Friday, September 22, 12023 Human Era (HE)
Backstory 2.0
I first tried to catch the wavey wake of the MPV Constitution in the spring. That attempt was unsuccessful due to my time conversion error of Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) to Pacific Standard Time (PST) rather than Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). Since then, my schedule has not seemed to coincide with the paddlewheeler. A few weeks ago, on Friday, September 1, a window opened up. It would be the first day of meteorological fall, which I took as a potential omen. A paddle partner and I planned to launch from the Vanier Park Boat Launch in order to rendezvous with the vessel around Ayyulshun (English Bay Beach). However, as we set up our kit in the parking lot, we realized it was not to be as there was no sign of movement from the MPV Constitution on the Marine Radar App.
Just over a week later, I would find myself in pursuit yet again. Though this time, as luck would have it, and maybe as a belated birthday surprise, I would successfully catch the Constitution. For a quick overview, check out the highlight reel below (unfortunately, without audio). Or click the previous link for the full story. To see and hear the clip below with audio, click here.
My first sternwheeler SUP surf was such an amazing ride, that I decided to push the envelope and try to get one more ride in before the end of the season on October 15, when the sunset cruises cease to be a seasonal celebration.
Sunset Scheduling
I had learned from my past adventures the sternwheeler’s schedule. This time, to be sure the sternwheeler would be out, I decided to call in to confirm. I legitimately had a gift card that I wanted to confirm was still valid, so in the process, I confirmed the online schedule with the sales representative as to which boat would be sailing on the sailing days scheduled online. It turned out that the next three scheduled sailings were all going to be the MPV Constitution.
Daylight Dilemma
Despite being the furthest date, and therefore the least amount of daylight, I set my sights on sailing on Friday. Unfortunately, that meant sunset was at 1910 hours. I would be able to get a little bit of twilight beyond then, which would be needed since I didn’t expect to encounter the paddlewheeler until at least 1930 hours. Civil twilight would end at 1942 hours, nautical at 2019 hours, and astronomical at 2058 hours. I was sure to pack waterproof lights (a headlamp and a decklight) and wear as much visible clothing as possible.
I have done a few nighttime paddles and am aware of the added risk that arises. If something were to go wrong there is a much lower probability that someone would see you in distress and offer aid. But armed with an ounce of hubris from my successful daylight pursuit, I decided that a nighttime pursuit did not pose too much more risk. Or at least it was a risk I was willing to entertain.
Sundown Second Guesses
The first part of the sundown SUP was pleasant. There was a solid line of stratus clouds on the horizon, with clearer skies capped with altocumulus clouds closer to me overhead. Twilight on the water is a serene and peaceful time.
Standing in solitude offshore from Second Beach the Sun was setting with shadows surmounting the sky, I started to second guess my SUP selection. Was this a bad idea? How safe was this?
Given how I was feeling, I decided to play it safe when the sternwheeler finally did approach. I kept a further distance to ensure that the captain would not be spooked by my presence. I am pretty sure my lights turned a few heads of the Sunset sternwheeler saloon sitting sea-persons.
Unfortunately, it seems my decision to keep distant came back to bite me. Although, it may also have been my lower hull speed in the direction of the wake, the difficulty of dropping in on a wave in the dark, a regression toward the mean of my true surf skills, or some combination thereof. In any case, my attempt to try to remain within the transverse wave of the Kelvin arms of the wake resulted in an early dip. As I tried to cut back into the way to stay on the transverse wave I caught the nose of my board at an angle while already slightly off balance. I wasn’t able to brace stroke to stay on board and plummeted port side overboard. Thankfully the water was warmer than I expected and remounting my board within the wake was relatively easy.
With a bruised ego and failed epic surf to add insult to injury (i.e., egotistical injury) I paddled on furiously in an attempt to make the most of the remaining wake. It was nowhere near the experience of my first sternwheeler SUP where I had an amazing multi-minute ride, but I was still able to catch a few bumps of note. Below is a compilation of clips from my twilight footage.
On a positive note, I know that for next season I will try to approach with a more parallel path to the boat before entering the wake to achieve a faster hull speed. And, I will do it with more daylight so that I can see the surface of the water better to know what I am dealing with.
Pursuit Route
Until next spring… see ya soon sternwheeler…
I SUP Explore 