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Fostering seamanship and friendship for people with an active interest in offshore cruising. Bluewater Cruising Association Vancouver In-Person Club Night – Sailing With Josh: A Flicka 20’s Pacific Odyssey When: Wednesday, February 12, 20251900hWhere: Scottish Cultural Centre8886 Hudson StVancouver, British Columbia CanadaContact: Heather Marshallvanspeakers@bluewatercruising.org Sailing With Josh:A Flicka 20’s Pacific OdysseyWednesday February 12, 2025Britannica defines an odyssey as – 1. literary: a long journey full of adventures. 2. : a series of experiences that give… Read More
A boat that wants to achieve balance is motivating, fun, and easy to sail. An endearing quality of Sampaguita, my Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20, is her willingness to steer herself. I remember the feeling of excitement, having just changed boats from a squirrelly Columbia 26 MKii, when I first realized how easy it was to balance the Flicka. It was easy to imagine the fun and freedom I would have. When single-handing in… Read More
It was Day 15 of my 2017, “June on the Hook” expedition, in Sampaguita, my Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 sailboat, and a leisure day in Canada’s Vancouver, British Columbia. I was anchored in False Creek, and it was here that I considered the international affair of “the boaters’ gaze” and “the anchor stare.” In False Creek it is at its extreme. Most boaters do “the gaze” whether they admit it or not. Being… Read More
Try to say that three times fast! The Skookumchuck Narrows, often called the Sechelt Rapids, are a tidal rapid along the Sunshine Coast of Canada’s British Columbia. With currents on spring tides in excess of 16 knots, they are one of the fastest flowing tidal rapids in the world. If you read much of my blog, you will see that I have an affinity for the coast of British Columbia. Natural phenomena such… Read More
Approaching Nootka Sound It’s heady sailing to a place Captain Cook sailed to. Nootka Sound, on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, was that place for me. When I left Port Langford on the north side of Nootka Island, headed south, I was undecided whether to go on the outside or inside. With the morning winds light, I headed for the inside. However, they picked up before I had gone very far, so… Read More
There is some great footage of Hot Springs Cove in their latest episode. This was the last place we encountered each other during our travels. Their visit coincides with my brief excerpt: Hot Springs Cove….Again Click the link for more about Tiffany and Lyndon’s story. They in their Niagara 35, and me in my Flicka 20, tag-teamed down the West Coast of Vancouver Island for 11 days in June 2018. They are very… Read More
I was rinsing down the anchor gear on deck of Sampaguita, my 1985 Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20, back in my home port when a dock mate walked by. He asked,” how much anchor rode is that?” “300 feet,” I replied. “Do you really need that much?” “Yes, if I anchor in 60 feet of water and I put out 5:1 scope, I do.” I have used all of it at times. In the… Read More
sailingwithjosh
Sailing With Josh 