OMDA Logo Photo: Boats Parked on the Rocks at The Pancakes
Photographer: Stephen Steel
File: JPEG 23 kB

2006 Cruise to The Pancakes

Photo: The Leader of the Expedition
Photographer: Randy Beaumont
File: JPEG 46 kB

Sometimes it nice to just go for a cruise instead of race. On Thursday the weather looked perfect for a trip out to The Pancakes: two small islands about 7.5 km due west of Harold Point. Aleid showed the way for those who weren't familiar with the route.

We made good time and reached the Pancakes around lunch time.

If you hadn't been there before, it was best to approach the rocky shore slowly.

Photo: Approaching the Pancakes
Photographer: Stephen Steel
File: JPEG 111 kB

We lifted the boats out onto the rocks so they wouldn't get scratched by wave action.

Photo: Lifting a Boat Safely onto the Rocks
Photographer: Stephen Steel
File: JPEG 80 kB

Once everyone was safely ashore, we had a picnic lunch.

Photo: A Picnic Lunch
Photographer: Stephen Steel
File: JPEG 118 kB

Wim and Alison waved hello as they passed on their way home, but they didn't stop to join us for lunch.

Photo: Wim and Alison Wave Hello on their Way Home
Photographer: Stephen Steel
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We all went for a walk to explore round the island.

Photo: Exploring the Pancakes
Photographer: Katrina Steel
File: JPEG 88 kB Photo: Mirror People
Photographer: Katrina Steel
File: JPEG 118 kB Photo: The Pancakes Sign
Photographer: Stephen Steel
File: JPEG 34 kB

Back Through the Canoe Channel

Chart: Our Routes To and From the Pancakes
File: JPEG 68 kB Photo: Squeezing Through the Canoe Channel
Photographer: Stephen Steel
File: JPEG 55 kB

We decided to take the scenic route back and go through the Canoe Channel. It's a pretty tight squeeze. Good thing we didn't have to tack upwind!

Derek gave some latecomers a lift in Charger so they could join us for the picnic. Unfortunately for them, they arrived just after we departed the Pancakes, so they missed the picnic. It turned out to be very lucky the rest of us that they came. When we came out the Canoe Channel there wasn't much wind to be found (and what we did found kept getting lost again). We gratefully accepted a tow.

By 4:00 pm the water was like glass, and Derek made a few more friends by offering then a tow as well!

Photo: Charger Towing Us Back
Photographer: Stephen Steel
File: JPEG 55 kB

Photo Credits

Thanks to Randy Beaumont, and Stephen and Katrina Steel for the photos.