TEACH

We're in Tofino for two nights. We motored ten miles from the last anchorage in a driving rain with a hard wind in our faces. Water found its way into every crevice, under every flap. It was difficult to see where to go. There was so much water spraying my face, getting in my eyes. It was the most uncomfortable day of the trip so far.

Tofino is riddled with narrow channels that thread between shallows, so you need either local knowledge or careful planning. Not having the former, I rely on the latter. All the planning in the world won't help you though if you can't see where you're going.

It was kind of exciting getting in here. First, we stopped for fuel on the way in. That was easy enough. Then we headed toward the marina. As I noted previously, the last time I moored in Tofino, I used the public dock and it was so shallow and so crowded, we bounced the keel off the bottom while maneuvering to raft up to another boat.

This time,I was determined to arrive at high(er) tide. When we arrived at the marina it appeared to be easy peasy maneuvering to the dock. I quickly discovered though that there was so much current running through the marina that it was impossible to maneuver. The boat wanted to spin when I tried to turn into the dock. It turns out there was about 5 kts running with us.

A boat relies on water flowing over the rudder to turn. If you're traveling with the current it can be going as fast or faster than you are. Which makes it impossible to turn the boat.

It must have been entertaining watching us fight the current before I finally figured out what was going on. All I had to do was approach from the other direction and suddenly there was a lot of water flowing over the rudder - more than usual. And it was so much easier to control the boat.

Once tied up, we've found the marina to be one of the nicer ones we've stayed at. Most places have coin operated showers and washers & dryers. In this marina it's all included. There's even a workout room.

The hot shower this afternoon was wonderful. Clean sheets, clean body, clean hair, shore power and no dishes to clean after dinner. How civilized!

And TEACH, my opening Wordle guess for more than two years finally pays off.