The log for today (1st July) was written on the 2nd July, for reasons that will become clear very soon. Up at 0615 after a very restful night. I left at 0720, under power (as it was very calm) and switched to sail at 0945 hrs. To make a long story short, I had to reef fifteen minutes later and, shortly after having reefed, I also had to furl the jib to about 20%. That says it all!

As I was running very low on gas and that I certainly did not have enough to make Egmont, I had no choice but sail as far as I could then, when within eight miles or so from Egmont, I would turn on the motor and make it to port. I tacked a minimum of forty times across the various reaches (I stopped counting after the 27th tack) and all the sailing was done at a 25/30 degree angle of heel! Very, very pleasant sailing but, very, very tiring.

Where I nearly bought the farm
or the fish....

I was already climbing back on board! The only damage, besides my pride, turned out to be a slightly dislocated shoulder and a warped stay strap. I must have been terribly tired to do such a stupid thing. To begin with, I was clipping along at a good 4.5 to 5 knot, keeled over some thirty degree and then, I put 'George' in charge of the tiller, instead of heaving to into the wind, crawling to the bow through the inside hatch etc,. I don't remember doing so but I must have crawled forward and unscrambled the jib line then crawled back to the cockpit somehow. All I remember was sitting in the cockpit (on the floor, not the seat) and then realizing all of a sudden that I was within 100 feet of shore! I quickly changed tack then let go all lines.

Then, the wind drifted me BACK about one mile before I came to my sensesl and resumed my run to Egmont. Wow! That one was close. While I was drifting back, I changed my clothes and put on the woolen sweater. Soon it turned dark, and I was about four miles past Vancouver Bay. I switched on the outboard. it was Lucky that I knew my way into Sechelt Inlet and Egmont because it soon turned pitch black! I turned into Sechelt Inlet the moment I had passed the small islet off the tip of the Inlet and, as soon as the spotlight hit the first dock I saw at the Chevron marina, .... it was home for the night. it was then 11 o'clock. Now, that's sailing.

The run to the head of Queens reach is a cinch, with high tail winds and the tide helping. But to return, next time, I will make the run at night, with the tide and, if there is wind, it will be on my tail. I was fast asleep twenty minutes after tying up.

No... it's not Sofia!
My daughter... Joanne

Fantastic day! Weather was lousy but, no rain. I had a super night rest and got up at 0630. I made it right away to the public dock at Egmont, one mile downstream. I spent a few hours shooting the breeze with fellow sailors, such as Ed Snyder, a super fellow. Then, I explained my problem regarding the chart table I wanted to make. I was referred to the wharfinger, an old Native lady by the name of Vera. She Is also the caretaker for the fish processing plant facing the bay in Egmont. I went to her place and she rummaged through her shed until she found a piece of plywood which would fill my needs.

When offered payment she totally refused, saying she was glad to be of some help. She also offered me a coffee and we talked. Boy, that lady should write her life story, not for her troubles but for the wealth of good information she could pass on. She spent all her life on the coast and has become an expert in marine ecology. She also passed me some good recipes for house plant fertilizer. I saw her houseplants and they're way out.

On the way to head of Hotham Sound. Very dark...
cannot actually see the end of the Sound!

So I headed for the head of Hotham Sound. I had a nice tail wind to take me right along. It's a beautiful sight, although a little scary at first. The head is surrounded by very high mountains and it is very dark in there. I dropped the hook about 150 feet off the shore into about fifty feet of water yet, at low tide, the rudder had about only six feet under It! Because there is always an Inlet wind, the bow is always pointing toward the channel thus, there is no danger of drifting off into the sound itself. But the anchor line has to be strong because, at times, it can get wild in there.

Also, the stern of the boat is riding only thirty feet from the shore. It's an experience. As I was pretty tired I ate then just listened to music and drifted asleep around ten. Beautiful day. Goodnight world.