02 July - The day finally arrived when we were to leave for our big adventure!  Checking the weather though it was clear we weren't going to get far.  It was blowing 25 - 30 knots around race rocks!   With this in mind we set our goals accordingly short for today but we were determined to turn right not left out of the harbour.  With the strong winds, the only place we could go was Esquimalt and so that was our target! (just a few miles west).  Even this wasn't going to be an easy task though as the wind was still strong. 

Pushing off the dock in Victoria

With much trepidation therefore we slipped our lines in Victoria for the last time around 10am being wished well by our friends, Shannon and Doran.  Even in the harbour the wind was reaching 20 knots but we were 'waved off by the 'Queen Elizabeth' that was in harbour- a fitting connection to our eventual (hopeflly) destination as it's home port is Southampton. 

As we headed out we started taking water over the bows - undaunted however ("We've been in worse!") we chugged around the corner to Esquimault.  As it's a naval base we had to clear in via the kings harbour master - we called him up on the VHF and then had to call him on our remaining cell phone to provide details  of the boat.  Once cleared in we headed to the back of the extensive harbour and anchored close to Cole Harbour, a national historic site and old armoury and stores location for the navy.  Once anchored however, we downed tools and had a long and well deserved rest

Passing by Fisguard Lighthouse at the entrance to Esquimault Harbour