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Alaska
1000 Cruiser Navigation Contest
Hi All:
We are at anchor in Squirrel Cove, Cortes Island, BC,
this morning. Scattered showers with lots of sun
breaks and little wind.
We started our journey in Olympia on May 28, running
the Capital to Capital Leg 1 race, then continuing on
to Hope Island for the night at anchor. On May
29, we motored through Deception Pass and over to
Blind Bay, Shaw Island, to anchor with the Coles on
Mousetrap. Sunday, we stopped at Friday Harbor
to pick up some last minute items, before continuing
on to Bedwell Harbour to clear Customs and spend the
night at Poet's Cove Marina and prepare for the
International Cruiser Race.
Monday, we competed in the ICR and continued on to
Nanaimo, BC. Did well on the ICR, finishing 1st
in Class and 4th overall, despite the fact that we
were racing in heavy fog and rain. We spent
Tuesday and Wednesday in Nanaimo in the rain and heavy
winds, waiting for a chance to cross Georgia Strait.
Thursday was Leg 1 of the Alaska 1000 race which was
part of the crossing. We left at 0500 with flat
calm seas and no wind. After rounding Balenas
Islands to head for Texada and Pender Harbout, the SW
winds picked up to about 25 knots, which made the last
leg of the contest very interesting in 4 foot seas and
us riding the troughs. We finished in the middle
of the pack for Leg 1, then continued on to Pender
Harbour where the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club was
gracious enough to let us use their Garden Bay
Outstation docks and facility. Had a great potluck
dinner, then ran Leg 2 of the AK1000 on Friday, June
4, beginning at 0600 just outside Pender Harbour to
the Northeast corner of Texada Island, then continued
on in calm seas and bright sunshine to Squirrel Cove
to anchor. Finished in the middle of the pack on
Leg 2 also.
This morning, we are having light showers and broken
clouds and little wind, as we wait for the currents to
change in Yuculta Rapids. We will start out
about 0930 this morning to make the 1229 slack at Big
Bay, then continue on to Blind Channel Resort for the
night. We have dinner reservations at the fine
German restaurant at Blind Channel.
On Sunday, we will have Leg 3 of the race and end up
at Lagoon Cove where Bill and Jean Barber are planning
a crab feed for our group.
Surprisingly, we have had good cell phone and internet
service all the way to Squirrel Cove. Service
may become a little spotty from here on, but I'll give
you a new update in a few days if we have service.
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