Dodd Narrows Mostly at Slack -- 8/20/2014

We wake early this morning on Newcastle Island to time transiting Dodd Narrows near slack.  Nanaimo shows its night lights sending colors of yellow, orange, blue, green and white reflections into the water off the coastline.

Daybreak allows us to leave the dock with a view of the lighted city as we cruise past.

Two other boats also leave, probably heading to the Narrows, and we thread our way through the many anchored off the island. Clouds hover in the sunrise in McKay Channel, south of Protection Island.  Again I am lucky enough to catch the light in the marker.

We have rolls and waves after leaving Protection Island, but soon settles down into rippled inside Gabriola Island in Northumberland Channel.

The Navionics program on my iPad shows Willie's Tug as the red arrow pointing to the narrow opening at Dodd Narrows.

The two motor vessels ahead of us call "Securite" to announce their intention to transit the Narrows southbound.  

When the sailing vessel gets lined up with the entrance, she calls "Securite" and goes through.

At this moment the yellow ball rises from behind the mountain to be a good sign for our day.

Dodd Narrows is in sight and the water looks fairly calm. We go through at 6:49A with a 1.5 knot push.  Herb always checks more than one source for navigation information and found Navionics predicting slack at 7:05, but Garmin and Ports and Passes said 6:45.  Navionics was right.

Now with all safely on the southern side of Dodd, we continue toward Salt Spring Island, going into Stuart Channel, Vancouver Island on our starboard and Mudge Island on the port.

A small power boat breaks the serenity, shooting past us to create a big wake.  We ride it out.  There is a light chop on the seas at one foot or less at Pylades Island and in Trincomali Channel.  The sky is partly sunny, peeking out now and then.  On our port we pass Poulier Pass, which would have taken us out into the Strait of Georgia.

The fetch wind from the southeast causes waves on our nose and we pitch, getting two to three foot wind waves.

Star Gran

Star Gran

Almost to our destination, we call Patrick when we pass Scott Point and steer clear of the kayaks.

Something unusual on shore catches my eye. Could it be a memorial to a sailor lost at sea?  Part of the mast is missing.

It is a busy day at the Sailing Club with the Junior Sailing Club practicing and out just having fun. We give way and ease our way to the outside dock to wait for Patrick.  It is fun to see the young people making their maneuvers, scooting over to sit on the other side as they turn. Giggles and squeals of delight are heard.

It is a celebration tonight. What do we celebrate?  Being with Gail and Patrick again. The camera comes out, shoots too quickly so I get a good photo of Patrick smiling.

Next I get a nice smile from Gail, but Patrick closes his eyes.  Camera gives up and closes.