JOHN has been part of the sailing club for a few years now ~ having been a regular at FRIDAY NIGHT RACING, & needing a release from the accounting job, a suggestion came his way to do a series together at a higher level with a consistent crew

despite going through some big changes including a move & way too much work, JOHN stepped up to compete in the FALSE CREEK YACHT CLUB thursday night series ~ he had a team of JIB SET members that raced through AUGUST & early SEPTEMBER evenings

how'd it go?

thanks to a new crew, a few light air evenings & the gymnastics of that spinnaker, it was a few evenings before the crew made it all the way around for a finish  ~~ but the crew certainly improved throughout the series & there is a sign of stronger performances to come

after sailing, the crews often got together at FCYC to share tips & tell a few lies over drinks & a meal

our favourite quote circled around a boat that showed up to the start area ~ & despite not being registered to race ~ helped the new crew with additional challenges at the start line --- the quote that followed 

directed at the rogue skipper:  "register a boat & come fight like a man"
 

congratulations JOHN on stepping up to a higher level of competition ~ keep it up!

& YES ~ ENGLISH BAY IS A SPECTACULAR place

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DOUG & PATRICIA ~ one of our favourite 'inspirational cruising couples' from CALGARY

~ certainly a little background is in order ~ DOUG was retired when we met him & PATRICIA remained working ~ as DOUG contemplated yacht ownership through our charter program, one of his many quotable moments surfaced:

DOUG: "I need something to do ~ how about you put fuel in the chase boat & I can go out and help people?

RESPONSE: "2/3 of our callouts relate to challenges with sewage systems - we're thinking of calling the place "POOPER boating"

DOUG: "I'll do 1/3 of your callouts"

~ & so it went ~ with almost no experience & living land locked in ALBERTA, this couple bought a cruising catamaran with the aspiration of cruising it to ALASKA, while training


how'd it go?


check out their story as published in PACIFIC YACHTING, & be sure to register your interest for your very own ALASKA adventure (we're heading there in SPRING 2015 as a group)

ps - our couple are now POWER BOAT adventurers, perhaps you will join DOUG on the next trip to ALASKA with a slightly different flavour ~ being retired & having wife & kids away working, DOUG has named his dog after TOM HANKS' volleyball "WILSON" in "CASTAWAY" ~ come to ALASKA & help DOUG back out of retirement!

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DR. KEN owns a beautiful cruising boat in our fleet, let's check out DR. KEN's big adventure from this year ~

<<REWIND: september 2013

DR. KEN: well, I've got the time off in july ~ am I racing with you to HAWAII or should I head out on my own boat?

RESPONSE: let me check with the owner of the boat ~ hang on

how'd it go?


FORWARD>>: july 2014, about 120nm from MAUI

DR. KEN: do you think we've got a little too much sail up? (winds near 50 knots)

RESPONSE: (from owner of the boat):  this is FUN

DR. KEN: right

~ the tail end of TROPICAL STORM WALI was quite the adventure ~ the boat was going 13knots with just a 105% jib up & rain… never seen rain like that before, but the next morning ALEGRIA pulled into MAUI in typical conditions for paradise… catch the landfall here:




let's get YOU in these sort of pictures... starts with a key decision to do something SPECTACULAR