Behind Leech Island looking south at Clam Bay
Boating to a Music Festival - C’est la Vie (CS 33)
Mayne Island – Clam Bay – Newcastle – Tribune Bay – Comox – French Creek – Newcastle – Montague – Mayne Island
Day One – Left our mooring buoy at Dinner Bay in late morning. Dodged the usual ferry traffic around Village Bay and Active Pass. Wind forecast overnight NW. Arriving at Clam Bay around 40 boats already anchored. Found excellent anchorage all to ourselves behind Leech Island on north side. Pleasant evening.
Mayne Island – Clam Bay – Newcastle – Tribune Bay – Comox – French Creek – Newcastle – Montague – Mayne Island
Day One – Left our mooring buoy at Dinner Bay in late morning. Dodged the usual ferry traffic around Village Bay and Active Pass. Wind forecast overnight NW. Arriving at Clam Bay around 40 boats already anchored. Found excellent anchorage all to ourselves behind Leech Island on north side. Pleasant evening.
Seafood poutine
Day Two – Through Dodd Narrows on the dying flood an hour early. Being pushed 8 knots had to dodge logs at north exit. Northumberland Channel as nasty as ever with NW wind up to 20 kts. Rough slog. Happy to be on Newcastle mooring buoy.
Days Three – Four – Very hot weather! Wind warning out on the Strait. Met up with Mayne Island friends, Louis and Sylvie. Newcastle is one of our favourite places. Did the usual rounds of shopping mall and Harbour Chandlery where I bought a pin for the bow roller to replace the one I had dropped in the drink.
Next morning took boat out as far as Horswell Channel but too rough. Another day at Newcastle.
Day Five – Weather somewhat improved. Fewer whitecaps. NW as usual. We both took Gravol. Going straight up and down the strait is not my favourite. Passed French Creek and kept on going to Tribune Bay. Judy made a back sun screen from towels to get shade for the driver. We put our thermometer on the lazarette where the sun was beating – read 51 degrees! In the shade a cool 41 degrees! A 6 hour day. Tribune was crowded so anchored a long ways out. Too tired to get the outboard on the Avon so dinner on the boat. Hot!
Days Six – Seven – Eight – Rounded Chrome Island and up Baynes Sound. Forgot to observe Buckley Bay ferry lights and got honked at by the ferry about to leave!
At Comox live aboards Bob and Esther helped us find the only dock space. Pulled us into a tight space with 16 inches ahead and behind. Before we left we gave them a bottle of wine. By next day all boats ahead and behind us had boats rafted to them, including ours.
Oh, and did I mention it was boiling hot! As planned, we met up with Joanne and David on Tack Tic for the Filberg Music and Arts Festival. We had bought tickets for Friday and Saturday. Filberg Park, being treed in areas, beside the water, with 2 stages is a beautiful 9 acre venue. The Festival with over 100 artisans and a full program of music ranging from folk to rock and roll was great. But it was so hot that on the walk there we ducked into the air conditioned Comox Art Gallery for a rest. Also made several Happy Hour stops at the Blackfin Pub.
Comox Nautical Days, a much scaled down version of the Filberg Festival ran concurrently at the park beside the marina. Events also included dinghy racing and on the dock fishing instruction.
Day Nine - Leaving … now this is where fellow boaters come to the rescue. We always help each other don’t we?
Turned out that the captain of the Commander tied in front of me (from Powell River) took charge of things next morning. Before we knew it the Cutwater rafted beside us was sent elsewhere, and boaters on the neighboring yachts with boat hooks and our bow line pushed our boat sideways out into the fairway. Who needs side thrusters when you have boater friends?
Retraced out route down Baynes. Buckley Ferry lights turned red as we approached. A test?
We obediently circled and circled! More strong winds up to 20 kts from the SE. Hugged the shore, aiming for French Creek. After a bit of circling in the marina finally found a 30 foot space at the end of the dock. Wind pushing us away from the dock. Had to do another tight turn in the fairway in order to face out towards exit. Managed to break off my stern flagpole on a ocean going fishing ship. Magically another boater appeared on the dock to grab our mid-line and pull us in!
Was hoping to walk to Sam’s Sushi nearby on the Island Highway but they were closed! Fish plant at the marina was also closing so sandwiches for supper.
Day Ten – More strong SE winds. Ducked behind Winchelsea and islets. Peeked into Hammond Bay which my friend Blair had recommended as hidey hole in a NW (and near a pub) but kept on going and finally made it back to Newcastle.
