Tag Archives: Sailish Sea

Caledonia Yawl Project: Labour day weekend sailing to Saysutchun across the Salish Sea (part 1)

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.

Screenshot_20220831-133454_Windy
Windy forecast for the departure day

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.

20220901_133538

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

20220901_133654

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.

20220901_160017

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.

Screenshot_20220901-153640_Boating

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.

20220901_160103
Vancouver is now out of sight
20220901_185810

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

20220901_191013

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

20220901_192329

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

20220902_071137