The previous night we had studied the weather and realised there was a window during 02/03 June to get up the straights before a strong wind event which looked like it would have trapped us in the south until later in the week.  We therefore decided to have a go for our first big overnight trip. 

Looking at the current through Porlier pass, we knew we had to go through at 19:47 to hit slack so at least we didn't have to leave early.  In the end we decided we could have a leisurely morning to sort ourselves out and clean the boat. 

By midday though we were ready to go and so slipped our lines and headed across to Montague harbour to wait for the weather.  The usual fun was had dodging ferries as we sailed up ensured and we were in Montague for around 15:00 using a new lasso method to pick up a mooring buoy which proved effortless . 

That gave us a couple of hours before we needed to leave for Porlier pass so we took the opportunity to have some rest, knowing that we had a long night ahead.   

Leaving Montague at 17:30 we had the wind right on our tail so set the Jib and  flew up towards Porlier arriving exactly on time for slack water. 

As we emerged into the straights of Georgia however we had a rude shock.  Instead of the forecast westerly breeze the wind was still blowing 20 - 25 knots from the SE, right up the straight, giving the waves a good fetch to build!.  In confused seas we put up the genoa again and shot off towards Nanaimo with the boat tossing us all over the place.  The time now being past 20:00 Heidi took the first watch while I tried to find somewhere to wedge myself in and get some rest.  The boat was bouncing around all over the place though and eventually I found the best place was wedging myself in by the sofa.   Around 23:30 I came up and Heidi was still battling on but things we getting squirrely as the wind was changing direction all over the place.  Of course, at the same time we found ourselves right in the path of two Nanaimo ferries!.  We quickly started the engine (phew) and furled the Jib, heading at 90 degrees to the course of the ferries to get out of the way.  Once we had got ourselves in a better position, Heidi handed over to me and I headed North towards Lasqueti.  As she handed over the weather also moderated and I had a peaceful four hours, albeit with a very sloppy sea state. 

I handed back to Heidi as we approached Hornby island at 04:00 on Monday and went below.  When I got up at 08:00 I woke to a sunny morning and Heidi having a go at putting the sails out on her own as we passed Comox.  Every time we put the sails out though, the wind dropped and so we ended up still motoring, with the mainsail out to steady us as the sea state was still sloppy.   Continuing  north things were calm until we were up to Mittlenatch Island when the wind picked up again.  With only a small distance to go however we kept on the engine and after an exciting entry to Squirrel Cove with a following 20 knot wind pushing us in we dropped the hook and congratulated ourselves on our first overnight journey as a couple.