Sylvie had recommended trying the Seafood Poutine at the Dinghy Dock Pub so we put the Suzuki outboard on the dinghy and motored over. Lucky to get a seat as the DD ferry was about to unload a boatful of customers. The Seafood Poutine? Interesting combo, seafood on chips and curds but filling!
Days Three – Four – Very hot weather! Wind warning out on the Strait. Met up with Mayne Island friends, Louis and Sylvie. Newcastle is one of our favourite places. Did the usual rounds of shopping mall and Harbour Chandlery where I bought a pin for the bow roller to replace the one I had dropped in the drink.
Next morning took boat out as far as Horswell Channel but too rough. Another day at Newcastle.
Day Five – Weather somewhat improved. Fewer whitecaps. NW as usual. We both took Gravol. Going straight up and down the strait is not my favourite. Passed French Creek and kept on going to Tribune Bay. Judy made a back sun screen from towels to get shade for the driver. We put our thermometer on the lazarette where the sun was beating – read 51 degrees! In the shade a cool 41 degrees! A 6 hour day. Tribune was crowded so anchored a long ways out. Too tired to get the outboard on the Avon so dinner on the boat. Hot!
Days Six – Seven – Eight – Rounded Chrome Island and up Baynes Sound. Forgot to observe Buckley Bay ferry lights and got honked at by the ferry about to leave!
At Comox live aboards Bob and Esther helped us find the only dock space. Pulled us into a tight space with 16 inches ahead and behind. Before we left we gave them a bottle of wine. By next day all boats ahead and behind us had boats rafted to them, including ours.
Oh, and did I mention it was boiling hot! As planned, we met up with Joanne and David on Tack Tic for the Filberg Music and Arts Festival. We had bought tickets for Friday and Saturday. Filberg Park, being treed in areas, beside the water, with 2 stages is a beautiful 9 acre venue. The Festival with over 100 artisans and a full program of music ranging from folk to rock and roll was great. But it was so hot that on the walk there we ducked into the air conditioned Comox Art Gallery for a rest. Also made several Happy Hour stops at the Blackfin Pub.
Comox Nautical Days, a much scaled down version of the Filberg Festival ran concurrently at the park beside the marina. Events also included dinghy racing and on the dock fishing instruction.
Day Nine - Leaving … now this is where fellow boaters come to the rescue. We always help each other don’t we?
Turned out that the captain of the Commander tied in front of me (from Powell River) took charge of things next morning. Before we knew it the Cutwater rafted beside us was sent elsewhere, and boaters on the neighboring yachts with boat hooks and our bow line pushed our boat sideways out into the fairway. Who needs side thrusters when you have boater friends?
Retraced out route down Baynes. Buckley Ferry lights turned red as we approached. A test?
We obediently circled and circled! More strong winds up to 20 kts from the SE. Hugged the shore, aiming for French Creek. After a bit of circling in the marina finally found a 30 foot space at the end of the dock. Wind pushing us away from the dock. Had to do another tight turn in the fairway in order to face out towards exit. Managed to break off my stern flagpole on a ocean going fishing ship. Magically another boater appeared on the dock to grab our mid-line and pull us in!
Was hoping to walk to Sam’s Sushi nearby on the Island Highway but they were closed! Fish plant at the marina was also closing so sandwiches for supper.
Day Ten – More strong SE winds. Ducked behind Winchelsea and islets. Peeked into Hammond Bay which my friend Blair had recommended as hidey hole in a NW (and near a pub) but kept on going and finally made it back to Newcastle.
Sylvie had recommended trying the Seafood Poutine at the Dinghy Dock Pub so we put the Suzuki outboard on the dinghy and motored over. Lucky to get a seat as the DD ferry was about to unload a boatful of customers. The Seafood Poutine? Interesting combo, seafood on chips and curds but filling!
Day Eleven – Northumberland not quite as bad this time. Went through early on the dying ebb. A 100 foot boat radioed to say they were coming through. Wish I could have seen that! Not as hot now but still very strong SE winds on Trincomali. Lots of whitecaps. Hugged shore of Valdez and Galiano on way to Montague.
Anchored on north side of Montague, sheltered from SE. A beautiful sunset. One of our favourite places in the right weather.
Day Twelve – More SE wind with whitecaps, so a short bumpy one and a half hour ride home to Dinner Bay. Like magic, Dinner Bay was calm since it is very sheltered from SE. Nice to be back home!
Anchored on north side of Montague, sheltered from SE. A beautiful sunset. One of our favourite places in the right weather.
Day Twelve – More SE wind with whitecaps, so a short bumpy one and a half hour ride home to Dinner Bay. Like magic, Dinner Bay was calm since it is very sheltered from SE. Nice to be back home!
