Sea Reach Adventures: A Relaxed Year for Sea Reach

2014 was a quiet year for Sea Reach. She spent most of the year at the dock while her crew set off on a number of land travels that brought them to Holland, Ireland and a return trip to Hawaii.

John and Ger did manage to get in a few weeks sailing and were delighted to be able to participate in some of Bluewater Cruising Association rallies, attending the May rally at Poet's Cove and the October Rendezvous on Thetis Island. Sailing buddies, John and Jane also took her out for a trip up to Desolation Sound in July.

Keats Island - looking out over Salish Sea

May Rendezvous - Poet's Cove

At the top of Mt.Norman on South Pender Island

Pip - relaxes on deck

In June, John and Ger headed off to Holland for a weeklong bicycle and barge trip of northern Holland. Holland is so bicycle friendly that it is a pleasure to meander around the countryside following the well-posted bicycle routes. We went with Flexitreks and found the tour to be good value for money, with excellent, friendly staff. The accommodations were basic when compared to a hotel but luxurious when compared to a sailboat! Best way to see Holland.

One of the 11 remaining working windmills in Holland

Cycling on Texel Island

Barge that serves floating guesthouse during our trip.

While in Ireland we also managed a few days on the water with trips on lough Derg on Andrew’s boat and 4 days cruising down the west coast from Galway to Baltimore in Cork while crewing on Artic Fern. We had never sailed off the west coast before. It was spectacular – even though Ger fell foul to mal de mer for the first 24hours. Rollers coming in off the north Atlantic proved a bit of a rollicking ride the first day. It was a great treat to sail past the famed Cliffs of Moher, moor off the Blasket Islands and salute the Fastnet Rock before turning into the shelter of Baltimore Bay.