Aye Aye, Captain – should we tack the main sail, the fore sail, or the spinnaker?!

Nothing better than spending the first Saturday of October out on Okanagan Lake’s whitecaps with two experienced sailors in Greg and Heather of Rutland, BC. They were kind enough to invite us out on this dreary morning for a cabin cruise to nowhere in particular. The Kelowna Yacht Club was our starting point.

Around 10:15 AM, we boarded the Tommy Dog – a 25-foot Yamaha Mach II sailboat with an 8-horsepower engine capable of maxing out, according to skipper Greg, at eight knots. The boat was named after the couple’s beloved Shih Tzu that barked into doggie heaven in 2014. Life jackets were the first order of business.

Joining us on the voyage was Greg and Heather’s friend Jill. The two women were the top side trimmers, meaning that during the ride they would make adjustments to the sails to maximize their efficiency. Every so often they were called into duty to demonstrate their expertise. Shiver me timbers – they were skilled at their duties. The boat never listed. Nobody got wet. All Elaine and I had to do was sit near the skipper and enjoy the view.

 

We cruised both sides of the Bennett Bridge. Even with overcast skies, the scenery was fresh and fun to observe from a wavy perspective. There was more wind on the north side, we were able to pick up some pretty good speed. At one point, Greg let me hold the tiller for a couple minutes. For a brief interlude, I was Potoski the Sailor Man, and Elaine was Olive Oyl. Spinach, anyone?!

 

Greg admitted catching the sailing bug about five years ago in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia. During a trip there he and Heather sailed the Bluenose II, a 150-foot historic fishing schooner that has earned the reputation as Nova Scotia’s sailing ambassador. “The captain let me steer it,” cooed Greg. “I was hooked and started taking sailing lessons and working on a crew. It’s all paid off here in Kelowna. We really enjoy being out on the water and racing weekends.”

 

 

 

 

For historians and travelers, Lunenberg was designated a United Nationals Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in 1995. This designation ensures protection for much of the city’s quaint architecture and civic design, being the best example of a planned British colonial settlement in Canada.