AVI Day 1: departing Sidney this morning before 0900. This is the start of our 14-day circumnavigation around Vancouver Island (30-April to 13-May 2018)

AVI Day 2: we have a crew of 6 on a rotating day duty schedule until we cross the bar into the Pacific in ~4 days. After we cross, we'll be in teams of two with night shifts of 2hrs-on/4hrs-off until we reach Victoria. Today my duty was captain and Bob was navigator for the 52nm trek to Nanaimo. I'm holding up ok... glad I picked up some Voltaren gel before departing Sidney.

AVI Day 3: arrived safely at Comax. 10 hours, 68 nm, 25kt winds, 4ft swells. Bob was captain and Bill was navigator. Prep for bluewater is underway, today we experienced issues with the reefing lines and saved the microwave from certain death.

AVI Day 4: arrived Campbell River. 5 hours, 33nm, no wind and smooth seas, average speed 7kts and 11kts max with current. Spent afternoon paper charting our first overnight passage (tomorrow night) on the inside before we head to the Pacific. Crew working well together. I'm chef tomorrow and at 1900 we start shifts (2hr-on:4hr-off). Estimate Port Hardy arrival at 0700 Friday.

AVI Day 5: 50.28.36N 126.07.82W Greetings from Johnstone Straight. Overnight passage underway. Today currents have been in our favor. Crew continues to do well and prepare for Pacific run. Weather window looks like we’ll depart Port Hardy for the bar Sunday.

AVI Day 6: Greetings from Port Hardy. Crew continues to prepare for Pacific run. Rain has found us... grateful boat outfitted with canvas and cockpit heat. Engine issue resolved. Raising dingy as it's too low and will catch in following seas. Inspections require someone to go up the mast - our daredevil crewmember, Herman, has volunteered. Final provisioning today and route planning tonight as current weather window has pulled our departure forward. We expect to cross the bar at 1120 tomorrow and will do a 48-hour downwind run to Ucluelet. No mobile access expected on the outside, track our progress via link provided in earlier post.

AVI Day 7: 50.54.08N 128.04.94W Greetings from the Pacific, Cape Sutle. 1010 crossed Nahwitti Bar and raised sails to 10kt winds on a stbd beam reach heading WSW then turning SSW between Cape Scott and VI. 1045: winds reduced to 4kts raised spinnaker. Current plan to run 20-40nm offshore for optimal winds and avoid shore currents. Landfall expected late Sunday/early Monday. Considering alternate port of Hot Springs Cove. At 50.26.45N 128.36.37W Pacific, winds 20-25kts NNE gusting 30. Whale sightings.

AVI Day 8: 49.29.90N 127.06.86 at 1050. Greetings from the Pacific, Estevan Point. 220nm passage. Completed night shifts of 1900-2100 and 0100-0300. Intermittent power outages under sail at the helm during first shift made navigation a challenge - resolved by running generator to top off batteries. 0100 sky clear, excellent view of stars and moon rise at 0240. Winds 25kts with gusts 35+; maintained average boat speed of 8kts with two reefs in both the main and jib, some surfing on 9ft waves. Lost wind at 0615 will motor remaining distance to Hot Springs Cove. Hot Springs overnight, M-T Ucluelet, W-Th overnight to Victoria and Sidney Saturday.

AVI Day 9: 0930 greetings from Hot Springs Cove (only accessible by sea). Enroute to Ucluelet. 3-6ft swells, motor sailing, ETA 7 hours. Arrived Ucluelet 1600.

AVI Day 10: Greetings from Ucluelet. Today we focused on boat chores and preparing for 100nm passage to Victoria. Monitoring weather window to determine tomorrow's departure time.

AVI Day 11: Departing Ucluelet 0600. 100nm passage to Victoria. ETA 15 hours. Expecting 15-25kt winds beam to broad reach, rain until we reach the straight. Arrived Victoria at 2300.

AVI Day 12: Departing Victoria Harbour 1215. 8nm passage to the other side of Victoria. ETA 4 hours of sailing. Expecting 5-15kt winds beam to broad reach. Enjoyed a great dinner at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club where we moored for the night.

AVI Day 13: Departing Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Oak Harbour 1030. 20nm passage to Poets Cove. Estimated 6 hours of sailing. Expecting 5-15kt winds with gusts 25+ close to beam reach. At 48.31.810N 123.13.618W brief chat with RCMP at 1050. All good, were shocked we are a few nm from completing our circumnavigation. 1400 arrived Poets Cove.

AVI Day 14: departed Poets Cove 0830. 15nm to refuel in Van Isles marina then back to Port Sidney marina where it all began. ETA 2.5hrs. This completes our 14-day, 823nm circumnavigation around Vancouver Island. Tested underway for practical and written ASA 106... perfect scores for both of us on both parts of the exam.