Author: Oarlock and Sail Wooden Boat Club

Our wharfingers Bruce and Sheila sent us an update on happenings at the dock and thought you might all want to know.

Ann Marie cast off last Friday on the first leg of her trip back to England. She is alongside at Brittania Heritage Shipyards until tomorrow when she will be hauled out next door at Trite. The new spars are waiting to be shipped and new canvas and running rigging has been ordered. The delivery crew have arrived, which should be a relief to Oz, and they are still hoping to head south soon.

We welcomed the newest addition to the fleet.  Ella McKenzie is a locally built 1951 tug boat. New owners Gideon and Bourton live close by and we are sure they will gladly answer any questions you have about their vessel.

Here are some progress pics on the BUTTONSWAN PROJECT.  Thanks Daniel for the pics.

 

We were part of the Granville Island Wooden Boat Festival again this year.

This is the bowsprit of the Anne Marie being worked on in front of our booth.

Here is Brent and Sebastion working on dorade vent boxes for the boat Richochet.  This demo organized by Peter and Brent, was a hit as it showed people the type of tools  we use and how this type of vent is made.  Many thanks to all the volunteers and Georgina for heading the organizing of this event.

Usually it is Rob who organizes the festival but this year he was doing a contract for Living Oceans and was up the tip of Vancouver Island in Sea Otter Cove picking up tsunami trash off very remote beaches.  One of our members Arnt also went up to help.  They probably gathered 50 giant bags of plastic, rope and styrofoam which amounts up to around 15000 pounds.   Lots of giant floats from fish farms and boats but lots of water bottles.  The take away from this is please don’t buy water in plastic bottles!  The bags will be picked up by helicopter and placed on a barge to be towed to Richmond for recycling, art projects, etc.  I am including this because as we all sail and row around the beautiful bays, inlets and islands of British Columbia it is important to realize how we keep it pristine. Here are a few photos of the salvage operation.