arrived. (West 10 Kmh. at Discovery Island.) I figured I could just as easily bleach the ceiling while anchored off Chatham Island as I could on the pin. So, I started her up and headed to Chatham. It was flooding pretty good through Baynes Channel and there was a lot of slop but upon arriving at the anchorage, the West wind was blowing into the bay so I turned and crossed Baynes again, bound this time for the lee of Ten Mile Point.

One thing was immediately apparent. The wind was no longer 10 Kmh. Turns out it had freshened to a gale. West 38 Kmh. It blew through Baynes Channel like a funnel. T2 was heeling on bare poles! I continued past Baynes and snuck into the lee of Ten Mile Point for a while before turning around and entering Baynes again for the trip home.

Check out the video below. It was 'honkin' on Bobo'. She was heeling under bare poles and the spray exploded from her prow like silver wings against at blackened sky. Yes, I'm alive.

I returned to the pin with no difficulty. T2 performed flawlessly once again. Thanks girl. Shortly after arriving back on anchor, I received the text from Tania offering me more time off (til' 5:00!). That was followed by a phone call from Eric who was in town after surfing off Jordan River earlier this morning. He asked if he could come out to the boat so I picked him up and we had a nice little visit. Just the two of us.

Oh, prior to his arrival I did manage to bleach the ceiling and head. Looks great!! You know she's in really good shape. Even the bottom isn't too bad after two years without a pain job. I'm faring slightly less well. Felt like I burned my lungs from the fumes of the hot bleach water I was using to clean with.

Oh well, the main thing is she looks great.

Heading across Baynes Channel toward Chatham Island.

Yep, It's November. Check out the earmuffs.

Eric smokin' in the cockpit. (And letting all my fucking heat out...)