08/12 - 08/14 - Powell River BC, Canadian CBGT

Oh disappointed I am, Roger and Cheryl in Nanaimo and didn't call!!!
Hey waiting on the weather been there done that
Be ready to scoot at dawn or asap after if Ballenas and Entrance Island are 10 or less check environment Canada weather and look at the station info
We get this wind here that blows and blows and keeps folks in port while conditions out in the Strait are good
If Ballenas and Entrance goes 10 or less run hard for Ballenas and then cut to Texada, and run up the East side in tight avoiding the mouth of Jervis Inlet if there is wind
Predicted wind tomorrow is down in the morning going lighter and then rising in evening best of luck enjoy see you next time
Carolyn and George
 
George,

Thanks for posting the Georgia Strait crossing info. I knew it was calm over here but when I looked and the marine weather, Ballenas was blowing 10 knots higher! Certainly was lighter on this side.
We're really sorry you and Carolyn can't make it. Your wealth of cruising information would have been a real benefit for our visitors.
We'll count on you for next time.
Cheers
Ron
 
I've been thumped about plenty on Georgia Strait so now employ a stategy that works well. Couple summers back left Smuggler in calm with Ballenas "only" 17 ouch 4 ft stuff on this side. Carolyn came up with the 10 knot rule, it's quite sound actually!
We'll miss seeing everyone, will be in the Gulf Islands after the weekend keeping an eye out for C Brats
Have a great gathering Powell River is a great place with super people
 
We could not make it up in time for the gathering. We will be launching from Anacortes Mon/Tue, quick trip to Friday Harbor to see Jim and Joan, and then on northward through the Gulfs. Hope to see some wandering Brats on the way.
 
Tim,
Sorry that it didn't work out for you to make the gathering. Hope you have a wonderful cruise. If you make as far as Powell River let us know.

The 5 am weather report for Ballenas Island is 14 and dropping. Weather on the Powell River side is calm at this time. Wind isn't even moving my flag. And yes I was up for the 5 am report. Been up since 4:30. Nuts eh? lol
Come on calm weather.
Cheers
Ron
 
Up at 5:55 and Ballenas is 13 Entrance 15, solo I'd be underway, Carolyn aboard I'd be sneaking out for a wee peak, it's doable
Have a great day everyone
 
Anne and Ron,

Just to let you know that another 22 footer should be arriving this afternoon: Chappy from Seattle. Plan to leave Comox at 10am...

Cheers
 
Boy that wind over by Nanaimo is stubborn. Its holding at 14, but just north by Sister Islets its down to 6. And at Sentry Shoal at the north end of the strait its just 4. Over here at Grief Point it is also about 4 and seas rippled. Go figure.
Come on Nanaimo get with the program! lol
 
At the Powell River gathering we met a lot of great people, some we had only known from the C-Brat forum. Ron and Anne were wonderful hosts. The Salmon barbecue for us will go down as one of our best meals anywhere.

Saturday they put on a pancake breakfast with local berries and local sausage and bacon. Good Stuff. Anne drove us to their house for the barbecue and then on Saturday took a load of us to the local farmers market ,bank, liquor store, grocery store, meat market, and for the ladies the women clothes and jewelry shopping. Saturday night's potluck was another culinary knock out. Flora who was everywhere helping everyone do everything made enough pot stickers to feed us all. They too were the best we have ever tasted.

Powell River is a nice close knit community with a lot of the local merchants providing discounts to the group and providing door prizes and coupons. It was a great gathering everyone here was so nice, Lots of laughs, prizes and activities for all. Our hats are off to Ron and Anne and their friends for making our stay here memorable.
Dave and Ginny Deem
 
Well the PRCBGT is now done. Anne and I wish to thank all the folks that took the time to add Powell River to the cruising schedule. A good time was had by all.

A shout out to all the single handers that came and a special shout to Geoff and Aline on Blueback, the little boat that could. Congrats on making the crossing in your special CD 16.

A special thanks to the local Powell River brats, Steve and Marnie on Lilly Pad and Greg and Flora on Reel Knotty. Without your help we'd never have been able to do this. It was a real team effort.

Also big thanks to the yeoman's work that Dave and Ginny Deem on Tiny Town did at the BBQ. All the way from PA to Powell River and than I work your butts off at the gathering. LOL Did you guys ever work hard. Made my job easy. We certainly had a good time at the BBQ.

And Martin, make that quiz easier. I only got 6 right! LOL

Thanks to all the Brats for pitching in and helping make this a great gathering.
You are a special bunch.
Cheers
Ron and Anne
 
Morag, Daisy And I are up at Cortez Island tonight. What a great weekend at Powell River. Lots of laughs, good stories, fine food and good people.

Anne standing on the roof of Meander was a photo op to remember!

Thanks Ron an Anne and the rest of the Powell River crew.

Super time....PvL on Lately
 
Ron on Meander":3sc7kh3f said:
Well the PRCBGT is now done. Anne and I wish to thank all the folks that took the time to add Powell River to the cruising schedule. A good time was had by all.

A shout out to all the single handers that came and a special shout to Geoff and Aline on Blueback, the little boat that could. Congrats on making the crossing in your special CD 16.

A special thanks to the local Powell River brats, Steve and Marnie on Lilly Pad and Greg and Flora on Reel Knotty. Without your help we'd never have been able to do this. It was a real team effort.

Also big thanks to the yeoman's work that Dave and Ginny Deem on Tiny Town did at the BBQ. All the way from PA to Powell River and than I work your butts off at the gathering. LOL Did you guys ever work hard. Made my job easy. We certainly had a good time at the BBQ.

