What a SPECTACULAR EASTER event! We had 11 boats - power, sail, monohull and multihull - all cruising the glorious Gulf Islands together. The rain gods stayed away for almost the entire trip, with the exception of the bonfire. We did get the bonfire warm enough to not worry about the rain.
Corus approaches dock at THETIS.
Raven Magic, Unprincipl'd and Simply Dreaming leave Thetis island headed for Dodd Narrows
None of us could pronounce Past Commodore Peter's boat name, so it was renamed "Eenie Meenie" (tender is Miny Mo)
The crews of GRYPHON and STRAY CAT contemplate life at sea over dinner at the floating Dinghy Dock Pub (some came aboard tender "Stray Kitten")
While the EASTER BUNNY had some trouble had trouble getting the fire started in the rain (umbrellas come in handy).... the end result was fantastic!
You can't find a better spot for an EASTER TREASURE HUNT -- a might treacherous however after the evening rains the night before
"Skipper the kayak coach" watches from the tender as the youngest crew members explore Silva Bay by kayak.
Be sure not to miss the next one: May LOOONGER weekend flotilla. Long weekends should be longer... ours is 5 days! Boats already booked to leave VANCOUVER and SIDNEY locations.
A skippers meeting was held to discuss and confirm the destination, and the departure time and route for tomorrow. Claydon Bay, some 30 nautical miles away from our present location, is the confirmed destination and departure is at 0800, with a radio roll call at 0730 on channel 68.
Claydon Bay is a wilderness anchorage, which appeals to some and not others, and nearby Sullivan Bay is our planned stop for the next night, so some boats may go directly to Sullivan Bay in order to have two days to enjoy the facilities at the marina location.
a report from ALLEN as he met up with the flotilla yesterday:
"I arrived by ferry at Powell River around noon and found Intrepid IV without any problems. I met Syd and we sent the afternoon going over the boat, making sure we are ready for the flotilla. Syd had provisioned previously, following the list of suggested items. I don't think we'll starve.
We also met the other crews out on the docks and they seem like quite a varied and convivial lot. Everyone is in a good mood and the occasional drizzle that we experienced on and off all afternoon did not dampen spirits in the least.  At 1800, we all met on Corus for appies and happy hour. The plan for tomorrow is simple: All boats leave when they like, go where they like and we all meet at Rebecca Spit at around 1700 hours or whenever we get there and have a barbecue on shore.
The meeting lasted several hours, but most had left by 1900 to rest up for tomorrow. I only thought to take pictures at the last moment.
Tomorrow, Rebecca Split. Â
Winds are predicted to be from the northwest -- one the nose all the way"
ALLEN is an owner in the fleet out of SIDNEY, currently cruising with a client named SYDNEY who has taken a recent step up from 'student' to 'boat owner'
I post this as we cruise past COMOX on our way to CAMPBELL RIVER having left SIDNEY yesterday afternoon
ELECTRA will join the flotllla later today - connecting with the DREAMSPEAKER CRUISING TEAM who literally 'wrote the book' on this region ~