February 24th - Sooke Basin - (#8)

Gordin and I drove out too Cooper’s cove and joined Gerhardt and some other “SKUNCS” (Rob, Muriel, Felicity) for a nice paddle in the inlet. There was a nice easterly wind to begin with so I put up my small Spiritsail and Gerhardt put up his Windpaddle (photo below). I really like the idea of the windpaddle as it can be easily ported from one boat to another with no deck rigging. Probably not wuite as effective as the spirit sail or the pacific action sail, but good all the same. We stopped by the “Florence Folberg” which was aground and rather wrecked on a sandbar in the basin. After the wreck, Gordin and I paddled on over to his in-law’s for a lunch stop. We had a nice flood to assist us on the way back which more than made up for the wind in our faces.

Gerhard and his Windpaddle

the wreck of the Florence Folberg

a nice boat with a nice view!

I was also testing out my new SPOT satellite tracker. This also worked well. I received a few sample messages such as the one below:

SPOT Check OK. MJ is Fine!

Unit Number: 0-7349589

Latitude: 48.3939

Longitude: -123.6547

Nearest Town from unit Location: Unknown

Distance to the nearest town: Unknown

Time in GMT the message was sent: 02/24/2008 18:02:34

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=48.3939,-123.6547&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1



I also have a google earth file of the record made by the SPOT tracker. http://www.islandnet.com/~mjackson/spot_messages_sooke.kmz



One test message took 1.5 mins from me pressing the button to receiving the text message on my cell phone.

You can see the device “in hand” at http://flickr.com/photos/chaffneue/2287365121/in/set-72157603971935680/ on Rich’s web site

15.5 km, 8 NM, YTD 133 km.

Feb 17th - Portland Island (#7)

Gordin and I set out from Swartz Head (Barnacle Road) to paddle over to Portland were a group were camped. We spent a few minutes visiting with the group and then paddled around the island. After we paddled around the island stopped back at shell beach for lunch. Made our way back with a slight push from a northerly wind.

15 KM, 8 NM, YTD: 117 km.  

February 11, Telegraph Cove (#6)

Gordin and I went out for an early paddle fromTelegraph Cove. We left the beach around 8:30 and were back by 10:30. We went south to 10 Ile Point and Smuggler’s cove and then north to the rock pile. Weather was a bit misty/moisty and the wind was building as the morning progressed. Gordin and I played along the rocks… I made contact a few times.

8 KM, 4 MN, YTD 102 km

Feb 8th, Chatham Island (#5)

George, Dennis and I set out from Cadboro Bay on a fairly windy day (stiff south wester) and paddled out around the overfalls in Baynes Channel (fairly strong ebb against a SW wind) and then went around Chatham. I put the Pacific action sail up a few times. At one point, we had all 3 boats rafted together moving at 3 knots! The sail mount needs adjusting before putting back on the Shadow again and I need to remember to bring a paddle leash! It was hard work on the way back paddling against the weak ebb and a head wind…

 14.5 km, 8 NM, YTD 94 km