Wednesday 3rd July 2013
HAPPY 4th of JULY to my US friends!
Gentle sailing overnight at 2.5 kt in WSW wind. Light was still lingering on NE horizon at 230 am with a crescent moon low in the E and lots of stars overhead – the plough high up, no longer the southern cross as used to be the case.
Mid-morning a thin cloud layer spread across a lovely sunny blue sky which later became broken cloud.
1215 pm (1315 PDT) A red Canadian surveillance plane (#951) flew over and around. I got quite excited and took a photo of it and waved at it. Was sorry to find the VHF radio was switched off and when I switched on the radio a short while later I heard the plane speaking to a vessel not far away and called it. I was told they’d taken photos and wanted to post them to my website so I gave them the email address. Gathered that they had very promptly emailed them and they were equally promptly posted to the website – many thanks to Kim Pearce and Jak Mang for that.
It was quite warm over the day and a storm-petrel was keeping us constant company. I decided to search for my various flags in the forepeak. I could not find the code flags which I want to use for dressing the ship overall when I arrive to celebrate my circumnavigation.
Several ships have passed near – all showing up on AIS screen, with alarm beeping if any is set to come too close. The AIS screen started showing the N end of Vancouver Island in the afternoon – landfall is imminent!
Ran the engine in neutral – to check it was okay, to charge the batteries, to give hot water and to heat the main cabin (a fan heater uses the engine cooling water).
9 pm Pink sails in the sunset – a dramatic red glow in the west lit up the goose-winged sails.
950 pm Called Tofino Coast Guard / Marine Traffic Control on HF radio and finally made contact.
24hr DMG to 2300GMT: 60n.mi. Strait of Juan de Fuca: 261n.mi. (103T); Victoria: 319n.mi.
From: KC2IOV/MM by HF radio. Transcribed by Rick, VE7TK, Victoria, BC via Ham Radio for posting
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http://www.7163net.com Current Position Reported by Ham Radio with Google Earth Tracking