Here’s a fun one. I walked into our local ship’s chandler and the owner called me to his office. “Hey Ross, we were hoping to use this picture on the cover of our sales catalog. Do you mind?”
I’d never seen the photo before but the Columbia III obviously catches other peoples eyes too!
Something new for us this year and yes, we love new things! The World Wildlife Fund called us up and requested we join their WWF Earth Flotilla. So we spent the week with 2 other vessels, 30 highschool students and several group leaders and coordinators touring the Gulf Island on a rigourous schedule. The students were chosen after submitting a written synopsis of their interest and commitment to making a positive change in the health of the earth herself. The students were a wonderful and heartening collection of energy, bright ideas and commitment. They were able, amougst many other things, to visit a sustainable forestry operation, an organic farm, meet with marine biologists and even a private talk with painter, Robert Bateman. Each night we anchored or moored in a different bay and the students gathered to reflect on the days events.
The schedule was intense and brisk but the whole project went flawlessly due in large part to coordinator, Jeff Gibbs and Carolyn Dawe’s organization.
There is potential for another Earth Flotilla next year and we are already looking forward to the event and meeting more inspiring students.
Once again we found ourselves in the capable hands of Nanaimo Shipyard for our annual haul-out. Every four years the Columbia III must undergo an extensive Canada Ministry of Transportation “underwater inspection” and this was the year. We had the rudder, propeller and main drive shaft pulled for inspection. The thru-hull fittings were dissembled for inspection and upgrading. Our anchor chains where flaked neatly on the marine carriage and all awaited our M.O.T. inspectors. Geoge and John came and gave the boat a thorough inspection and happily they were most impressed . . . and I sighed with relief.
Since we had the propeller off, we had it sent out to be “swung” . . . which means to balance, fair and polish. It certainly looked good when it went back on.
Fresh anti-fouling paint, new zincs and thoroughly certified. Good for another year! (well, another four years!)