Navigating the Maritime: Small Vessels in Open Oceans
On a clear Sunday morning, with a light south-east breeze and a forecast of more wind to come, a group of small boat sailors embarked on a journey in the Strait of Georgia. Among them was Alex Zimmerman, sailing a small boat named Hornpipe.
The destination of the raid was Jedediah Island, 22 miles north-north-west from the starting point. As they ventured further, the wind turned into a real wind around 1130, causing Zimmerman to reef the sails to reduce the area. The waves by now were routinely 4-6ft high, with occasional waves reaching up to 8ft. Hornpipe, a displacement hull, surfs on the centre part of the hull at the top of the bigger waves.
Colin, in the smaller boat Bus Bailey, rowed to maintain direction and managed to stay afloat in the rough seas. As they approached Deep Bay, Colin suggested it as an alternative anchorage, which faces west and offers plenty of room. Upon reaching Deep Bay, Colin retrieved beers from his bag, a well-deserved celebration for a day well sailed.
Reefing the standing lug sails of Hornpipe's rig involves dropping the sail into the boat, shifting the tack pennant, tying in the reef points as you come aft, then shifting the sheet to the reef clew, and hoisting everything back up again. This process was repeated as the wind continued to blow, but the seas remained calm at anchor.
The day remained clear and sunny, with the sea sparkling blue in the sunshine, the foam showing bright white from the breaking waves, and the snow-capped peaks on the mainland shore shining in the distance. As night fell, Zimmerman experienced a night of unsettled weather at anchor in Pilot Bay. There was an amazing show of bioluminescence in the water during the night, a natural spectacle that added to the adventure.
The weather continued to be windy, and the sea state was growing. Codfish Bay, the initial destination, was unsuitable due to the south wind and high waves. The group determined that Deep Bay was the best place to stay for the night after communication with other boats and the mothership. Supper was prepared by Trevor, the Raid chef, and his assistants.
Swordfish's crew, meanwhile, repaired their broken mast using epoxy, pipe clamps, and a beach log. The wind was estimated to be 20 knots with gusts higher than that, but later found to be a steady 30 knots, gusting to at least 34, on the edge of being a gale. Despite the challenging conditions, Alex Zimmerman and Colin, operating their small boats, continued their journey, demonstrating the resilience and determination of small boat sailors in the face of adversity.
The sailors, including Alex Zimmerman on Hornpipe, adjusted their sail plans by reefing the standing lug sails due to the increasing wind and rough seas. Despite the adverse conditions, Colin maintained his course in the smaller boat, Bus Bailey.
