Pacific North West in a 23PH

[HeaveToo]

Interested in the forspar gimballed stove.  It seems that they don't sell these anymore.

Nothing beats a hot lunch or a hot drink when it is cool and you are underway. 

Stay safe and keep an eye on the weather.  It sounds like you are having a good trip and doing a good job of planning.  Sounds like the perfect trip for the Pilot House.

I find it funny that the Compac 23 Pilothouse was considered a motor sailor by some, reviews that I have read, but it is based on the same hull as the Compac 23 and it should sail similar. 

[Mike]

Great pics...reminds me of many happy trips.  I note happy because I stayed at Squirrel Cove while you were pounding about in the straits.  My cap is off to you.

[frank]

Several updates and pictures below

http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4528.0

I keep fighting with my IPad mini to post here
Fingers just too fat.
But that's another story.....

Just passing through 2nd tidal Rapids today
Timed right...no prob

[frank]

Long story short....I made it!

Currently at Lagoon Cove in the Broughtons

Updates and photos:

http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4528.0

"all good"

Love a Pilot House up here. Great cruiser!!!

[Bob23]

Excellent, Frank. Thanks for keeping us jealous and informed.

[frank]

Been through the Broughtons, sailed down S end of Queen Charlotte Straight, across "Black Fish Sound" (local for Orca...and yep, although too late in the season....did see a pod of Killer Whales!) and planning return. Cool days....COLD nights....but worth it!!


Photos:

http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4528.0

[HeaveToo]

Your trip is amazing.  I couldn't imagine how much fun you are having.  I don't do cold weather but I am sure that the Pilot house helps some with that.

Keep the pictures on coming!

[frank]

It ain't looking pretty out there:

Issued 04:00 PM PST 01 December 2015
Tonight and Wednesday
Gale warning in effect.
Wind southeast 30 to 40 knots diminishing to southeast 15 to 25 near midnight then increasing to southeast 25 to 35 Wednesday afternoon.
Weather & Visibility

Issued 04:00 PM PST 01 December 2015
Tonight and Wednesday
Periods of rain ending near midnight. Rain beginning Wednesday afternoon.
Extended Forecast
Issued 04:00 PM PST 01 December 2015
Thursday
Wind southeast 30 to 40 knots diminishing to southeast 15 to 25 in the afternoon.
Friday
Wind southeast 15 to 25 knots.
Saturday
Wind southeast 25 to 35 knots.

Looks very much like my last few days of this cruise will be "hunkered down" here with one long, boring, slog to windward heading S for 25miles when it settles down a bit so I can haul out. No complaints...it's been great!! Kinda of reminds me of that Gordon Lightfoot tune ...one line is "when the gales of November come early"....well...they ain't early...but they ARE here!! Another line in that tune is "when the waves turn the minutes to hours". Think I'll be feeling that when I finally head back S.     "up/down/splash.....up/down/splash" (shelves clearing off in the process)

So...for all intents...fall PNW cruise of 2015 is over (except for that one slog S)

A few random thoughts.......

Launched Sept 29th.
Total miles this cruise on Emma B to date (ad 25 for final return): 718
Haul out scheduled for Dec 10th
Total time on boat: 63 days (+9 nights on friends trawler)
Total single handed: 48 (although basically singlehanded with crew)
Gales caught out in: 2
Tidal rapids run: 10 (solo)  (15 counting crewing)
Narrows with range markers passed through:2
Whale sightings: 2.....one Humpback, one pod of Orcas
Porpoise sightings.......over 10
Porpoises swimming along bow wave: 5 times (once several for extended time)
Sea Lion sightings: 6 times
Seals: like squirrels back home...
Bald Eagles: frequent
Moments spent in "AHHHHH"......too frequent to count!
Fish caught: over 25 (could have caught more...but why?)
Anchorages: Melanie Cove, Prideaux Haven, Squirrel Cove, Von  Donop, Douglas Bay, Behind Yorke Island, Blenkinsop Bay, Joe Cove
Marinas/docks (several not open): West View, Lund, Cortez Bay, Gorge Harbour, Heriot Bay,  Squirrel Cove (docked to get fuel/supplies), Smugglers Cove, Okeover Inlet, Big Bay, Lagoon Cove, Kwatsi Bay, Shawl Bay, Echo Bay

Funky people met: lots!   :-)

Number of times thinking I was nuts doing this: 2

Number of times in "ahhhh":  countless

Misc:

This is SO different from home or Bahamas. You can anchor in less than 25ft of water in the middle of the Sea of Abaco!!  Here....often you are 50ft offshore and in 200+ft of water.The depth sounder being "off soundings" is not uncommon....often over 1000 or even 2000ft deep!

Protected...and "shallow" bays are not common..

Beach's are rare. The coastline is typically very unforgiving,

These waters, this time of year, will challenge every aspect of your seamanship ability....every aspect!  Literally!  Like most things in life....the effort is worthwhile.

I worried too much about running rapids "with the current" (within reason)

Kept wanting to take pictures....every turn (guess when that urge stops....time for different cruising grounds)

Learned to cook on very "low heat" to prolong the warmth without using Espar  (diesel range)

You truly are "alone" up there!!!   I keep my lifejacket handy on a cockpit settee, wore it while in the dingy, but the dingy is really your "only saviour" here!       If you go in...ya gotta get out... FAST...or your dead. That simple. I had mental/visual  practice runs getting into the dingy from both the "sinking boat" and from "the water having fallen in".....knowing the only chance to survive in either situation was getting out of the water fast and into it !!

A great sleeping bag and down jacket are your "best friends"

Loved the IPad for everything! Weather, tides/currents, route planning, banking and boat porn. They are great!!

Funny....as much as I have truly loved this adventure, and it has been just that, I'm now ready to "go home".    My couch is calling....fire stoked, birds at feeder, movie on...."warm n comfy"
Yep...I'm ready!  :-)

If ya can...in any way...get out here (summer is easier)...DO IT!!!!!

A few final pictures here:   (scroll down)
http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=4528.0

[Bob23]

Great coverage of a wonderful adventure. Makes we want to do a PH conversion on my old '85. But acquiring time is the real challenge. Best wishes for a safe return and I'd hope to have the privilege to down a Dark and Stormy or 2 in person some day!
Bob23

[frank]

I'd hope to have the privilege to down a Dark and Stormy or 2 in person some day!
Bob23

I'd love to have the privilege of of "drinking out of the same bottle" as well Bob !!

Me thinks that maybe "Jubilee" might talk me into trailering her S for a get together.
What is the furthest one up in the NE?  I'd be trailering down from NE Ontario...

[tmw]

A few random thoughts.......

Gales caught out in: 2

Number of times thinking I was nuts doing this: 2

Any chance there is a correlation between these events?

Thanks for sharing, great to live vicariously through your experiences.

[frank]

Kinda....

once was while in a gale..

the other was one evening, after 3 very cold days, I was cooking and the cylinder ran out. That meant opening up and
rooting around at the back of the cockpit to get another one. By the time I got backin, companionway closed up and settled....it was super cold inside again...
I thought....."am I nuts doing this so late".   Probably was   :-)