Our yacht club hosted their season-closing cruise at a nearby church camp for this long weekend. Friday night forecast was pretty nasty and indeed a system came through overnight that had many rafted boats awake and worried in total darkness, torrential rain and 40 knots gusts reported as they scrambled to secure the boats, anchor off etc.
We chose to head over Saturday, when they predicted some late afternoon clearing might be possible. The picture below was what greeted us at 10 am.
Though windless, as you can see, we couldn't believe our luck. This lighthouse:
Pt. Atkinson, was (100 years ago) considered a hardship posting well out of town with no access other than by water. Today it is smack in the middle of the area of the highest real estate prices in all of Canada!
13 boats made the trip by Saturday afternoon, most secured to the camp docks, with a few choosing to anchor off after the previous nights' excitement.
After dinner in the camp hall, a quiet night was had by all. However the forecast had turned again, a 980 mb low with another 970 mb close at its heels were lining up by noon, with storm force winds forecast for all regions.
We all piled out of there right after breakfast, but not quite fast enough for some... gusty rough conditions with heavy rain and winds to close to 30 knots made a bit of a handful. Most motored home (for shame!). We toughed it out, down to just a reefed main for a couple of miles before resetting a headsail and eventually having a great flat water beat into the bay and the harbour entrance.
Sitting at home now, it's really getting up out there and this system is here for the duration. Pretty comfy sitting here writing this now
Sorry, no pictures of the rough stuff, had our hands full. (besides those pics never seem to do the conditions justice anyhow)
Have a good holiday weekend!!
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