From Port McNeill, BC

June 25, 2010

We made it to Port McNeill as planned. The laundry and food shopping are done and today, Friday, is just a veggie day except for a little boat cleaning. Our passage from Kwatsi Bay was in calm and smooth seas so a non eventful ride – the kind we like best. EXCEPT – on way over Karyl said she saw some water on the floor of the forward head. I went down to investigate and found a steady stream of water coming from one the fresh water hoses underneath the sink. I turned off the water pressure and found a small hole in the hose. This is the hose that came with the boat from China and I have had nothing but trouble with this Chinese hose developing small holes. I have replaced most of this hose but this one I didn’t and now paid the price. I was able to repair it by cutting off the small piece with a hole and reconnecting it but it was very difficult as I had to squeeze my overly large body into a very tight space under the sink while we where underway.

Brand New 180 Foot Megayacht. That's a 50 Foot Boat Beside It.

After we got tied up, a little 180 footer came in and tied up to a different pier. This is a brand new boat and on its first cruise. The guy driving it looked too be about 90 years old and no doubt was the owner and he did a great job getting it into a tight place – tight place for that size of boat. Most boats this size have a professional captain to do these difficult maneuvers. Then a couple hours later another megayacht, but this one is only 150 footer, came in and dock right across from us blocking out the sun, if there was any. Speaking of weather, it has felt just like winter here, cold, windy and no sun.

The Little 150 Footer Docking. Can You See Our Little Boat Just In Front?

Our plans from Port McNeill is to leave tomorrow, Saturday, and head up to the vicinity of Cape Caution. We have a 20 to 30 mile passage around Cape Caution which is open to the ocean and can be very nasty in high winds. We will find an anchorage that is close to Cape Caution and wait for a good weather window to go around. Right now the forecast says that will be Monday morning. If it doesn’t come, we will go back into the Broughtons and just cruise around there waiting for good weather. Sometimes it can take 2 weeks to get the weather one wants to go around.