Sidney Spit With No Engine
Here's the take-away from this entry; "Don't sail off your mooring unless you're confident you can sail back on at some point." With that said, I blissfully begin my cruise to Sidney Spit with no engine.
Don't sail off your mooring unless you're confident you can sail back on at some point.
I arrived on T2 after work, under sunny skies, with a steady Southwest wind blowing 10 - 15 Kts., and the tide in full flood. After loading the fridge and rigging for sail, I majestically slipped my mooring and sailed out of Cadboro Bay, through Banes Channel and North up Haro Straight.
I was enjoying a refreshing broad reach, until the wind began to fade just off D'Arcy Island. Once my speed fell to below 2 Kts, I thought I'd drop the jib and motor the rest of the way. And so, for the first time this cruise, I started the mighty Yanmar and that's when I noticed there was no water coming out of the exhaust. Not wanting to overheat the engine, I shut it down and went below to lift the engine compartment lid. I was met with exhaust smoke, which obviously had not exited via the pipe. So I raised the jib again and hoped the wind would continue to take me to Sidney Spit with no engine.
It did, and I dropped anchor under sail. My first time doing that. I anchored way out. I was still sheltered from the South but clear of other boats. Once I had deployed the anchor and ensured I was secure, I had another look at the engine. I checked the water intake and the water filter. Both fine. So I'm thinking the problem is most likely the water pump, although I don't understand why the exhaust was was not exiting. So there may be some kind of blockage. Either way, I don't have the tools to continue.
So, in a bid to calm my mind and enjoy the soothing ambiance of a warming fire in my wood burning stove, I lit an 'Eco-log'. It wasn't long before I became painfully aware that there was also a blockage in my stove pipe. The cabin was full of smoke to the point where I had to abandon the cabin until it cleared. It was so bad, I worried someone would call the coast guard.
The wind shifted slightly and blew into the anchorage from the West, resulting in an uncomfortable night with not much sleep. Along with being knocked about all night, my mind was racing with what to do about the engine. I had also made plans to pick up Gina in Sidney the next morning in Skully, my inflatable tender. So, should that still happen? Should she take the passenger ferry to the Island instead? And what about Sunday? Would she come back with me? What if there was no wind? How would I get Trouper 2 back to Cadboro Bay?! To quote Kansas; "The Answer my friend, is blowing in the wind". Well that's actually only part of the answer. Like it has for hundreds of years, it all comes down to time and tide and wind.
It all comes down to time and tide and wind
I was awake at midnight, then 2. When I finally got up, it was to a calmer sea as the wind had once again shifted to the Southwest. I dressed and went to Sidney in Skully, where I enjoyed a Serious Coffee on Beacon at 4th. Gina arrived and, after parking her car, we walked to Port of Sidney and were soon aboard Skully for the somewhat lumpy ride back to Sidney Spit. It was great to have Gina's company.
Once Gina had adjusted to life at sea, I led a shore party and we walked the forest trail. There were signs posted warning of cougars in the area. I'm surprised they could get away with that wording in this day and age. We didn't see any cougars anyway. There were only a dozen or so campsites occupied by Kayakers and ferry passengers in the Federal Park. After our morning walk we returned to Trouper 2 and enjoyed a lovely lunch of pinwheel sandwiches, vegetables and olives. Yum.
After lunch I dropped the crab trap with the left-over roasted chicken carcass I had bought from Save-On Foods earlier in the week. I thought we'd either catch our limit or none. The latter proved correct. (Yes, I complained to Save-On. I spent twelve bucks on that chicken.) We spent the afternoon on the beach playing 'name that song' and people watching. After several hours we returned to the boat. I cleaned the chimney in preparation for another go at a fire. We ravenously devoured a barb-b-que'd, Cedar Plank Salmon. It was served with a Caesar Salad and a refreshing rose'.
After a warming fire, a rousing card game or two, and some late-night star gazing (I saw a shooting star with a sparkling tail.) it was time to turn in. Here's hoping tomorrow brings enough wind to get home.
Sidney Spit With No Engine
