經過快二個月一連串的震撼教育，一天通過二個急流、在20節海風下掌舵或跑前跑後調整主前帆居然已經不再讓我驚恐莫名。從Blind Channel往北立刻就得通過綠峽急流，我們開著引擎前進，通過後升起帆開始航行。在行駛至漩渦急流之前，風力增強至時有20節風。Rob運用一古老控帆技術使船在大風中可以稍做停留，降下稍許主帆，讓我們的船仍可以同等速度前進卻不會大幅傾斜，我則掌舵讓船能夠最靠近逆風方向前進。
「漩渦急流」聽來恐怖，但是通過急流並不可怕，反而急流前亂竄的水流讓我們的船歪歪扭扭的掙扎了一陣子才得以通過。
通過漩渦急流右轉就是前進灣。剛剛經歷過的強風在這裡因天然屏障而消失無蹤。灣裡寧靜得只聽到不遠處海鷗在水流上升處爭食、以及瀑布流水聲。我們就差一點到達停泊處，但船靜靜的停在水面上，倒影清晰可見。
我一心想結束精彩的一天，然而Rob則覺得如此寧靜之下，開引擎未免太煞風景。而且，英雄式的張帆通過急流，卻開引擎進灣下錨不是英雄氣短。因此他堅持等待風起，甚至有時船會因水流而後退。
我們曾因是否開引擎而爭吵，也因我不失去耐心等待而使關係緊張。這次，我決定跳下小舟，在平靜的水面上划船，享受我的灣內生活，兩全其美。
Forward Harbor
[translation]
To Forward Harbor
After two months of sailing boot camp, passing two tidal rapids in one day, sailing through 20 knots of wind running forward to make sail changes and steering the boat when it's heeled well over no longer fill my heart with fear.
Immediately after leaving Blind Channel we were confronted with Green Point Rapids. We motored through and then raised our sails. By the time we reached whirlpool rapids, the wind had climbed to 20 knots. Rob used and old sailor's trick, “heaving to,” to bring the boat nearly to a stop while he put a reef in the mainsail. We kept the same speed but the boat was no longer heeled over so hard. I steered the boat as close to windward as I could to make good distance upwind.
“Whirlpool Rapids” sounds pretty scary, but in actuality, this set of rapids is tame. In fact, the turbulence preceding the rapids was more difficult to navigate, causing us to turn and lurch suddenly from side to side before eventually letting us pass.
Immediately After whirlpool rapids is the entrance to Forward Harbor. I was ready to end the day. I'd done enough. Rob, on the other hand, didn't want to disrupt the peace of evening by starting the engine. Besides, after “heroically” transiting the rapids under sail, starting the engine to get into the anchorage seemed like a defeat to him. So he stubbornly waited for the dying wind to offer him enough headway to make it through the narrow channel. Instead, the boat stopped in the water and then began drifting backwards on the ebb tide.
In the past we have argued about whether or not to start the engine. My impatience and his stubbornness have caused tension and discomfort in our relations. This time, instead, I jumped in the dinghy and rowed into the anchorage enjoying some quiet time alone in the bay and left Rob to enjoy his endeavors on his own.
Forward Harbor
[translation]
To Forward Harbor
After two months of sailing boot camp, passing two tidal rapids in one day, sailing through 20 knots of wind running forward to make sail changes and steering the boat when it's heeled well over no longer fill my heart with fear.
Immediately after leaving Blind Channel we were confronted with Green Point Rapids. We motored through and then raised our sails. By the time we reached whirlpool rapids, the wind had climbed to 20 knots. Rob used and old sailor's trick, “heaving to,” to bring the boat nearly to a stop while he put a reef in the mainsail. We kept the same speed but the boat was no longer heeled over so hard. I steered the boat as close to windward as I could to make good distance upwind.
“Whirlpool Rapids” sounds pretty scary, but in actuality, this set of rapids is tame. In fact, the turbulence preceding the rapids was more difficult to navigate, causing us to turn and lurch suddenly from side to side before eventually letting us pass.
Immediately After whirlpool rapids is the entrance to Forward Harbor. I was ready to end the day. I'd done enough. Rob, on the other hand, didn't want to disrupt the peace of evening by starting the engine. Besides, after “heroically” transiting the rapids under sail, starting the engine to get into the anchorage seemed like a defeat to him. So he stubbornly waited for the dying wind to offer him enough headway to make it through the narrow channel. Instead, the boat stopped in the water and then began drifting backwards on the ebb tide.
In the past we have argued about whether or not to start the engine. My impatience and his stubbornness have caused tension and discomfort in our relations. This time, instead, I jumped in the dinghy and rowed into the anchorage enjoying some quiet time alone in the bay and left Rob to enjoy his endeavors on his own.
