The Urban Oarsman Rows Gwragedd Annwn in Pender Harbour during “Pender Harbour Days”.

The Urban Oarsman Rows Gwragedd Annwn in Pender Harbour during “Pender Harbour Days” festival.  

On Friday July 10th, towing Gwragedd Annwn, My wife and I catch the 9:40 ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale.  The FJ and Gwragedd Annwn on her trailer are 32′ long.  An extra $75.00 for Gwragedd Annwn.  I can understand why traffic is down going to the Sunshine Coast.  Good thing that we do not have to pay the ferry fare both ways!  I understand that BC Ferries has a special, ($24 vs. $75 extra) that you can get on Wednesday & Saturday Evenings (sailings starting at 4:00 pm) and Sunday Mornings (sailings prior to 9:00 am), June 17 to September 13, 2015.  Like anyone can fit those sailing times into thier schedule!  I think that BCF just wants to be able to say that there is a deal avaliable, even if it is convenient to no-one. 

We have a leisurely drive up the Sunshine Coast to Pender Harbour, putting Gwragedd Annwn in the water at the Maderia Park boat launch.  

Gwragedd Annwn at the Maderia Park docks.

 

There is a boat Parade on Friday night, starting at 6:00pm and going until 7:30pm.  There is a strong SW wind, 15 to 25 kts blowing.  I will not be able to row the entire parade route.  

This is my wife’s favorite boat, “Tick Tock” a Stancraft from Pender Harbour.

 

A very pretty “Dragon” class sailboat, The Lady Jayne,  built in Pender.To see the route of the Boat Parade click here.

 

Gwragedd Annwn on the hard at the Maderia Park boat launch.  To the left is a “Painters Lodge” salmon rowboat and there is a newly-launched handliner “John Salisbury”, in the left background.  Also on the hard- a 12′ Ken Douglas rowboat, a Cosine Wherry, a Cosine Wherry style 10′ rowboat, Two Kayaks, A clinker inboard fishing boat, An Easthope engine and three British Seagull outboards.I spent most of the day talking to visitors about rowing, boatbuilding, clinker putt-putt boats and just about everything else.

A nice pair of oars.

 

On the Saturday afternoon, we got a bit of much needed rain.  

On Saturday night, my wife and I went to the Legion where they had a special “Pender Harbour Days” Hamburger BBQ supper.  A hamburger, macaroni salad, green salad, potato chips and ice cream.  Music by Skinny Jimmy & the Preachers.  It was Skinny Jimmy’s birthday and he was presented with a cake.  We sat wtih a friendly couple and enjoyed the meal and entertainment.

Sunday morning all of the rowboats are in the water ready to row.  There is almost no wind today.A Ken Douglas 12′ rowboat, Gwragedd Annwn, The newly-launched handliner and a Cosine Wherry.

The Painter’s Lodge Salmon rowboat.

A 10′ strip-built rowboat that the owner (Bruce) claims to have found every rock in the harbour with.

The Handliner sets out.  The Pender Harbour Dragon boat team is in the background.  They are a body short.

Don rowing his Cosine Wherry.

Bruce trying out “Fine”, Rick’s fast rowboat.  Just after I took this picture, the firehall siren sounded and Bruce, a volunteer fireman, left to attend the call.

The Dragon Boat team building up steam.  

Don by the Hospital Bay marker.

Rick rowing by “John Henry’s”, towards the Lagoon.

The Lagoon outflow at low tide.  No rowing in here today!

Cosine Wherry storage at it’s finest.  

Not bad for the Stancraft either.

This boat is aground (sunken) on Dusenbury Island in Gerrans Bay.  

 

Pender Harbour Days were a blast!!  Looking forward to next year.

Thanks to Rick Crook for inviting me, Don Kernan and Bruce Thompson for inviting me to row with them.   

For more on “Pender Harbour Days” click on the picture

 

Good Rowing,

Mike