Preparations

Pre-cruise preparations were mentally divided into two categories: Boat, and Crew.  Although we shared in both parts, preparing Sirius was primarily my responsibility.  So, let’s start there.  Besides, it seems the easier topic. 

Preparing the Boat

Two years ago, I began preparing Sirius to compete in the Swiftsure International Yacht Race.  The

 race organizers require that all yachts racing the longer courses meet the Pacific International Yachting Association Category I standards -- “Yachts capable of racing exposed waters where the vessel must be self-sufficient and capable of enduring heavy storms”.   I felt that this was also a good list of requirements for any yacht headed off on an extended wilderness cruise.

When making required upgrades, I chose solutions that would more than comply with the minimum intent.  For example, Article 3.1 requires “Separate emergency steering apparatus adequate to steer boat in event of loss of rudder.”   Drift logs are a common hazard in these waters, and Sirius has a spade rudder that could be vulnerable to a log strike.  So, I installed a Hydrovane emergency rudder system.  When the molded nylon blade and tiller are mounted to the shaft kept bolted to the transom, this system steers our J/32 very well on all points of sail.  Similarly, I chose spare running lights and battery, (section 3.12) which met US and Canadian coast guard requirements for a sailing vessel. 

The list of boat systems spares was also beefed up.  The old alternator was carefully packaged and stowed, along with a spare engine fuel lift pump, substantial lengths of fuel hose and appropriate diameter water hoses, the two molded water hoses for the Yanmar cooling system, several primary and secondary fuel filters, supplies for two oil changes (oil, filters, pump, empty containers for the used oil), spare raw-water pump impellor, an old thermostat (which we did need – see Journal for 22 June), etc. 

The standing rigging is inspected from the truck down each year before we race the Swiftsure.  Since the 2007 race was a heavy weather race, I inspected the standing and running rigging again before starting our cruise.  A spare main-halyard was stowed below along with various lengths of spare cordage.  Our heavy weather sails were inspected, tested and stowed.

We use an inflatable Grabner kayak as our tender.  It is relatively easy to paddle when exploring anchorages; light enough to launch and retrieve easily; and can be stowed in a locker when sailing in exposed waters.  We added some spare components here as well, just in case something went by the board when assembling it. 

A full set of paper charts for our entire route was stowed aboard to complement the chart-chips for our GPS chart plotter.  We also carried the appropriate tide & current books and coast pilots for the waters we intended to travel.  We carried a variety of cruising guides and resource materials which are summarized in another sidebar.  Organizing and stowing all this was a bit of a challenge, but well worth the effort.

I also stowed aboard a 5-gallon jug with kerosene for our diesel furnace (it runs cleaner on kerosene than on diesel).  However, the kerosene can also be used by the main engine in an emergency with the addition of some engine oil to enhance the lubricity of the fuel.  Later in the trip, we did refill this jug with diesel before we left Sandspit and expected to travel for two weeks or so before resupply.

Crew Preparation

The issues here are both mental and physical. We both felt healthy enough to mange the rigors we expected to encounter; and we felt that our partnership was strong enough to mange two months on a small boat.  At 32 feet and about 11,000 lbs, the physical demands of sailing Sirius are within our personal limits without electrical aids – which increases our peace of mind.  Although I can haul the anchor and rode by hand, I did install an electric windlass before this trip.  It was a great convenience, but the real purpose was to help MJ haul the anchor if I were injured and unable to do so. 

MJ observed before we left, that this – our first really long cruise, and largely in waters new to us – “will change us”.   She was right; it did.  Fortunately, the changes were quite positive.  We came home with an enhanced sense of teamwork and appreciation for one another.  This positive outcome was, in part, a result of having built our confidence in each another, and Sirius, through stages.  First came cruises in local waters in relatively benign weather.  These were followed by longer cruises, with periods of rougher weather.  Last year, beating into 25 – 30 knot head winds out to Neah Bay en route to Hot Springs Cove (up the coast a bit from Tofino) significantly increased MJ’s confidence.  Racing Sirius at night, in heavy weather, had already given me confidence that our J/32 is not just a pretty face.  Bottom line: we knew that we would be “pushing back the boundaries” on this cruise, but that it would not be too big a push.