Long Overdue Update

After sailing in the Swiftsure 2013 Light Ship Classic race from May 24-27 weekend, it was time to setup the boat for summer family cruising. The Swiftsure was a very light wind race, with much of the fleet not finishing the race.  After a trying trip out to the mark, the wind did pickup for the next 4-6 hours and allowed us to make it down towards Race Rocks before turning off again.  The crew stuck it out until there was absolutely no way for us to finish the race in the allotted time.  We called in and retired from the race about 4 miles west of Race Rocks.  Returning to Victoria, we cleaned up, dropped off crew  then Declan, Steve C and I started out for Vancouver. The wind came up to about 18kts from the south east and gave us great sailing almost out to Active Pass. After this the wind dropped and we motored the rest of the way.

Turnagain in Prideaux Haven

The summer consisted of many great days on the boat with the family. We got a couple of weeks in the early summer heat of July and made our way up to Desolation Sound. 

Anchored in Pendrell Sound

There were days in Pendrell Sound, Squirrel Cove, and Prideaux Haven with swimming, crabbing and exploring around. 

Sunset in Buccaneer Bay

Our next extended trip on the boat was mostly spent on the Sunshine Coast and Hornby Island.  There was the weekend in Secret Cove with the Sacre’s and Marchand’s, then three or four days in Buccaneer Bay with all of our GREAT friends there.  

Goofing around with SUPs

Morning Cocktails with friends

Travis and Steve

Then off to Hornby for 3 or 4 days with a surprise visit from Grandma and Grandpa in the Chris Craft. 

Sylvia catching jellies

Catharine up the mast

After Hornby, a quick night or two in Pender Harbour before heading back down to Secret Cove for another night.  We then wrapped up the holiday anchored in Buccaneer Bay.

Sylvia and Keelan at the Rendezvous

There were many weekend trips before, in between and after these extended trips which included the Beneteau Rendevouz at Thetis, Buccaneer Bay Sports day, Elliott Bay among others.

Callum at the Rendezvous, Thetis

Elliott Bay

Once the summer was wrapped up, it was time to start removing “family” gear and making the very long final push to VicMaui 2014.  We have stripped the bottom paint and repainted with VC Offshore, made changes to the SSB system, worked on routing software, made arrangements for “racing” cushions and had a few chances to have most of the crew out on the boat for some practicing.  The crew has not been finalized, but everyone is keen and eager to participate in the event.  Crew selection for the return trip looks to be more of a challenge, with currently only having one additional crew member having signed on. I hope to have 4-5 total for the return.

I hope to make more posts through the winter leading up to the VM and the prep races. As always, please check out our YouTube channel (turnagain50) for some videos of the boat and some of the family.  More will be posted as I edit and get them ready.

Travis

Overnight Sail

After some team gatherings in early October, we were able to plan an overnight practice session on Turnagain.  The night.. November 29.  The crew. Jason, Darin, Steve T, Declan, Karl, Ty, Dave (from the returning crew).  Steve C was unable to make it due to illness and Adam M had some family things to tend to.

 We finally all met at the Pier 7 dock in north van at 7:30 and promptly left for the night. Winds were forecast to build, but it did not look promising.  We motored out to about 2 miles west of Pt. Grey  bell buoy and had enough of a south east wind to start sailing. With the 140 Genoa and main, we reached across the straight for mid Gabriola Island. Half way across the wind had built to a steady 12-15 SE and we were running the lines for a spinnaker hoist.  The plan was to hoist the A3/4 with the forecasted 18-20Kt SE expected.  As we ran the lines and prepared for the hoist, the galley was busy preparing dinner.  We hoisted the spinnaker and beared off slightly to a 120 degree apparent wind angle in 10-14kts of wind.  Once the wind appeared to be building as forecast, the course was set for a “round Sangster” route.  Shortly after setting the spinnaker, a FANTASTIC lasagna (well… 3) was reheated and dished out with everyone stuffing themselves.   

The food was also a practice run for the big trip in July as we need to work on portions and prepared meals with enough healthy parts to keep us going. 

