This long weekend trip was touch and go as I watched the weather window. The plan was to take the 19.5′ Caledonia Yawl An Aod Oolichan across Georgia Strait from Vancouver to Nanaimo a distance of 30 nautical miles with the whole distance in an open stretch of sea with quite a bit of fetch if the winds really pick up.

After a little bit of light winds in English bay because the the land-shadow, true to the forecast the SE breeze did settle in all day at about 12-15 knots.

Once past Point Grey the wind was strong enough that as a precaution i put in one reef in the main and we cruised along comfortably at 5.5 knots and quickly saw the city fade into the horizon.

Laden with food, camping gear and two of my siblings as crew we really felt the boat hold a steady movement.

It was a warm day and the boat is quite dry, but there was still an occasional wave that came broadside and a good splash on the front quarter.

By mid-day we were on a healthy broad reach, we’d shaken out the reef and were still doing good speed in the middle of the strait feeling good that we’d arrive in Saysutchun before sunset.

The south easterly held all the way past entrance island to the norther tip of Galiano by the Malaspina galleries and then it started to shut down.

We started up the electric motor with Protection and Saysutchun islands in sight.

Our welcome party (who had taken BC Ferries) was already there waiting at the campsite.

Once unloaded I took it back out to anchor at Brownie Bay as we camped on the island for the next five days.