Trawlertalesld

May 06, 2006

Welcome to Canada!

We started our maiden voyage of "Voyager" on May 5, 2006, Rosemary's and my birthdays! Yup, born on the same day, 1/2 hour and one hospital room apart, 48 years ago. This was our first trip into the open ocean and since we came into this world together we figured it fitting to go out together if there were a problem. Well there was our share of shake out problems but nothing we couldn't cope with. This first couple days out gave us the chance to remind us of why we do this boat thing. The weather was great, we were able to cope with the new boat gremlins and last but not least, the people we meet. The great people encountered are reason enough to put up with all the mal de mer you can through at us.

Our first port-o-call was Poets Cove on South Pender Island. We put the dinghy in the water but ran into a starter issue. (A new starter was quickly shipped to us overnight by Steve Guyer, Guyer Boatworks, way to go Steve!) I eventually got it going and checked in via phone/CanPass on the docks. A very painless process that ended with a "Welcome to Canada." Those words really hit home since it’s been a long road to get the boat this far. Our initial order was placed in the fall of '03, three trips to China, 5 months and counting being commissioned, and a long first day from Lake Union, through the locks and up into the islands. Our open water sailing experiences give little insight to coping with the tides and currents of the Pacific Northwest. We have read and heard much about whirlpools, going aground and making little or no speed over ground so it was a little intimidating at first but we are expanding our comfort zone everyday. We finally settled in with a bottle of wine, compliments of Friday Harbor Yacht Sales, an absolutely peaceful anchorage, and our first night on the hook in our new birthday present to each other. We were exhausted.

Our next day was full of anticipation. We had set a date in stone with my (Les) parents months ago to meet in Vancouver. This trip was to come at the end of Dad's radiation therapy so we absolutely did not want to miss it. We set up the Strait of Georgia and entered into the Vessel Traffic Service operated by the US and Canada. This is a great resource when traveling the interstates of the waterways. We were advised of oncoming and overtaking vessels the entire way up to Vancouver. Before we reached the entrance to the city of Vancouver we were handed off to Vancouver traffic. I was given a clearance to follow an oil barge and maintain my distance until it cleared the bridge in about 2 hours. About this time all of my electronics go out. We are now looking at landmarks for navigational references, turning off alarms saying they have no position coordinates and recovering from the autopilot that has gone into 90 degree hard turns to starboard. Oh yeah, it's raining hard and I'm in a traffic pattern with no previous experience with this boat and this coast. I'm glad I'm here and not in an airplane though! After things are just about settled down and I know what I'm doing I get a call on the VHF from the Canadian Coast Guard/Vessel Traffic Service. "Motorvessel Voyager give me a call on your cell phone"

I always love when government officials take time out of their day to talk to me. I really swell up inside with anticipation when people say they are from the IRS, US Coast Guard, District Attorney offices….. Well you know you have to make the call, so here we go.

"This is Les Dobbe from the M/V Voyager, you requested a call?

Vessel Traffic "Yes I did. Is this Les Dobbe?"

"Yes Sir it is"

Vessel Traffic "I bet you are wondering why I asked you to call me?"

"Yes Sir I am"

Vessel Traffic "Well I've been following you up the coast of BC and I have to say that I'm a Selene wanna-be. I've got your web site up in front of me and by the way, how come you haven't updated it?"

I can't restrain the laughter at this point. I was ready for a lesson in Canadian navigation policies and procedures. With that out of the way I received an invitation to come and visit their traffic control center in Vancouver on the 23^rd floor. Before we hung up I was also given a hardy "Welcome to Canada"!

Entering Coal Harbor Marina,

Vancouver BC

Picture taken by Les's Dad

from 23^rd floor of our friends

Bruce & Opal Jacobs condo.