THURSDAY JUNE 14, 2018 VOL. 44, NO. 22
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MUNI MORSELS
OVERLOAD CONCERNS DRIVE FERRY COMMITTEE MEETING
BOWEN BEAT
SOCCER FINAL AND SAILING INTO SUMMER
HEART-FELT GIFT
LEGION MEMBERS FUND NEW DEFIBRILLATOR FOR THEIR HALL
New float home lands at Steamship marina BRONWYN BEAIRSTO EDITOR
If you happened to look out your window in Snug Cove Monday afternoon, you might’ve seen a small building flying through the air. A crane lifted a two-story floatable house from its perch beside the Union Steamship Company Marina and down onto the water. Bruce Russell was on-scene and reported, “A great round of applause was given by the many on the marina dock and parking lot when contact was made with the water, at which time many of the onlookers joined in to help move her from the launch area to her new home near
the marina office.” Lacking a concrete foundation, instead using foam-filled structural insulated panels, the building is an experiment in building design and living space. If it works, it’s the first of half a dozen duplex floating homes Rondy Dike plans to build to house marina and Doc Morgan’s staff. Dike says it’s his answer to the housing problem on-island, which has made accommodating his workforce difficult. Oydis Nickle, who, along with her parents Rondy and Dorothy Dike, runs the Marina, gave a speech and cracked a bottle of bubbly wine over the new seafaring home.
‘Topless’ boat wins trophy at Round Bowen race BRONWYN BEAIRSTO EDITOR
A new float home arrives at the Union Steamship Marina on Monday afternoon.
PHOTO BRUCE RUSSELL
It started with fewer than a dozen boats. A San Jose 21 crossed the finish line first, having circumnavigated Bowen Island. That inaugural Round Bowen Race nearly three decades ago was so small that it ended with a potluck on the Union Steamship Company Marina’s lawn. To get onto the Marbella Saturday morning we have to climb over another boat lashed to dock A. Bladders empty and coffee cups full, with 40 minutes to go until the gun, we push off. The motor is running, joining the chorus of anticipatory putting, as the colourful fleet of yachts files out of Snug Cove. We pass the 38-metre Kaori, one of two maxi yachts in the race, the dozen or so crew members in matching blue T-shirts. The single-person-crew, 11-metre Manana chuggs along beside us. The forecast had been grey for days. We had expected a pelting cold rain but arrive
to Sound waters to see the vestiges of clouds hugging the mountains and quickly disappearing in the sun. With 20 minutes to go, our skipper cuts the engine, and the tense energy is audible. Crews call out to one another, hoisting mainsails, checking tide tables, watching the clock, and watching not to collide with other boats. A cabinless boat cuts out in front of us, as the race-legend crew of Topless make final preparations. Ian Howie and Robert Armstrong get the same cabin every year. It’s one of the perks of being there since the beginning. Topless’s owners were among the enthusiastic early members of the Bowen Yacht Club, back when they’d meet in fellow member Wolfgang Duntz’s front yard, and its signature race. They remember the days of the potlucks on the lawn, “The wives would bring down mashed potatoes,” said Ian. See Costume on page 3