Vancouver Club Night – Ar Seiz Avel Bluewater Homecoming

With easing of COVID restrictions, BCA Vancouver Chapter is excited to get back to in-person club nights at the Scottish Cultural Centre, and it’s about time.  Over the last two and a half years we have been proud to be able to offer virtual meetings, but it has been no substitute for face to face get-togethers. These Zoom meeting have, however, allowed members and non-members from afar to join in on the meetings and we would like to continue to offer this option.

Going forward, the Vancouver Chapter would like to present a hybrid club night, that is, a simultaneous in-person and virtual meeting.   See meeting format details below.

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Eleven years after leaving the crisp and clear waters of British Columbia,  Ar Seiz Avel made her homecoming journey this spring from the Island of Curacao deep in the Caribbean to the North Atlantic and the shores of Nova Scotia.  This club night presentation is a documentary about that 2022 passage back to Canada.  Paul Mulder will describe the elements of preparation, safety and provisioning and then share his expertise in sail handling, log keeping, navigation and celestial navigation.

Ar Seiz Avel was constructed in 1975 at Jespersen Boat Builders by designer Michel Gaudin, the name meaning “the seven winds” in Paul’s native language of Breton.  He purchased this beauty in 1988 and has since built a career of “Sail and Learn” offshore voyages which have taken him and Ar Seiz Avel around the world.  Completing his first circumnavigation 2002, he has shared his experience with many wonderful sailors along the way.

In the spring of 2012, Paul and Barbara Ann Schoemaker made an Atlantic crossing together from Colon, Panama to Vigo, Spain over 4 legs and 3 months, over 6000 nm. Together they have explored many locations from the San Blas Islands in Panama to the coastal waters of Nova Scotia, including Mahone Bay and Lunenburg.

Hybrid Meeting Format

In-Person Attendees: For those attending in-person, the format will be very much the same as “normal”. Doors open at 7:00 and meeting starts at 7:30, but keep in mind that it is still necessary to have a few COVID protocols in place (below).

Covid Protocol: Because this is an indoor event, wearing a protective mask is encouraged (except when eating or drinking). Please see the BCA Covid-19 protocol here.

Virtual Attendees: For those who are unable to make it to the SCC, the Vancouver Watchkeepers have been working hard to assemble the technology to broadcast the meeting over Zoom.   A word of warning however, the October club night will be our second attempt at a hybrid meeting format, so please have some patience as we continue to work through the technology and logistics.

A Zoom meeting invitation has been sent to BCA members via email.  If you are a non-member and would like to attend virtually please contact Heather Marshall.