Kootenay Lake - Sea (lake) Trials

August 10, 2019

My wife's family has a property near Balfour on beautiful Kootenay Lake.  This is located in the West Kootenay region of BC, about a nine hour drive from our home in Vancouver.  My wife has been going there just about every summer of her life as have I for the past twenty five years or so.

Very excited this year to be bringing our new SCAMP along and being able to launch once and leave her tied to the dock for the duration of our visit.  This will allow us plenty and easy opportunities to take her out and get to know her.

On July 17th we left home at 0500 hrs for the drive (love the early departures!).  I am so happy with the combination of  the light weight SCAMP, Gig Harbor trailer and V6 powered Toyota Rav 4.  Tows beautifully.  This really opens up a lot of trailer/sailor opportunities.

Arrived after at our destination

My wife's sister was also visiting and her husband Peter offered to help launch at the local rough beach ramp.

Gravel and not very steep ramp. Love a light boat!

Lisa's mom's property has a cozy little harbour with dock.  Home for the next two weeks.

All set to hope and go!

Our first couple of days were cloudy and cool.  Kootenay lake is 104 km long and up to 5 km wide and winds can go from dead calm to blowing hard within an hour.  Peter and I slipped out between wind storms and really got a chance to put Fib some testing under reef and full sail.

Old Men and the Lake

Hitting 4.8 knots at times!

Lashed foam pipe insulation is not permanent

Pretty lines!

It was great to have the boat at the ready so we could take her out easily in a variety of conditions.  Over our stay we practiced our rowing, sailing, motoring, anchoring, beaching and docking.  Even practiced with filler boards over foot well for an overnight at the dock.

Faster!

Tricky to perfect the trim when rowing with two

Evening motor cruise

Tired crew member

Sailing!

Starboard watch - eyes forward mate!

Bow rider

Resting at anchor

Setting up for an over nighter at the dock

Bug net from boom.  Clear skies so no rain cover required.

Tight but recovered just fine from gravel marina ramp -  4x4 was nice.

Tucked away in the boathouse until we return later in the summer