Rain a week away

Thu Sep 22

After the smoke smog - Twin Creeks Mill in Langdale

When I started this update on Sept 12 Vancouver Island had not been visible for several days due to smoke from multiple forest fires in BC and across the US border in Washington state. There was a faint hint of smoke in the air. Environment Canada issued a ‘poor air quality’ statement, recommended no outdoor exercise and closing doors and windows.

Sunday 11th, our usual racing wasn’t happening as the boat owner was away. One of the regular crew and I took out a club boat with the aim of sailing up West Howe Sound. As we left the harbour the end of Keats Island was barely visible in the smoke haze, we could not see Gambier Island only five and a half kilometres away. Our plan to sail around Gambier was abandoned as the wind dropped right off and we motored back into the main channel and in the end, back to Gibsons. We both went home with sore throats.

Stage 4 Water restrictions

The following Thursday we had some much needed rain. The first of any significance in three months. It was still only around 16mm. Stage 4 water restrictions have been put in place for several weeks and the Chapman resevoir is at an all time low. Water can only be used for cooking and washing in the house. There is an outright ban on anything but grey water going on the garden. All outdoor campfires are also banned including non-gas fire pits because of the risk of forest fires. Rain is forecast from the middle of next week. It is much needed. There is enough water on the Coast but years of successive inaction for putting an integrated water system in place means some areas are still on minimal Stage 1 restrictions - all within the same district council. Bonkers.

Saturday we headed to Smitty's for a seafood supper. The highlight was watching the staff trying to manouver a 6'-8' sharing platter (plank of wood) to the upstairs seating area. The first time it's been attampted apparently. It made it safely to the table.

Weather for the race the following Sunday was perfect and the course was up West Howe Sound. Unfortunately we were two crew members short so we could not fly the spinnaker. We were first over the start line and led for a short while, until other boats hoisted their kites. By the bottom of the downwind leg course we were trailing behind all the other boats. The yacht sails better into the wind so we managed to make up some of the gap and finished 5th out of 8 boats.

The upside was seeing a pod of Orca in the bottom half of the course who stayed in the area before heading up to GIbsons. As we were short-handed it was kind of busy on the boat, so not my best video!

Orca in West Howe Sound - better on a larger screen!

On Monday I had to head over to Vancouver on the 0620 sailing. Eight hours behind the UK meant much of HM Queen Elizabeth’s funeral was over by the time we surfaced, but Fred had it recorded! I caught snatches of it on the way over and what an amazing send off. I take my hat off to the police in charge of security, I’m not sure I’d sleep at night! For a live seamless series of events it was very impressive for the smoothness and flawlessness in the way it progressed. The officials in charge and military did an amazing job. Hollywood would have needed ten takes!

The trip to Vancouver gave me a chance to spend a couple of hours bonding with young Sebastian. What a delight now he’s got to the stage where he is so much more responsive to people and things around him. Five months this week!

Local elections are about to take place and placards are up all over the place promoting the various contenders. On the Coast there are a few hot issues that will decide the outcome. The amount of development going on without requiring developers to contribute to the attendant infrastructure consequences, not least water; the lack of low cost housing which has led to work vacancies across nearly all sectors, and BC Ferries. An email has just dropped into my inbox to say that all eight crossings between the mainland and the Coast are at risk today from 3.35pm onwards; everything in both directions, due to crew shortages.

On the subject of elections there was an interesting opinion piece in the Washington Post about Liz Truss. The opening paragraph made me chuckle. 'In electing Volodymyr Zelensky as their president, Ukrainians chose a TV comedian and got a charismatic Winston Churchill. In electing Boris Johnson, Britons did the opposite: They chose a Churchill wannabe and got a comedian with a propensity for scandal.'

And finally. Local fundraisers for youth groups on the Coast tend to involve the youngsters selling cookies outside the local supermarket. I know the world is ‘elf and safety’ conscious these days, but the cookies are all bought in. What happened to homemade cookies! I think it should be an election issue!