And Martin, make that quiz easier. I only got 6 right! LOL

Thanks to all the Brats for pitching in and helping make this a great gathering.
You are a special
Cheers
Ron and Anne
Click to expand...
Dear all,
Wow-- what a special gathering of kindred spirits who came in their beloved C-Dory's. This will be a special page in Aline's and my memories for a very long time. Thanks to Ron & Anne--Steve and many more-- you made this such a memorial event. Good-on yeah. - Oh yes- O Canada on the trombone -that was so special too.
As you may, or not, know I was a professional mariner (engineer) on this coast for 8 years. In this time we towed to Haida Gwuii, Alaska and Seattle-etc.. I say this to explain I knew the risks of taking a 16' Angler up the Strait in open water from Qualicum Beach - even in summer conditions. In my day, about ever summer there was at least one un-forecast summer blast of wind (usually NW) that caught tugs with flat booms and busted them up. So I know about those strange mystery winds and have respect for them. Then there were experienced Skippers who called those steep mountain faced inlets dangerous like-- Knight, Toba, Kingcome - etc -especially in the summer. Ah- yes it was the "Williwaws" that came up out of nowhere and were/are impossible to forecast. I say this, not because this was an issue for us - just as a general outline of information we all must acquirer as safe C-Brats.
Our trip thru Stevens Passage and around Kiddie Point north bound was great and it took 4.5 hrs from French Creek. "However"--going back the CCG said-- "with a 5-10 NW forecast and our small boat we would be better to pick the lee of Texada" and we did. "However" - rounding Texada's NW point the wind suddenly jumped from 5 to about 15mph out of the North and picked up the flood tide coming out of Jervis Inlet. Then the wind moved up to about 20mph and we were close to the eastern shore of Texada with nowhere to hide out. This became a very difficult following sea with the troughs as high as are bow and 3-4 second intervals. A nasty sea indeed for us. We were surfing one minute at 10-11mph and wallowing back at 4mph. When surfing down, there was a nasty stern push at times trying to broach us. I called CCG on 83a and asked if the weather forecast had changed? No- 5-15mph, was their answer. Holding a mike in one hand and steering against a stern that wanted to slide sideways into the trough was a challenge too. -Sleeply C heard my call and was heading into Jervis Inlet and said-- "I think your getting a flood tide out of Jervis that's affecting you too - but I will monitor C-9 for your progress" and did so. We did so appreciate this. As we gradually moved toward the end of Texada the seas settled down and Aline gave me a high five and a big smile-- My lady and our Dory are both winners-- God bless -em-- as that was a close call. Oh yeah, the 2003 Honda gets kudos too, as we would have broached before I could have got the kicker going, and even if I had, it would not of held our vessel from broaching anyway, in those conditions.
Clearly- we got a micro-blast of wind and tide coming out of Jervis- maybe a second cousin to infamous Williwaws--eh--LOL
It was so nice to put faces to names and we enjoyed this gathering to the fullest.
Geoff & Aline on Blueback
 
Oh Boyyyyyyy! Thanks for the update and sharing your tale ..... SO GLAD YOU ARE SAFE!

Good for you guys - you are SO inspiring and awesome - thanks for being YOU!

Anne & Ron
 
Wow, what a great gathering. It rates up there with the best of the best. Kudos to Anne, Ron, and helpers, you were great. A lot of fun meeting old friends and making new ones. The BBQ at Ron and Anne's house was really special. Very brave of you to have 40 or so people on your deck and in the kitchen. Anne did a super job running people around in a 14 seater van. Thank you so much.
After the C-Dory photo shoot we broke away and headed for Tribune Bay, south end of Hornby Island. Water was a bit lumpy until we rounded the north end of Texada Island. Then a real nice surprise. The Georgia Strait was like a duck pond, we just cruised across in the sunshine, not a care in the world.
Tribune Bay was beautiful. The best beach in the whole of the Gulf Islands.

Safe journeys to all,
Martin and Andrea.
 
Thanks Anne and Ron, and the Reel Knotty and Lily Pad team. I put just a taste of photos together. After we get the official album I will unleash all my photos.

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What a wonderful gathering! Our hats off to our gracious hosts Ron and Anne who went over and above to make this a very memorable gathering. From the great salmon bbq at their beautiful home, to the yummy pancake breakfast to the many door prizes and to driving folks around, we cant say enough about the effort and energy you both put into this gathering. You truly raised the bar; thank you! It was so great to meet new faces and new friends, especially the hard working and super friendly Powell River C-Brats, Steve and his wife Marnie, owners of Lilly Pad and Greg and Flora, owners of Reel Knotty. These fine folks were instrumental in making this gathering so fun. Steve was so gracious with his time on Saturday driving Caryn and I around to the farmers market, the grocery store and even the liquor store. And thanks as well to Dave and Ginny all the way from Pennsylvania, who were also working hard with the cooking. Needless to say Caryn and I had a superb time. The long trailering and long lumpy boat ride was totally worth it to be able to visit this incredible part of the world.

It was great to see old friends as well. And of course meeting new friends from Canada. Are all Canadians so nice? A special thanks to Dwight, aka Chromer for escorting us all the way up and for taking great pics of all the brats and boats. I can only wonder where the next Canadian CBGT will be!

We're currently at Secret Cove making our way down to Bellingham for the gathering there. Looking forward to seeing more C-Brat friends this weekend.
 
Thank you all for enjoying our little corner of the world.....

A BIG SHOUT OUT to Roger for the surprise trombone music and especially the
'O Canada' - that was SO SO Special to us!

Can't wait to see more photos. Ron will request an album be made so we can get on it.

:-))))))
 
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