After the shake down of our first cruising day all of our skippers pulled out of Rosario with ease and finesse. The crew onboard every boat were calm and collected and their skill did not go unnoticed. As we pulled away from the Moran Mansion, a beautiful view of the Olympic Mountain range came into view which was the perfect start to the day. The waters of the Salish Sea are known for having big logs afloat. Although the birds really like them as they serve as a nice perch, they aren’t as well liked by boaters. Today was no exception as there were many logs dotting our route, but the captain of our lead vessel, Ryan Downs, lead the fleet through the debris safe and sound.

Our route took us along the coast of Speiden Island which is known for its exotic animals that were brought there in the 70’s. As we made our way along the island, we spotted some Sika deer and Mouflon sheep which are both nonnative inhabitants. We also kept spying eagles perched in the trees, sitting on the hill side, and soaring up above. The count came to 13 eagles by the time we started pulling away from Speiden and toward Canada.

After we crossed the border and arrived in Sydney, one at a time we pulled onto the customs dock in Sidney, BC. Each boat cleared customs in turn and made their way to their slip. Once everyone was tied up the sun came out and we enjoyed a beautiful afternoon that warmed our skin and spirits! The crew of Discovery went to Butchart Gardens which is a short taxi ride from the marina and reported that the plants were spectacular. Others stayed near the marina and had lunch, stopped by the store, or took a stroll along the water.

The folks on Sea Stock hosted a small happy hour where we got to unwind and enjoy each other’s company in the last of the days sun. We dispersed for dinner and as the sun began to sink lower everyone made their way to back to their vessels to tuck in for the night, reminisce on our beautiful day, and get ready for our early departure tomorrow morning.

P.S. Missed this year’s Princess Louisa Flotilla? Not to worry, there’s always next year! Send us an email to reserve your spot on our 2023 Princess Louisa Flotilla.