Thursday:  Today is beginning sunny and warm.  We leave at 0800 to time Race Pass so we go through at slack or a slight flood.  Currents can run up to six knots and the wind promises to be from the northwest.  This combination can result in lumpy seas during the ebb.  Moreover, at ebb we would hardly make any headway and also have little or no control.

We arrived at Blind Channel Marina, a lovely spot with good facilities and tied up for the night.  A group had happy hour on the upper deck of Raven Magic, while others hiked up to see the old-growth cedar,  then some went for supper in the restaurant while others cooked on board.

We are expecting wind and weather tonight and the waves and wind are building already.  The marina is open in the direction of the wind and waves and the halyards are already slapping, so we may be in for a rocking time tonight.

Friday: The night turned out to be quiet. 

Today we are off to Big Bay Public Dock and the departure is to be mid-afternoon to ride the tide down Cordero Channel and arrive at the Gillard Rapids at slack.

The day proved to be rainy and grey, but people wandered around and entertained themselves until departure.  The flotilla pulled out on schedule and motored down through the currents in Cordero Channel, arriving right at slack. 

At slack, we all went through Gillard Passage without incident and tied up at Big Bay community dock.  We then had a final barbecue and called it a day.

The slack in Yaculta Rapids tomorrow is at 0520 and we want to be there right on time as that opportunity is very short before the the whirlpools start up again as the current increases to as much as ten knots at flood. 

The next slack tomorrow is noon, and most of our boats chose that departure, but that late departure puts arrival at Powell River into evening hours.

Saturday: Three boats traversed the Yaculta Rapids without incident and motored towards Powell River, encountering twenty-five knot winds and chop on the nose after leaving Calm Channel.  Two persevered to Powell River and one decided to sit out the blow in Lund, along the way.

Intrepid is back at the dock in Powell River now and the other boats will be arriving as the day wears on.  We have one last get-together tonight and that is it for the 2014 Cooper Dreamspeaker Broughtons Flotilla. 

This was a record turnout with ten boats and thirty people participating.

Follow us in real time on the Spotwalla or Spot website.

the days are back getting longer & that indicates we’re back on our way to boating season (when does it really end anyways?!)
 
the year kicks off with the POLAR BEAR CRUISE JANUARY 1 & roars along to our HOLIDAY PARTY in DECEMBER, with plenty of large & small adventures in between



here are a few highlights:

 
january 5 FIRST sunday sail of 2014 ~ casual sailing through our CREW CLUB
 
january 22 * earliest VANCOUVER BOAT SHOW ever!  ~ join our SHOW & TELL & grab a free ticket!
 
april 17 ~ easter FLOTILLA ~ boat show is early & easter is about as late as it gets this year ~ check out our 2013 photo logbook
 
may 9 ~  friday night RACING ~ become a FRIDAY NIGHTER!
 
may 15 ~ MAY LOOOOONG weekend cruise ~ our long weekends are longer
 
june 8 ~ circumnavigation of VANCOUVER ISLAND ~ course & rally
 
june 14 * * * BROUGHTONS FLOTILLA * * * with the DREAMSPEAKER TEAM

 
july 3-7  VICTORIA -MAUI 2014 (our crew is SOLD OUT)

 
july 20 - 25 ~  WHIDBEY ISLAND RACE WEEK       

 july 26 ~ VIC-MAUI banquet in MAUI
 
july 27 ~ MAUI back to BC offshore course/passage (our crew SOLD OUT)
 
october 26 ~ BAJA HA HA – rally from san diego to cabo san lucas

 november 23 ~ ATLANTIC RALLY FOR CRUISERS ~ cruise rally style across the ATLANTIC from LAS PALMAS to ST LUCIA


this is just a sample of some of the great adventures ahead -- check back for more as the season gets rolling
 

THANKSGIVING FLOTILLA
So many of us look forward to this excellent event - a long weekend sharing boating, food and friendship!

This year our trip boards Friday October 11th in Vancouver with a couple of boats joining us from Sidney.
We’re heading thru Porlier Pass on the 12^th ….  Around noon and so our departure time should be 0800hrs.
 
Thetis Island Marina and Pub is our destination.  The PUB will be open with its regular menu.
The next day we’re heading for Silva Bay  - slack current thru Gabriola Pass during daylight hours is near noon on Sunday.
Recommendation is to go through the pass at noon and take in the wonderful Gabriola Art Studio Tour.
 

Silva Bay Marina has reservations for us and the Pub is serving Thanksgiving Dinner …. Reservations will be required.  

Call to get your favourite boat booked now!

http://artsgabriola.ca/events/annual-thanksgiving-studio-tour/