Guys cruise to Montague Harbour
Me, Paul, Tom and Kevin at Montague Harbour
With the arrival of Tom and Kevin at Tsehum Harbour (Tom picked Kevin up at the ferry terminal) we all went to the grocery store where we met up with Paul who had driven down Island from Campbell River.
$200 later, we returned to Trouper II, loaded ourselves, equipment, food and booze on-board. We got underway at around 2pm and motored to Montague Harbour. It took us just over three hours and it rained most of the way. My crew abandoned me to the warmth and shelter of the cabin. No problem. I was happy to be out there cruising!
Arriving at Montague, we tied up to one of many available mooring buoys and were soon enjoying cheese infused hot dogs. Well, our colons weren't enjoying them but they sure tasted good.
Eric arrived at some point in the evening. He caught a ferry from Tsawassen with his bike, which he rode from Sturdies Bay. Kevin was dispatched in the dinghy to pick him up at the dock. The next few hours are a bit of a blur but involved the use of a high powered spotlight, lots of junk food and a few drinks.
Hot dogs on Trouper II
Paul and Kevin enjoy the warmth of Trouper II
Kevin on his way to the dock to retrieve Eric is illuminated by the ships spotlight.
Eric arrives with go-pro in hand.
Paul and Tom on board T2
Eric brought the Tequila. Like we needed that. Oh and a new ball cap for the Captain.
It's not the number of passengers (5 in this case), it's all the gear they bring.
Guys cruise from Montague to Sidney Spit
Eric at the helm with Paul and Kevin in 'the pit'.
Morning came god-awful early as we shook off the effects of the night before while enjoying Tom's special breakfast scramble and a few pots of coffee.
We left the mooring buoy and tied up at the dock for an hour or so to pick up Eric's bike. We also took the opportunity to hike around the provincial campground and use the parks many facilities (pit toilets).
We threw Eric's bike in the dinghy and headed out for a four hour sail to Sidney Spit. Actually we sailed back and forth in Trincomali Channel before heading South to Sidney Island. We had a nice steady 10 Knt wind from the North which made for a lovely run downwind to Sidney Island.
We managed to find a mooring buoy at the Spit despite arriving around dinner time on the Labour Day Weekend. We made up for the hotdogs the night before with some amazing strip loin steaks, rice and hops for veggies.
It wasn't long before the boys were setting the crab trap. We managed to snag three good sized Dungeness crabs. Bed time came early for Eric and the Captain while the others burned the midnight oil. (I think that was midnight oil they were burning...)
Boyz Weekend 2015 from Hiwind on Vimeo.
Eric, Tom and Kevin enjoy coffee at Montague Harbour.
South bound between Prevost and Saltspring Islands en route to Sidney Spit.
Trincomali Channel with Galliano Island in the distance.
Kevin, Tom and Paul. Yes, that's Tom on the helm.
Eric hauls in the crab trap at Sidney Spit.
Kevin on galley duty.
Paul and Tom hauling the crab trap at Sidney Spit.
Finally got to use the Yanmar crank!
Not my engine but gives you an idea of how to crank a small diesel.
I had to get back on child and wife care by 1300 hrs so, with a 3 hour trip back to Cadboro Bay, I wanted to get away from the Spit by no later than 08:00. It's a good thing I tried to start the engine early enough to realize that our battery was almost dead. Not enough power to start the engine! Yikes! Options discussed were as follows:
- sail to Tsehum Harbour, drop the anchor and retrieve a batter from Tom's car.
- radio for a jump start
- Take the foot passenger ferry to Sidney and retrieve a car battery
- Try the hand crank
As Tom and I have been talking about the Yanmar's hand crank for a couple of years now, it was decided we'd try that first. Without decompressing the cylinders (there's a valve you can open) it was bloody impossible to crank. Even when decompressed, the crank would stop dead with compression.
It was Kevin who suggested we try the electric start WHILE cranking. And that was the trick. Although in retrospect, I wonder if the same results would have been achieved with the electric start WHILE decompressing the engine. That's actually what the decompression valve is for (when the battery is low).
Anyhow, it was a miracle but we managed to get underway on time, at 08:00. We pulled the crab trap up (didn't keep any) and motored to Tsehum Harbour to drop off Paul, Tom and Eric. Kevin would join me for the return to Cadboro Bay.