Heading Out

So today is the big day.  Or rather tomorrow is but we're leaving for Nanaimo today to meet up with the previous owner and get a final run-through from him on the various systems on the boat.  We'll spend the night on the boat in Nanaimo and leave first thing in the morning for Vancouver Harbour.  It's a trip that takes less than 2 hours on the BC Ferry but on Ge'Mara we'll need every hour of daylight we can get.  The math is simple:  It's 38 nautical miles to Vancouver and our boat cruises under power at 5kts.  That's 7.6 hours.  With a nice puff we could make 6.5 or 7kts but unfortunately there is a big fat high pressure system sitting over the Georgia Strait and winds have been calm all week so it'll be the "iron sail" at least part of the way.  

There has also been a temperature inversion this week which, for the sake of anyone reading outside of Vancouver, is a common thing this time of year.   Temperatures aloft are around 10 degrees C but at sea level it's 2 or 3 in the morning.  Partly as a result of this we'll likely have fog patches in the Strait to deal with as well.  Our boat doesn't have radar but our GPS and charts will help us keep clear of the BC Ferry routes.  We also have an I-Phone app called "Shipfinder" that provides a dynamically updated view of commercially registered ships in the area and their heading.  

The Strait of Georgia with the most direct route marked.  We will likely steer a little more clear of the Ferry lanes

On the matter of seamanship, I have my CYA certification, along with introductory and intermediate cruising courses and time on the ocean in chartered boats.  To be safe, however, we have invited an expert along for the ride.  Our friend and previous co-worker Michelle previously owned a sailboat for many years and has generously offered to accompany us on the trip home while we get comfortable with the boat and I dust off my basic mariners skills.  I don't think a day of chugging under power on calm seas at 5kts was what she had in mind when she accepted the offer to join us but she's a good sport.  We'll have dinner at the Crow and Gate tonight and tomorrow we sail.  Can't wait.