Sail Past launches boating season

BY MARINA SACHT

For many boat owners, a sail past signals the launch of boating season. The tradition began about 200 years ago in England and is a ceremony of respecting the commander-in-charge, an “inspection” and blessing of the boat. But this tradition, embraced by the Ladysmith Yacht Club (LYC), has grown into much more.

Indeed, the Ladysmith Sail Past is now considered one of the largest in the province, as it encompasses a shore component that includes a fleet parade, bagpiper, food truck, face painting and entertainment at Transfer Beach Park.

On May 6 at 1 p.m., participating vessels will assemble on the water at Ladysmith Marina. Following the commodore’s salute and the faith representative blessing of the fleet, the flotilla will motor out of the harbour towards Transfer Beach. A bagpiper will arrive around 1:30–1:45 as the flotilla gathers in front of the beach. The boats will sound their horns simultaneously before heading to Jane Gourlay Park in Saltair and then home.

Watch the parade from Transfer Beach, starting at 1:15 p.m., and take in some of the entertainment the yacht club provides. For details, call 604-910-2435 or visit ladysmithyc.bc.ca.

With the Sail Past, the Ladysmith Heritage Boat Festival and all the other events happening at the Ladysmith Community Marina, this is a chance to come out and celebrate boating here, according to LYC members Richard and Diane Kinar.

“We will have face painters for the kids, and music performer David Hart will entertain. The “Don’t Bannock” food truck is new and it’s a much longer route this year, so more people will be able to see the boats,” says Diane.

Last year, over 30 boats participated, and organizers hope to have even more boats attend this year. NDP MP for Nanaimo-Ladysmith Lisa Marie Barron will be in the lead boat.

“Traditionally, Sail Past is the start of the boating season for yacht clubs worldwide,” explains Diane. “We invite members from the executive of our neighbouring yacht clubs to come as well.”

Also attending will be the Ladysmith RCM-SAR boat, and the Ladysmith Maritime Society’s fleet of restored heritage boats will be following.

“It’s the club’s way of giving back to the community.”

The LYC is moored at the Ladysmith Marina, owned by the Oak Bay Marine Group. One of the main benefits of belonging to a yacht club is access to reciprocal moorage. New to boating, the Kinars joined for the camaraderie and learning opportunities from other members.

“It’s the opportunity to network and get to know people with either a similar interest or experience boating in different areas. As we’re coming out of the pandemic, we’re getting people back into wanting to be together, which is beautiful,” says Diane. “As well, there are discounts available that can add up to cover the cost of membership,” adds Richard.

The Sail Past is a way of galvanizing entities together to celebrate the waterfront’s importance. The number of pleasure boats leaving and coming each every day is impressive.

“And with the controversy brewing over the future of the Ladysmith Community Marina, this may help galvanize how important all of this boating activity is to the town and the business community,” says Richard.

“At this difficult time, it’s really important that we celebrate our waterfront heritage. We’re the northern entrance to the Southern Gulf Islands. Pleasure boating is worth billions of dollars to the BC economy, and we have the best coastal boating in the world here. And we shouldn’t ignore it; we should embrace it. That’s what the Transfer Beach celebration is all about: celebrating Ladysmith’s waterfront heritage and how important it is to the community.”

Ladysmith Yacht Club’s Sail Past.

Photo: Marina Sacht

Ladysmith Heritage Boat Festival

The Ladysmith Maritime Society’s annual Heritage Boat Festival is back. This year, the focus is on “working boats.”

The event is set for Sunday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Heritage Boat Parade will pass by Transfer Beach Park at 10:30 a.m. Locals and visitors will have the viewing pleasure of seeing these magnificent, restored boats pass by with a local announcer describing the history of each before they head back to the Ladysmith Community Marina. There you can see the boats and vessels from noon to 3 p.m.

The show’s big star is Dorothy, a beautiful 125-year-old 30foot sailboat that LMS volunteers have lovingly restored. This boat is an essential marine artifact representing an era of boat-building where aesthetics and speed were valued. Dorothy is one of the Pacific Coast’s oldest surviving boats and will be launched the day before.

