Celebration of Light Cruise

This year the competition will be between Canada, USA and China!

The July 26 event will show the USA efforts to win this years competition and we will be able to see it in a front row!

We will depart from Vancouver Marina with at least 2 boats before noon on Saturday July 26th and head to English Bay in order to anchor one of the boats right at the edge of the safety perimeter and then we will leave the second boat anchored at False Creek. This two "mother ships" will serve as a gathering point to raft for other boats that might arrive later on the day, however, it is strongly recommended to be there as early as possible.

After the show has ended we will wait for most of the other boats to clear the area and then we will raft to the boat left at False Creek to spend the night there and return home on Sunday.

For those of you who do not want, or can not bring your boats, a dinghy "shuttle" will be arranged to pick you up and drop you off... Just bring your life jacket and something good to pay for the shuttle services...

Please contact me as soon as you know if you are attending!!!

We will set a list of people attending and what to bring for dinner as soon as possible...

Why are we going on the 26? Well, just because it is on a Saturday...

Why not for the Grand Finale? Because we will be in our August long weekend cruise to Silva Bay...

To see the program for the USA show click here

For the official boating safety instructions click here

Bill Fredericks Memorial Service At Sea

Bill Fredericks Memorial will take place this coming Sunday, July 20th.

We will be leaving the Vancouver Marina docks at 11:00 am and heading towards the mouth of the North Arm. The final location for the Memorial will depend on weather conditions.

If you are planning to attend please contact Neil McLeod via cell phone: 604-278-5446 or via e-mail: nmcleod@telus.net


He is the Coordinator for this special event and is keeping track of the boats that have confirmed as well as allocating those of you that want to participate and do not have a boat or, for some reason or another, can not bring your boat as crew in somebody else's vessel...

To all the boats attending, we will be monitoring VHF channel 9.

Please join us (with or without a boat) for this important event.

Canada Day Cruise Chronicle

I am glad to say that the Canada Day Cruise was a great success!!!

All the boats who signed to attend did show up at a time or another... First to arrive was Grand Quetzal followed by Forever and Sirena. All of them were there Friday. On Saturday Stainle$$ Steal and Dolphin arrived at Plumper Cove as well and on Sunday Coronita and Summer Sunset joined us at Gibsons...

The weather was great all the time, which aloud time to do some painting work
on Forever's anchor pulpit










That sure looks nice!!! Now we all have to check our own boat's bow and start working with the sanding paper and re-stain them... Last I saw, Stainle$$ Steal has already done it!

There was also a nice dinner at the dock... Right beside Stainle$$ Steal where AYC invaded the full dock space!!! We were the envy of many who walked by!!!















We even had a "rescue" mission where Mr. McClelland bravely went for a dive trying to rescue a ring that Miriam (Dolphin) lost, a fork that belonged to Forever but that was accidentally dropped into the water by Nini (Dolphin...again...) and a screw driver which also belonged to Forever but that was dropped by Bob (Sirena) while trying to remove the dock's plank looking for Miriam's ring... The mission was 1/3 successful as the screw driver was recover... We'll leave the ring and fork as an offering to Plumper Cove...


Here is the rescue operation under close supervision by Vida...










Sunday came and we left towards Gibsons, a treacherous cruise, appropriate only for seasoned sailors, braves of heart...

Here we were rejoined with Sirena and welcomed Coronita and Summer Sunset.

Word is that something sticky happened to Coronita's and Summer Sunset anchors... Hmmm... Maybe Bent Shaft Award material?... Keep me posted!!!

Monday night we went for dinner at the Waterfront Restaurant where we had quite a good meal, enjoyed great company and a great view...
Hey Mr. Commodore!!! Shouldn't you be looking at the menu instead of comparing digital cameras?











While we were at it, three vessels came into port and immediately after dinner we went over them and invited to join the AYC...
If you want to know more about this Canadian Navy Vessels, CLICK HERE...















We are still waiting for their application to arrive in the next few days...

However, while we wait, I am happy to announce that Tony, a former AYC member, has rejoined the club!!! He lives in the white boat with the flower pots and runs both the Marina and the water taxi at Gibsons... Great to have you back on the AYC Tony!!!















Canada Day came with a bright sunshine and we all went to the town for the celebration















Which included a nice ceremony where the local First Nations welcomed all the neighboring First Nations as well as the RCMP officers on board of the canoes...

All in all we had a great time, shared great weather, food and friendship...















We only missed all of you who couldn't join us for this cruise...

We sure hope to have you all in the next one!!!

Canada Day Long Weekend Cruise Plan

Hello everybody!!!

The itinerary is ready, the plan is settled, reservations have been made!!!

So, here it is:

Friday 27:

For those brave ones daring to leave early, we will be at anchor or at the dock at Plumper Cove (I heard somewhere that those who dare go out Friday should be wearing ear plugs in order to avoid been diverted by the Mermaids singing as Sirena might want to lure you into their spell as they are leaving even before Friday)

Saturday 28:

For those early risers, breakfast will be served... I can offer some freshly brewed coffee and there is a rumor that some great muffins are Forever being baked every morning...

Later on we will have some leisure time and we will get ready for a pot luck Picnic onshore... Bob and Audrey might bring a BBQ that are donating to the Club, and we will bring our own boat BBQs and get some burgers done... Hopefully the weather gods will help us out and we might even have a nice campfire and melt some marshmallows and tell stories at night for kids and adults delight...

Sunday 29:

With great mixed feelings we will have to wave goodbyes to those of you that have to go back home as work won't let you stay on Monday... The rest of us will start the long and complicated Journey into the far, far, far away Gibson's Marina...

Monday 30:

Free time to wander around... I've been told there are some nice stores in town...

We have a dinner reservation at 6 pm at the Waterfront Restaurant... I have never eaten there but read some good reviews and the place has a nice view!

Tuesday July 1st: CANADA DAY

Gibsons is having it's own Festival at the Winemaker Park, just a stroll from the marina...

Later on those ones with some time concerns might go back home, otherwise feel free to join me in my trip to Princess Louisa Inlet...

Boats attending:

Forever (Neil McClelland)
Sirena (Bob & Audrey Gautschi)
Stainle$$ Steal (Doug & Brenda Bowers)
Grand Quetzal (Noel & June Phillips)
Coronita (Neil & Karen McLeod)
Dolphin (Antonio & Miriam Hurtado)

And a special welcome to Summer Sunset (Steve and Marguerite Donovan) in their first cruise as AYC members!!!

We have some other members that might join us as well... Let's hope they can join us!

Navigation highlights: (Click at the images to view a larger image)

This Google Earth image is not intended for navigation, please use proper navigational charts. Approximate cruising distance is 22 nautical miles each way.

Tides at Point Atkinson: