I am a couple of days back in Alberta after having spent five days in the gulf islands getting my basic cruising certificate. My father, brother, sister-in-law and myself signed up for this course back in Jan when we attended the Calgary Boat show. It is something I have been wanting to do for a long time.

The first two days it was rainy and the winds were listed as gale force (25-30 knots) so we stayed safe in the harbor and listened to the winds whistle through all the masts and halyards. Instead of sailing we did all the 'classroom' didactic. After two days of that all of us were itching to get out on the water. And the weather agreed.

On day three we left False Creek (Granville Island) and headed across the Georgia straight. The winds were moderate at 5 - 10 knots and we were practicing our tacking and humming along on mostly a beam reach at 5 knots/hr. aka: Great sailing. We harbored that night at Silva bay on Gabriola island. I had the honor of backing our 35' Jeanneau Sun Odyssey into the dock and nailed it on the first try using a prop walk technique we learned from Mike our instructor.

Day four was practicing gybing, man overboard drills under sail, anchor practice in the Pylades straight. The weather again was fantastic. Sunny with 10-15 knot winds which were perfect! We got our hull singing when we hit our ideal speed of 7.6 knots. We had water to the rails sailing close hulled and it was awesome! I was mucking about with the traveler trying to eek out every degree closer to the wind that I could go. We lunched in a tiny little bay near Pirates cove where we were entertained by WWR (Wild Wrestling Racoons) a beautiful Heron, bald eagle, seal, and a fantastic walk on the beach. After lunch we sailed back to Silva. In the channel we encountered five boats all merging in on the same point. We hurriedly figured out which ones had right on way and who had to turn off. It was odd - a whole ocean of water and five boats intersect at the same time in the same area. :D We celebrated a great day of sailing with a few pints and some yam fries at the pub. It is nice to see that my whole family is as much of a booze lightweight as I am.

Day five we left Silva for a calm relaxing day drifting back across the Georgia Straight and into Howe Sound to dock for the night in Snug cove. The sailing was lazy and easy. We had the auto pilot on for most of it and soaked up the sun. Snug cove is beautiful! Thick lush grass, the azaleas and Magnolias and tulips were all in full bloom. The historic buildings are all really well kept up. The nachos and Guiness at the pub rocked. Not to mention they had the finest bathrooms we had seen yet in a harbor. There was also a leather couch with a flat screen tv! So we watch survivor. :) I got to paddle around the marina in our little zodiac dingy and watch the sun set over the mountains. Perfection.

Our final day was motoring out of Howe Sound and sailing back to False creek. The winds were about 10 - 13 knots and we hit a top speed (for about a minute) of 6 knots, while maintaining and average of 5. It was a really nice way to end the week. We sailed between five massive moored barges from places like Greece, and Korea. My dad brought us back into dock expertly, and we all pitched in to clean up and scrub down the ship. Then off to Sammy J Peppers for some fantastic food and good bye hugs to Mike. I highly recommend that restaurant if you are ever in BC. We did a bit more shopping in Granville before heading back to Hope BC to get a motel for the night.

It was such a memorable trip. I think I love sailing as much as I love EMS. I have totally caught the bug again too. After we got home my brother and I have already signed up to take a coastal navigation course. Between the basic cruising and the coastal navigation we will be allowed to charter boats anywhere in the world! :D Come this fall I am intending to take the intermediate cruise and learn certificate and hope that my work partner will join me like he says he means to (after all he is the one that got me thinking of sailing again). I am pretty sure my brother will also be there. Hopefully my mom sister in law and dad will be interested too. It was so much fun hanging out with them all for the week.

I am seriously considering getting my instructors license for cruising too. :) So many options and all of them are exciting.