I guess I was asleep at the wheel, but there seems to be a kafuffle brewing in Howe Sound. It seems the Artificial Reef Society is seeking a home for their latest acquisition, the HMCS Annapolis and are currently looking at Halkett Bay for her final resting place as an artificial reef (this after an attempt to sink her near Paisley Island).

The local residents and cottagers in Halkett have started a website at savehalkett.com that discusses the plans and offers feedback links to the powers-that-be.

Do members think that TCYC should have a stance on this issue and if so, should we be for or against it? Please weigh in with your opinions!

• June 27-28: Pirates' Cove
• June 29: Annette Inlet
• June 30: Winter Cove
• July 1: Winter Cove *** note: Saturna Island lamb BBQ/ country fair
• July 2: Tumbo Island
• July 3: Montague Harbour
• July 4: Connover Cove / Princess Inlet

All are spectacular anchorages, each with uniquely beautiful parks and walks ashore. This cruise is planned with short inter-island hops to maximize your hammock time. We will meander south through the Gulf Islands, then north again home. Multi day stopovers at Pirates Cove and Winter Cove (for the Saturna Island Canada Day lamb BBQ/country fair -- not to be missed!).

Pot lucks, happy hours, and shoreside excursions will be arranged on an ad hoc basis between the boats. There are some restaurants and other facilities ashore at some destinations, check your cruising guides/charts.

What to expect for weather? According to the weatherunderground.com site, the historical summary for June 26 - July 04 is:
Temperature: Average High 71 F, Average Low 54 F. There is a 96% chance of a Warm Day (109 days out of 113 in historical record).
Wind: The Average Wind is 3 mph with a historical range of 0 mph to 9 mph.

Members may join for some or all of the cruise (of course).

Members can contact me at rob_murray_ [at] hotmail.com with any questions.

Remember you can download and print the TCYC cruising/racing calendar to see all upcoming cruises and races.

Here are the predicted tides for the raft up, for Friday and Saturday. We are on a large rising tide right through 2245hrs/ 10:45pm. As Alder Bay is so protected we can expect less 'challenging' rafting conditions than we enjoyed at our last on the water event!

If you haven't been into Alder Bay before, the charted least depth at datum on the approach and in the basin is 2.3m/ 7.5ft., and it is clear of charted rocks and obstructions, just stay to the centre of the channel.

2009-06-12 (Friday)

Time Height

PDT (m) (ft)

04:12 3.2 10.5

07:54 3.5 11.5

15:14 1.1 3.6

22:45 4.5 14.8

2009-06-13 (Saturday)

Time Height

PDT (m) (ft)

05:08 3.0 9.8

08:53 3.3 10.8

15:48 1.4 4.6

23:15 4.5 14.8

Our next cruise is to Naniamo harbour this weekend, home of Newcastle Island marine park.

A great anchorage, lots of dock space, fireworks scheduled for Sunday night in the harbour, convenient ferries to downtown for the things you 'forgot', no currents to meet on the other side of the straight, Penny's Palapa for fish tacos on the town dock, the Dinghy Dock Pub a short row away - What's not to like?

Weather set to improve too - nice 5-15 knot SE predicted, with sunny skies.

Plan to be there and look for the other Tiddlies at 1800 on Saturday near the head of the dock for a potluck ashore, and remember to fly your burgee, of course.

See you there!

The first few photos of the raft-up album are up, in the gallery. Unfortunatelly, they're from the second try.. only 9 boats I think. We had nineteen boats (!) at some point, until the current broke us up..

Managed to get a bit of video, too..

Keep them coming people..

Many of you may have already read in Pacific Yachting that Granville Island is replacing all of its existing transient docks. They are now well on their way to completetion with new sturdy cement docks and cleats that look like they will not rip out of the dock. Not only will these docks be new but they will be bigger to accomodate more vessels.
~ Tyler

Due to overbooked docks at Snug Cove, the Easter weekend Cruise has been re-set to two popular alternate destinations in Howe Sound. The new schedule is:

Friday April 10, Port Graves, Gambier Island. (Optional: watch the start of the Southern Straights off West Vancouver. Racers are required to check in by 1015, first pre start signal 1025. Keep clear of the start line if a spectator!)

Saturday, April 11th, Plumper Cove, Keats Island.

Please try to arrive by 1630 at each destination and be prepared to participate in a potluck appetizer extravaganza with the other Tiddlies. Host Boat(s) for the Potluck will signal with erratic arm waving, and their skippers may appear intoxicated from a distance. This illusion may or may not disappear as you approach. Remember to fly your burgee so you can be sighted from a distance.

