While many of the PRYC boats were either gathering at Montague or partaking the Round Saltspring Race, we opted to catch up with fellow LPSS members Poet's Cove/Bedwell Harbor for the Victoria Day long weekend. I was pretty tired by the time I wrapped up my Grade 8 band trip Friday night, so without the need for a crack of dawn departure from PRM, we opted to head down to the boat Sat. morning. Although the forecast predicted we might end up with an easy reach down around Saturna, The wind was a little more to the west, so although light, we motorsailed across to Georgeson Pass instead. Once on the other side, we had a light sail down to the bottom of S. Pender, where the wind pretty much died completely. This created an opportunity to talk through some of the tacking/jibing decisions that need to get made as we set up to transit between S.Pender and Blunden Islands. It involved going in closer to shore, as well as navigating A LOT of stuff along a tide line.
We motored the remaining distance, floated around the Customs dock till our arrival time lapsed, then proceed to our assigned slip. It looked a little tight -without a neighbour at PRM for the last year, and the wind would be pushing us into the neighbouring boat- but all was good. Other than having to run a second shore power cable to tap in at the next slip's power (this slip's didn't work) we were in.
Nine boats were attending and there were a few that we hadn't visited with for a while, so it was a really nice to get a chance to re-connect at the Saturday night Pot Luck. It wrapped up pretty early, which given my lack of sleep the previous few nights was okay with me. The next day was fairly low key and the warm (but not hot) weather allowed me to get caught up on a little wax on/wax off on the cabin top. Unfortunately, with the sunnier than expected weather -combined with me pealing off my shirt for a longer than expected task- my back ended up with a good(?) burn. The price we pay :^( There were 3 or 4 White Rock Sailing Co-op boats at Poet's as well, and a few of them have taken courses with us, so had a chance to chat with a few of them for a while. Sunday afternoons appies were followed by the Squadron heading up to the Pub for dinner.
Unless we wanted to fight tide the entire way, we did have an early-ish departure Monday morning. The current tables indicated we'd get past East Pt./Tumbo with some help if we left by 8:30, but it was already against us. One of the WRSC boats departed at the same time, so we motored along with them until we turned north. Once we got a little ways around, we got a little bit of wind -enough to put up the jib to help us out ever so slightly. We got back in to PRM in good time, so after having a little lunch, I went out into the marina and practiced some backing/stern-in maneuvers before we headed home. Overdue, but sure was nice to be out. More photos here.