SCAMP Wanderings

Desolation Sound Cruise

Day One

August 13th towed Fib from Gibsons to Okeover Inlet via Earls Cove ferry. Met up with Jean Francois and his Scamp 'Ursa Major' at the ramp. We were a little apprehensive securing long term trailer parking in the smallish lot but it worked out OK with the help of a very friendly Okeover Harbour person. Jean Francois and I launched at the concrete ramp where without an attached dock made having two of us made things much smoother. We tied up to the leeward side of the dock for the outer dock where we would spend the night. Curtis arrived later in the afternoon when he went through the operation to assemble, launch and load his Windrider trimaran.

Earls Cove to Saltry Bay ferry

Meeting up with Jean Francois at Okeover Inlet ramp

Fib and Ursa Major tied up for the night at the Okeover government Wharf

Jean Francois chillin away the later afternoon

Day Two

After a leisurely start the flotilla left Okeover marina and began a series of long enjoyable tacks northward up the arm. At the junction we turned into Lancelot Inlet and with the wind dropping made of way to Isabel Bay for a look around before ghosting out way to the mouth of Theodosia Arm. With a now following wind we negotiated the narrows before enjoying a spirited downwind ride to the head of the arm. A series of tacks brought us back to the small bay just north of where the narrows open up into the arm proper. We found good holding ground in the pretty bay and and called it a day. I managed to lose a sandal in the muddy bottom but was happy to find it magically released and floating later. Deep in the night a black bear came crashing around in the bush about the tideline. Jena Francois, using his spot light caught a peek of it.

A great day of sailing and exploring.

Upwind beat on Okeover Inlet

Entering Theodosia narrows

Speedy downwind to the head of Theodosia Arm

A good sized jelly

Uris Major about to drop anchor for the night

Curtis setting up camp aboard

Cockpit kitchen setup worked a dream
Pasta with tomatoes' broccoli and parmesan cheese

Enjoying a nice cold lager while the ice holds out

Day Three

Up anchored and sailed our way out of Theodosia Arm with a series of tacks through the narrows and against the flooding tide. Slow going but we eventually made it back to Lancelot Inlet where the wind died. Rowing and e-motoring the flotilla made it out to Malaspina Inlet where we spent the better part of the day sailing around before sailing back to and entering the busy Grace Harbour. After some snooping around we all squeezed into the tiny tidal lagoon at he head of the harbour. Although shallow and drying we calculated we would be afloat until the next morning. Did some swimming and shore exploring in the afternoon before retiring to our vessels for the night. It was oddly and randomly windy in our little lagoon so I used my second anchor to control the swinginess.

Dawn as seen from my bed

Preparations to get underway

Jean Francois patiently tacking against the tidal current

Ghosting along Lancelot Inlet

Fib at anchor in the shallow Grace Harbour lagoon

Dinner!

Navigation station

Grace Harbour

The lagoon

Curtis racing a powerboat

Day Four

Exited Grace Harbour and headed out of Malaspina Inlet into Desolation sound proper. I was here about 35 years ago on a kayaking trip with brother-in-law Clint. Jean Francois had accidentally left some anchoring hardware on beach of our previous anchorage so he left in the predawn to motor back to grad it. Mission accomplished he rendezvoused with Curtis and I later in the morning. Must busier with boat traffic these days. We experienced some unsettled waters at the mouth of the inlet before taking up a reach line towards the Curme Islands, our stop for the night. Spotted some marbled murrelets which was cool.

Curme Islands presented a challenging anchorage due to the steep rocky sides, tides and relatively exposed positioning. Incredibly busy with every kayaker tent platform occupied. We enjoyed very warm water swims.

Cutting it close around one of the islands

Lookin good with solar panels pumping out the electrons!

Our long reach to the Curme Islands

Floatplane

Ghosting along

Enjoying a swim

Curme Island anchorage

Day Five

Today Curtis and I bid adieu to Jean Francois to begin our return voyage. Jean Francois planned to spend the better part of the next week solo cruising before picking up his son for another week. We started out heading towards Tenedos Bay but with the light and fluky winds separated with Curtis making it to Tenedos Bay while I sailed (and motored a bit) to Galley Bay where I dropped anchor and enjoyed my lunch. Soon after we reunited and made our way back to Malaspina Inlet where we enjoyed a nice run back to Grace Harbour and our cozy lagoon for the night. Again the winds were up and down. At one point I decided I was running under far too much sail so I tucked in behind a small island to drop anchor in its lee and reef.

Morning a the Curme Islands

Breakfast

Curtis enjoying his breakfast afloat

Hanging out at Galley Bay

Speedy Curtis arrives

This cruise provided plenty of opportunities to reef sail and shake it out again

About to be overtaken by Curtis (again) in Malaspina Inlet

Day Six

Curtis and I got a nice early start (if fact a little chilly) to motor out of Grace Harbour and hang a left into Okeover towards the government wharf and the ramp. Happy I still had my reef in from the day before because things got pretty exciting on our run down the inlet. Hitting what must be Scamp hull speed at times. Got a little worried how I would be able to enter the Okeover Harbour with these wind balst us in but was able to again tuck into a little cover on the west shore to furl the sail and deploy more for that last leg. Curtis and I found a couple of empty berths on the dock where we tied up and began the process of retrieving, unloading and securing or boats for the trip back home.

All in all a most excellent adventure with a great coupe of guys!

Bundle up in the early hours

Curtis exiting Grace Harbour

Pretty good turn of speed for a little 11'11" stubby sailboat!

Our last stop - Okeover Government Wharf

Curtis provided a great track of our route

A Blustery Overnighter

Wanting to try out some of my modifications and get an overnighter in before the extended trip to Desolation Sound later this summer I headed out on a solo overnighter July 10th. Destination the head of Port Graves Bay on Gambier Island where I planned spend the night either tie up to the wharf a Camp Artaban or at anchor in the shallower head of the bay.

Five minutes to the ramp and half hour to rig then in the water. There was a high wind warning by I chose to go anyways because our corner of Howe Sound is generally sheltered when compared to the southern Howe Sound or the Georgia Strait itself. Wrong. The trip over started fully reefed southerlies and just got windier. Eventually I doused the sail and used the Honda. Waves to coming from the Halkett Bay quarter and up to one meter.

With some relief I made it to the relatively shelved waters of Port Graves Bay around 1300 hrs. The public dock at Camp Artaban looks small and tricky to approach with the wind at our stern so I moved to the head of the bay and dropped the six poound Northill anchor that dug in nicely. Lots of anchor rode paid out and Fib was swinging smartly in the sun and wind gusts.

Thinking Plumper Cove Marine Park on Keats Island may be a more comfy tie up for the night I decided to ride out the winds at anchor until early evening when same winds were forecast to drop off then make my way to Keats.

Spent the remainder of the afternoon tidying, reading, and snacking while being blown around through about a 45 degreed arc and whitecaps. At one point a power boat came by to ask if I was ok. Fib felt very secure.

Around 1730 hrs I topped up the fuel in the Honda, checked the sail reefing and furling, stowed loose items and weighed anchor. I probably should have been less impatient and left later because I ended up motoring directly into the same winds that blew me into the bay and making minimal headway. Seas were still very wavy when I eventually exited the bay and at one point considered running back into Centre Bay for shelter. As forecast the winds did eventually drop and I was able to motor and sail to Plumper Cove where I tied up to the dock for the night.

The next day I enjoyed a couple of hours of spirited sailing before back to the ramp at Gibsons Marina and home.