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                        Our home away from home..we dock just in front of red and white Ocean Cape

Back to Ron Francis Marina

The tension I felt riding a moped doesn’t even come close to what I was feeling on our way across the Strait of Georgia today. We, of course, checked the weather channel and the report was for swells up to two feet with winds 10 to 15 mph.  We had been in much worse conditions before and have heard similar forecasts and experienced a flat calm crossing…so we decided to go…but they lied.

Going through Active Pass was easy but once out in the Strait the waves grew in intensity. For three hours we were pounded by waves up to four feet. I was feeling quite nauseous and with the rocking of the boat, I stayed glued to my chair. We were moving into the waves so the boat’s motion was a forward rocking motion but then we got hit broadside and the boat pitched from side to side. The first casualty was the small desk in the wheelhouse which shook loose and crashed to the floor with phones, cameras and David’s computer hitting the floor and scattering.

About that time, David said that it was going to be another 2 hours to English Bay or we could go another 45 minutes and get to the Fraser River. I didn’t hesitate…”Head for the river!”

Up to that point we knew that there were items on the floor in the galley and salon which were knocked off their shelves. We heard a whirring noise and could not figure out what it could be. David climbed over the desk and the mind field of pans, pots and cookbooks and found that it was the blender that somehow had been turned on!

                                                    Galley Chaos!

I was heartened by the knowledge that the river was not far away but when we entered the Sandheads which is just before the mouth of the river, all heck broke loose.  We were getting hit on our side over and over by waves.  The boat pitched over so far that I truly believed that it was going to roll over. The aft bilge alarm started sounding but we knew the pump was on and it was not safe to move about to even check.

The big fear is certainly taking on water but you also have to be concerned about something being flung into the engine. There was nothing for us to do but have faith in our vessel and hold on. David was busy at the wheel while I kept very quiet and thought about all the actions that might have to be taken. I thought this misery would never end.

Once safely in the river channel, we surveyed the damage. What a disaster! Once I was able to walk around, I got busy cleaning up and that helped calm my nerves. There was tomato sauce and sausage on the floor that had splashed out from a pot that was still on top of the stove along with spices (some bottles broken), tea bags, pots, pans, and books. Miraculously, only one plate was broken! 

The biggest mess was in the machine room. David’s tools were everywhere! On the boat deck we found that our skiff had slid off the rear cradle and the bottom had been punctured by the sharp edge of it. How the strap which is secured over the motor came unfastened, which would have kept the boat in place, is a mystery to us (we do know that it was secured before leaving). The large table housing our chairs and large float scooted across the upper deck and over a 2 inch high 4 inch wide ridge of metal.

                                             Machine Room Mess!

The paint locker on the deck opened up and also the latches on the bulwark doors somehow became unlatched in the rolling and pitching, and we figure we lost at least two gallon cans of paint overboard.

There were many lessons learned from this experience. This was the scariest crossing in all the years we have been cruising, and we have had some tense crossings in the past.  We both have a renewed confidence in the Belle and how well she can handle perilous waters.

The docking at our home marina was our final challenge, and we had to fight against a swift current. I said a silent prayer pleading that after what we had just been through, a smooth docking would be most appreciated. Someone was listening.

Hope you have enjoyed our tales. Stay tuned…there will be more to come!

                                                                                           Dave and Pat Hitchcock

                                             Our mighty and much loved hero...