Dorothy is owned by the Maritime Museum of BC and will be moored at LMS under a project partnership agreement between both organizations.

This family-friendly event features lots of displays, music, local artists and free harbour tours on the Maritimer. The organizers invite you to come to celebrate our maritime heritage!

The Ladysmith Maritime Society is a non-profit charitable organization that has been in operation since 1985.

Remember that Kids’ Pirate Day is June 3. For more information, visit lmsmarina.ca or phone 250-245-1146.

Team Forces of Nature: The Inside Passage

BY PAUL GREY BC MARINE TRAILS

The Forces of Nature is an eight-man team of six veterans and two civilians on a challenge starting May 1 to paddle approximately 2000 kilometres from Anacortes, Washington, to Skagway, Alaska. Their unsupported expedition has been in planning for four years. The cause they are raising funds for is The Not Forgotten charity, whose programs these team members have personally benefited from. Since 1920, this charity has supported wounded and disabled veterans to enhance their physical and mental well-being and con fidence, which, in turn, helps provide the foundations of a normal life with their families and friends. The team hopes the completion of this 90100-day challenge will be an inspiration to other veterans with personal injuries or disabilities.

Forces of Nature Team.

Photo submitted.

If you happen to be on Saltspring or Thetis Island in early May, you might see the team pass by en route, in three Kirton Inuk doubles and two single kayaks, accompanied in certain places by BC Marine Trails members. Overnight stops are planned according to average daily distances, weather and other factors. You will be able to track the team through their website and the BC Marine Trails Facebook.

Back in 2022, the BC Marine Trails (BCMT) assisted the Forces of Nature team with route and trip planning. The team soon ran into a fairly serious problem. Shipping kayaks from the United Kingdom to Washington State was very cost heavy. Starting in 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in signi ficant cargo delays, and the world was at a crawl into the next year. The cost of shipping boats to the United States approached the cost of buying boats there! We were pleased to help the team with locating camping spots and discussing the potential obstacles along the route.

The team Skipper, Cayle Royce, was seriously injured in Afghanistan when he stepped on an IED in 2012 and lost his legs above the knees. But this Inside Passage trip is not his fi rst adventure. He’s rowed across the Atlantic twice, skippering one team, and putting in 95 days at sea in a rowboat. He’s the first person with an amputation to row an ocean more than once.

Neil Heritage, second-in-command, also has two above-knee amputations. Neil was deployed in Bosnia and lost his legs during a suicide bomb attack. He rowed across the Atlantic in 51 days and has successfully climbed the Matterhorn.

These guys are all amazing athletes and have worked hard to raise considerable funds for their challenge. The eight-man team’s preparation has not been easy. Other team members have a variety of injuries from head wounds to PTSD and viralinduced paralysis. Fortunately, one of the team members is a medical doctor, so they are in good hands. Talking a little more personally to Cayle, he states his challenges are more on land than in a kayak. Walking on uneven terrain with heavy loads will be a considerable challenge.

Because they cannot fit their prosthetic legs into the kayaks, they paddle in short prosthetics called Stubbies. This essentially puts them at knee height for the duration of the trip and allows them to enter and exit a kayak without getting hooked or caught up on anything.

Inside the kayak cockpit itself, Cayle has modi fied his Rockpool Taran. Initially, we suggested a locally built kayak from one of our world-class manufacturers in BC, like Seaward and Delta Kayaks that are popularly used by paddlers and guides. But with the modi fications needed, the work had to be done in the UK. Neil will also be modifying a single Kirton C-trek 18. Both men have created a steering plate for their craft to use the rudder because the standard pedals are unreachable.

The Inside Passage route will take the team past some extraordinary coastline and into interesting rural communities.

To support Team Forces of Nature we sent letters to many coastal First Nations, introducing the team. They come to BC respectfully and hope to visit locations where First Nation’s history is displayed and shared.

Recently, BC Marine Trails was nominated for an award for its reconciliation work. We have engaged over 30 First Nations on the BC coast over the past several years, sharing site data and working on visitor guidelines for conduct while travelling through territories.

Search online for Team Forces of Nature: The Inside Passage to read more about their lives and goals. The BC Marine Trails board and volunteers wish them the very best.