By 11 pm, the wind was steady 18 gusting up to 22-25 and the boat was rocking down to Sangster. With this kite up, the boat can do about 160 apparent if the wind is up to 20 ish kts and we were able to make great tracks towards our mark.  All crew had time on the wheel (except me, as I am hoping to get everyone very familiar with the boat before we head out for something more significant ;)).  By midnight the wind was steady over 20-22 and regularly gusting to 25 and a swell was starting to build. With Ty at the wheel and discussion of what to do if the boat starts to get over powered, Turnagain experienced its first “wipeout”.  We won’t hold this against Ty for too long, but after 7000 miles in not always calm conditions, it does take a certain skill to make this happen.  We douced the kite and sailed under white sails the rest of the way down wind to Sangster. At approximately 2:30 am, we rounded Sangster after picking our way through the reef waters and started to beat our way back up to Vancouver. The boat was doing well, although pounding a bit into the seas that had built.  

The group was fantastic and everyone did their part. We figured out a few short comings of the boat and of procedures, but things are coming together.  

I am looking forward to our next practice (unscheduled, but hopefully late January at the latest) and working with this group to get a machine running for the VicMaui 2014. 

Travis

Race Tracker Map

So the crew is en route, and they seem to be making progress in the light winds.   The Oregon Offshore Race Tracker map (www.oregonoffshore.org) from about 10:30am this morning shows Turnagain in the middle of pack, with the 'purple boats'.   Specifically, Turnagain is the boat pointing the wrong way, so let's hope they find a great pocket of wind and jump to the front of the pack!

Catharine

OREGON OFFSHORE - OFF TO THE RACES

Just a quick note to update you all. Some of you may know more about this project than others, but most know that we have been preparing Turnagain for some distance racing. Our first official distance race is scheduled to start at 10 am PDT today (May 9,2013).

The delivery crew (Steve C, Jason B, and myself) got the boat to Astoria last weekend with minimal damage and some fantastic sailing. Jason had to return to Vancouver on Monday, but Steve and I spent the week prepping all last minute items. The remainder of the crew arrived Wednesday afternoon (David S, Darin F, Keith A) and after our skippers meeting are ready to tackle the course.

Feel free to follow along on the race tracker at www.oregonoffshore.org

The winds are forecast to be light, so it may be a real struggle to keep the boat moving in the right direction, but we are excited to get the race going.

Travis

VICTORIA TO ASTORIA

So Travis, Steve, and Jason left for Astoria (Oregon) on Saturday May 4th from Victoria.   Here is a picture shortly after they left Victoria:

 

 

Travis reported they were sailing under spinnaker and full main at 7-9 kts in almost the perfect direction. 

 

The kids and I watched their progress on the marine traffic website until their transmitter lost contact as they rounded the outside of the Olympic peninsula.  Sylvia and Callum were quite cute, huddled around the ipad tracking Daddy's 'race'.  

It was a little unnerving to know they were out there somewhere (in the dark) but we couldn't see them on the map anymore.  But at least we knew that the weather was favourable, so chances are they were ok.  We picked them up again on Sunday morning, and it looked like they were making great progress.   We followed them into port in Astoria, see the map below:

Looking forward to hearing how the trip was....will have to wait for an official update. 

Catharine

OREGON OFFSHORE 2013 - Turnagain's first offshore race!

The crew and the team at First Yachts have been working tirelessly to ready the boat for Oregon Offshore 2013.Turnagain’s first offshore race!!!  You can follow along on any AIS program, or www.oregonoffshore.org. 

With final touches being done on the boat Tuesday and Wednesday (April 30 and May 1, 2013) we will load the life raft and provisions Thursday evening and head out to Victoria. Ion is planning on meeting us in Victoria Saturday for an 1100-1200 departure to Astoria. 

The delivery crew is short consisting of Jason Bowman, Steve Corcoran and myself.  I am sure we will be relying on the autopilot (at least I will be J) to do a portion of the helm work. Current winds look like light NW winds for the trip, hopefully enough to push us along at a reasonable clip.

This winter and spring have brought many projects to Turnagain, including installation of SSB, fine tuning the water maker, an additional solar panel, inner fore stay, second chart plotter, and hardening of multiple items.  Most of the work has been performed flawlessly by First Yachts of North Vancouver with the remainder completed by the boat crew.

We will be using Oregon as a test of multiple systems, including SSB email and weather access.  As the distances and time frame of the trip is not extensive, it is a great time for testing such systems since the reliance of updates is not critical.

Travis