Day 2 of our journey. Sailing from Ladysmith to Belize. Time to go, for real. Saying goodbye to friends is always hard and Lucy & I are so very grateful for technology being what it is so we can still stay in touch with all our loved ones and friends. Almost can't imagine what it would be like with only a radio, compass and sextant, like it was done in the olden days.
Here's the last Canadian anchorage we utilized.. Burgoyne Bay on Saltspring Island. Great spot and well protected. Caught the rowing team out fro their morning workout.
We did a few last minute things to get organized and then set to motor out through Sansum Narrows into Satellite channel, then onto the border crossing.
Had one of our best friends sail with us to the Victoria area from Ladysmith. Steve & Audrey Lloyd of S/V Primavera. Deep water sailing mentors and chosen family. A better pair of individuals, you'd be well off knowing. Sailing and living life on the west coast for more than 10 years.
Sails up and away we go headed for the USA.
Was a great day sailing. Breezes to 15 knots and course set, we just relaxed and enjoyed the trip. At about 1600hrs (4:00pm) I hailed the customs station at Roche Harbour to give them a heads up on our arrival in about 30 minutes. Had a positive response so we headed in.
Then it started to get interesting.... This was our first time ever checking into a foreign country with private transportation in such a manner. Sure, we have driven into the US before, many times. Taking a boat is is a completely different procedure.
We approached and landed on the customs dock in good manner at 1630hrs. When Lucy and Peter stepped onto the dock to handle the lines, out comes the customs officer waving her arms in the air raising her voice so we were sure to hear -"YOU CAN'T DO that!! Get BACK on the boat - NO ONE is allowed of the boat except the captain for check in purposes!" A couple of other boaters then stepped in to help with the lines and the crew re-boarded. I have wondered even to this day, how we were supposed to tie the boat up without stepping off onto the dock. The customs didn't send anyone out to help so there was no other choice, until the others heard we were getting yelled at and came to help :-).
Interesting. And no, no pictures were allowed. I being the captain had to take all the passports and paperwork to the office for check in procedure. Pretty basic routine. The agent on duty was somewhat helpful in her processing of everything but I could see she was a bit miffed. I assumed it was because she was now required to enter this 60' sailboat and it was going to come close to going past her working hours. I understand that.
Why are you checking in HERE, at Roche Harbour? She asked.
Because all of my friends said it was the most friendly place TO check in, I replied.
Oh, she said and lightened her tone a little bit. Smiles and being nice works better than raising hairs.
After the usual questions and such, she asked to see my contract with the company I was hired by in Belize... Guess she wanted proof that we were indeed, headed Mexico way. Ok, no problem.. Being satisfied and filling out the paper work, she stated we would be boarded and inspects. I had no issues with that. So she got ready to head out to the boat. Then another small runabout landed for re-entry as they had spent the day in Victoria. With eyes rolling and frustration showing a little more (Maybe she had a date to get ready for - If so I hope she had a good time :-) ), we were instructed that the paperwork couldn't be finished that day and we had to head to Friday Harbour in the morning for their 0900hrs opening and the procedure would be completed then. We were free to go and anchor for the night and she would meet us there in the morning.
OK, I said. We would be HAPPY to comply. So back to the boat we go and head out for our first night, almost officially, in the United States of America. Only to make plans to do it all over again tomorrow. Ok... It's all good.
Friday Harbour being about 2 hours away, we plan to set sail at first light so we can comply with the agents request to be there for 0900. We weighed anchor at 0600. And on our way.
Leaving Roch Harbour for Friday Harbour
No, The Coast Guard weren't after us there... That comes later ... :-).
Approaching Friday Harbour
Heading in to the Customs Dock
After safely anchoring we all head in to the customs office via dingy. All good and the Customs Agent there asked why we had stopped in. We told him the story and he laughed. He also said that the lady we were working with yesterday was not even on duty today and then looked in the computer for the paperwork... Nope, none there. We all laughed. So it started all over again.
Then HIS boss came in and said we would have to wait, because a bigger boat just came in and THEY had to be boarded and searched. All hands on deck, sort of thing. I looked puzzled and asked what we were to do in the interim... He said he didn't care and we could amble around town if we wanted to, but come back about 1500hrs and all the paper work would be done then. I thought it interesting we would be advised by a customs agent to wander around prior to being officially checked into the country.. No there was no record of us being in Roche Harbour, the night before. We all laughed and went on about seeing Friday Harbour. The service we got from every US customs official at every port we visited was a great experience. And the same goes for the rest of the countries we have visited.
We are now safely checked into the United States and can take our Q down and fly the US ensign from our starboard spreader. Quite the different experience from air travel, I'll say that's a fact.
Next time - Friday Harbour to Port Angeles Washington. Here, we provision... for real this time....