Looks like a slightly damp, but warm weekend with light southerly winds is in store for us. A gentle cruise to start the season in good company. See you there!

Have a look at the Cruising tab on the TCYC website link - It's time to book your holidays and clear the decks if you want to join in the two big cruises we have planned for the summer 2009 season.

Over Easter we will be at Snug Cove on Bowen Island, and the May long weekend is aimed at Newcastle Island/Nanaimo (fireworks and all!), make sure you mark those dates/destinations in your calendar as well!

Tracks and links to the forum discussions for the two planned cruises are below:

Gulf Islands/ Winter Cove Cruise June 27th to July 4th -- Discuss on the forums at link

Desolation Sound Cruise August 16th to August 29th -- Discuss on the forums at link

Steveston Marine is opening the store just for Tiddlies Thursday April 2nd, from 1900-2100, and offering us special deals. Steveston shopping night specials for TCYC members include:

• 20% Off all white tagged items in the store,
• 20% off white tagged blocks and rigging items from Harken, Barton, Ronstan, Spinlock, Seadog, Victory and Perko,
• 30% off all docklines,
• 25% off all Zincs,
• 10% off all anchor chain,
• Specials on the new 2009 Henri LLoyd, Helly Hansen, & Gul clothing lines,
• Boatshow pricing on Walker Bay Boats.

**Please note that while these specials are on in stock items, Steveston Staff will try to offer special pricing on any orders that are placed too.

The event is at the Vancouver Store, Thursday April 2nd from 1900-2100:

Steveston Marine
1603 West 3rd Avenue, Vancouver, V6J 1K1,
Phone (604) 733-7031

See you there!

Things like this can only happen around here!

The photos and text are from an email going around - not sure who the original author is, but the message that was forwarded to me by Tyler was sent by a "Brenda H" at thefishinhole.com

Caught 1-1/2 miles offshore while Fishing!

What is that?

Can it be, really?

It's a DEER!

...   ...   ... [ Read More >> ]

A month ago they announced it was canceled, but now, with new sponsors, the celebration of light is scheduled to go on in 2009! Stay tuned to Tiddlywinks, the cruising calendar will be updated with associated Tiddly rendezvous. Here is the release from the website:

VANCOUVER'S SIGNATURE SUMMER EVENT TO PROCEED IN 2009

VANCOUVER, British Columbia Thanks to the continuing commitment of the City of Vancouver, long-term sponsors and the generous support of new firework`s partners, the lights will light up the sky over English Bay again this summer.

Vancouver's signature summer event - the HSBC Celebration of Light is confirmed for four nights this July and August. "I'm very pleased to announce that the HSBC Celebration of Light will be taking place this summer," said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. "The fireworks are a fantastic family event and have become a summer classic in Vancouver - thank you to the sponsors and the community for rallying to make it happen."

The 2009 HSBC Celebration of Light will feature some fantastic new community events throughout the festival and host the fireworks at 10pm over Vancouver's English Bay beginning with London Drugs' Canada Night on July 22 and ending with Concord Pacific's China Night August 1. In addition, South Africa will be presented on July 25 and the UK on July 29.

"The HSBC Celebration of Light is the largest off shore fireworks competition in the world and a major tourism and economic development activity for all of Vancouver," said the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society Chair Brent MacGregor. "Every year our funding comes down to the wire and this year we truly thought it was over. But thanks to the ongoing support of the City, our previously existing sponsors - whose solid backing we have, and two new enthusiastic sponsors, the event is go for 2009! We would like to welcome those new sponsors, Shore 104 FM Radio and the Keg Steakhouse and Bar and also Edgewater Casino - thank you for partnering with our long-standing loyal supporters, we collectively remain one of Vancouver`s favourite events, on behalf of all of us, thank you! Thank you to all our great supporters," said MacGregor.

Sponsors for the 2009 event include: HSBC Bank Canada, Shore 104 FM Radio, London Drugs, The Keg Steakhouse and Bar, Concord Pacific Developments, Tourism Vancouver, BC Hydro, YVR Airport Authority and Edgewater Casino. "This fireworks festival is a much beloved institution in Vancouver. We are proud and excited to be the new broadcaster for the HSBC Celebration of Light - what a cool ride! We are so delighted as the fireworks light up the sky once again, and it's just exceptional to be here for Vancouver as we launch Shore 104 FM," said Roy Hennessy, President and General Manager of Shore 104 FM.

The Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society is a non-profit organization created in 2001 to produce and manage the HSBC Celebration of Light. The HSBC Celebration of Light Fireworks is one of the most renowned international fireworks competitions in the world, and Vancouver's signature free, family, fun summer event.

More information at: http://www.celebration-of-light.com/