David: Just finished the book on Captain Cook by Tony Horwitz – Into the blue: Boldly going where Captain Cook has gone before. A good read. He has done extensive research. He picks some of the key parts of the Cook story and tells the story in great detail so that you can feel what it was like to be at the location. He then adds his own travel log of how it feels being at the same location now. You feel really sad when you get to Captain Cook’s death on Hawaii. Overall the triumphs of the first and second voyage are replaced with the difficulties of the third and the sadness of what Polynesia has become since European contact.

David: When I was on Pender Island just off Vancouver there was an excellent book store where you could buy second hand books and get a credit for ones you bought back. Pictures of Pender in the Gallery

I got Thor Heyerdahl’s Sea Routes to Polynesia. Thor is famous for his Kon-Tiki expeditions where he sailed ancient South America designed balsa raft to Polynesia. The dilemma of the origins of the people of Polynesia is that they have many words in common with the Malay peninsula in South East Asia. Common belief was that the Malay must have island hoped in a South East direction to Polynesia. Thor argued that they couldn’t possibly have sailed against the currents and wind. He saw the language coming via British Columbia. In fact he pointed out the similarity of some of the physical characteristics of the Indians of British Columbia and the Polynesians. Modern DNA research has comfirmed his hypothesis

Thor also describes how to steer and tack a raft. There are dagger boards (called Guara) at the bow and the stern but no rudder. All you sailboards out there should get the principle quickly. To bear away from the wind in a sailboard you tilt the sail forwards. To tack you tilt it aft. Ok on a raft you don’t move the sail you create the same effect by lifting and lowering the Guara. Aft Guara up for a tack. Bow Guara up to bear away! There are references from early Spanish explorers reports that they were able to sail closer to the wind than the square riggers of the 16^th Century

David: Still loosing weight. Just breaking through the 100kg milestone. Weight was stable during the time in Canada but pleased that it didn’t go up. Getting diet food was surprising easy on the cafes of the sky slopes of Whistler. I think I was less successful with the far eastern food in Vancouver but it did taste good!

David: Updated my first aid at Port Edgar. Unlike the courses at work, you can visualise using first aid at sea, so the day feels critical and important. They have changed the resuscitation bit. You no longer waist time looking for circulation by hunting for the pulse etc you assume that if they aren’t breathing then the heart has stopped as well. DR ABC becomes DR AB – that is Danger Response Airway Breathing . Also you give 30 heart compressions to 2 breaths for all people, adults, children and babies. Link to good write up of this. To get the rhythym right they recommend signing nellie the elephant. This will give the 30 compressions

Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
And said goodbye to the circus
Off she went with a trumpety-trump
Trump, trump, trump

Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
And trundled back to the jungle
Off she went with a trumpety-trump
Trump, trump, trump

Lyrics link Music Link

David: I’ve uploaded the photos into the Gallery. Weather was kind. Trip included Whistler, Pender Island and sights of Vancouver.

David; Visiting Kirsty in Vancouver.

Surprised to see plenty of boats out sailing and motoring between the islands. I’ll collect together some photos and publish them on the site when I get close to leaving.

We had a great 2 days on Pender Island in the Southern Gulf Islands. Almost literally within a stone throw of the USA islands. Now back in Vancouver. Hope to visit Stanley Park and the marinas today. They are forecasting heavy showers so here’s hoping they fall elsewhere.

at about lat/long 49.28 -123.13

Not yet put these coordinates in the “where are we” section of the blog but you can enter into Google maps to see position

David: I’ve achieved the weight challenge. Lost the 1.5 stone. Lost 3.5 inches off the waist. You can see the pictures below. The old one is second (past the more)! OK still plenty to loose. I’m taking on a new challenge to loose another 1.5 stone. What should I hold out for as a reward for meeting the new challenge? [Read more →]

David writes: Saw a bit in our local paper that they are issuing a badge for the Women’s land army. The new scheme acknowledges the tremendous efforts of the Women’s Land Army by presenting their surviving members with a specially designed badge commemorating their service and acknowledging the debt that the country owes to them.

My mum was in the land army. My mum set me the weight challenge.

[Read more →]

Got to see an exhibition of Pam Carter in the Morningside Gallery, Edinburgh in February. We have seen her work several times before in the Gallery on the Isle of Skye at Isle Ornsay. One year we bought this print (2001 I think). She normally sells in large envelopes. We asked if it could be rolled gently and packed in a black bin liner to help with its trip back to the boat in the rain. [Read more →]

I have passed the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean oral exam. This is the top sailing qualification of the RYA. So I feel I deserve recognition – saluting and calling me Sir will do! [Read more →]