Sunday June 5th
A lovely sunny morning and it promises to be a warm day. There's a light breeze pushing the bronze leaves of the maple trees outside. Despite the sun we collect our jackets. We're off sailing.
Nancylee collects Himself and me and we drive to The outskirts of Steveston to Bob and Sally's were we swap cars and with Sally we set off to Garry Point in Steveston with Bob now driving their RV.The Tall Ships are in dock and we going sailing in The schooner Zodiac
A lovely sunny morning and it promises to be a warm day. There's a light breeze pushing the bronze leaves of the maple trees outside. Despite the sun we collect our jackets. We're off sailing.
Nancylee collects Himself and me and we drive to The outskirts of Steveston to Bob and Sally's were we swap cars and with Sally we set off to Garry Point in Steveston with Bob now driving their RV.The Tall Ships are in dock and we going sailing in The schooner Zodiac
The last American pilot schooner
Launched: 1924
Designer: William H. Hand, Jr.
Sparred Length: 160 ft.
Length on Deck: 127 ft.
Beam: 25.5 ft.
Displacement: 147 tons
Rig: Two-masted Gaff
Builder: Hodgdon Brothers Shipyard, East Boothbay, ME
Speed under power: 9 knots
Maximum hull speed: 13.4 knots
Well that's the technical bit out of the way! Not that it makes much sense to me!
It's quite early just before 8.30 in the morning and Garry Point the western tip of Steveston is busy. There's a long line up of people who was to sail but haven't already bought tickets. We saunter past them to the point where we need to give our personal details to a crew member. I guess that's in case we fall overboard!
It's quite early just before 8.30 in the morning and Garry Point the western tip of Steveston is busy. There's a long line up of people who was to sail but haven't already bought tickets. We saunter past them to the point where we need to give our personal details to a crew member. I guess that's in case we fall overboard!
Steveston was a small Fishing village. Now its a pretty heritage tourist attraction in the southern arm of the Frazer River Delta. To accommodate the Tall Ships, all four of them a new jetty had to be built out into the river.
The ship we are sailing on is the Zodiac built in 1924 as a birthday gift from one Johnson brother to another. Although a pleasure ship it was built as a fully working Fishing schooner and has been fully restored as it was when it was built. Quite a few of the 13 crew are women as is the First Mate.
This schooner is the Lady Washington and she featured in the Pirates of the Carribean films.
The diesel engine is used to sail out of the Frazer river delta before the sails are raised. It's quite a strenuous job, pulling on ropes to raise the heavy canvas sails. Passengers are asked if they would like to volunteer. Quite a few do.
Out in the open sea the wind needed to fill the sails is quite chilly our jackets are welcome protection against the chill. Below in the Galley coffee and Muffins are available. Although we are in open sea all around we can see land, The islands that surround the mainland of Canada The distant mountains of Vancouver's Coastal Range are still snow covered at their caps.
No sign of sea sickness for anyone today. Himself breaks out the new binoculars. I feel it should have been a telescope!
On the homeward tack a passing crew member press ganged 'Himself' to sail us back to port. They did give him instructions as he sailed, thankfully and he had a great time. A promotion is now in order to Captain 'Mad Moose' Ilett.
The sails are lowered and furled by crew and volunteers as we near the dock,
Almost back at port. Along the rock breakwater protecting the Harbour Bald Eagles swoop up and down. Seals and sea lions bask on the rocks in the warm sunshine.
After disembarking we find our waiting chauffeur the ever patient, Bob waiting to collect us to go for a Pup lunch in the Buck and Ear. (Good pun!) By this time Steveston is heaving with people. The queue for Pa Jo's fish and chips is so long. At the Pub Nancy and John the 'non sailors,' have a table waiting for us wind swept hungry sailors!After lunch 'Captain Mad Moose' departs to embark on the Lady Washington for the afternoon. The Lady Washing leaves port and embarks on a cannon fight with The Hawaiian Chieftain
The complicated Lady Washington rigging.
The Victorious Lady Washington sails home with all crew and passengers intact.
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