Maple Leaf Adventures Wildlife Cruises Blog

It’s the time of year for one of everyone’s favourite features – the report on the TLC that the 92-foot schooner Maple Leaf received earlier this year in shipyard!

This year, the hardworking crew battled minus 18 degree temperatures with windchill (who knew it was possible?), snow and rain, to be rewarded with a few days of sun at the end. Lifted from the Fraser River, the Maple Leaf stood supported on the shipyard ground.

A huge "travel lift" raises the 95-ton Maple Leaf from the river

The crew climbed the scaffolding surrounding the Maple Leaf, and scraped paint, fastened in new planks and performed routine maintenance on critical ship systems.

Chef Drew loaded the team with calories to stay warm, producing fantastic meals with his penchant for flavour.

As most water in the ship was turned off for the duration, the crew found a fun way to warm up: sauna, hot tub and swimming pool in the complex next door.

Maple Leaf's stern, in the travel lift

Here’s to the shipyard crew of 2011 … masters of encasing Maple Leaf in tarps and working hard no matter what the weather! They are:

Capt. James Warburton, Paul Smith, Greg Shea, Tavish Campbell, Terese Ayre, Ashley Stocks, Miles Rhynas, Morgan Siemens, Mirko Zscherper, Stanley Kunze and last, but definitely not least, Drew Kennedy.

Sanding the hull to prep for painting

So, what did they do?
For those whose understanding of ships is limited, we will just say that they made Maple Leaf more beautiful, maintained and upgraded her safety systems, replaced a big sail and made her more energy efficient.

See the photos for details.

For those with more of an engineering bent, or who feel a sense of ownership of this magnificent vessel you’ve sailed on, you may enjoy this partial list of work:

• Designed and installed a new, state-of-the-art engine room fire supression system, and an new emergency bilge pumping system, both upgrades from the older systems and newly required by Transport Canada.
• 

  Greg Shea at work

  Total overhaul of the main engine keel cooler.

• Replacement of through-hulls, and a new bobstay.
• New LED mast spreader lights that are 400% more energy efficient than the old, incandescent ones.
• Maple Leaf has a new sole! Yes, she’s got plenty of soul inside those cedar ribs, but now she’s got a beautiful new galley floor, called a sole. Designed and built by local shipwright Keith Battersby, the alternating pieces of teak and maple echo the traditional floor of many tall ships.
• 

  Some sun arrives for painting time.

  A brand new foresail, a bit larger than the last, with a lengthened foresail boom, to take a bit more power from the wind.

• Maintenance and improvements to our expedition zodiacs.
• Additional systems upgrades including the navigation and multimedia computer.
• 

  The new foresail (back) fills, Gulf Islands National Park

  General maintenance as necessary, including sanding and repainting the entire hull, and varnishing the exterior brightwork.

We’ve also included a photo “in action” of one of last year’s improvements that wasn’t finished by the last shipyard report –

Enjoying the new aft deck seats, Whale Channel, Great Bear Rainforest, BC

our beautiful aft deck seats which make a new favourite place to sit while under way.

That's what's at the end of the rainbow!

The last patches of bottom paint.

After signing the ship's keel (to be read by fish all year)

Re-launching the ship into the river

Under sail, fresh for the start of another year on the coast.

Learn more about the nature of the BC and Alaska coast, and about trips on the Maple Leaf!

Victoria Show |  Courtenay/Comox Show |  Sidney Show

Wild Coast – Adventures Around South Georgia Island & BC’s Great Bear Rainforest

Date: Friday, March 11
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Young Auditorium (Young Bldg, room 216), Camosun College Lansdowne Campus, 3100 Foul Bay Rd., Victoria

• Parking is available for $2.50 for 4 hours. Click here for a map.

Admission: by donation (suggested donation $10)

Info: 250-386-7245

View the poster in PDF format.

Description:

Join naturalists Hayley Shephard and Maureen Gordon for an evening of adventure travel, wildlife conservation and the story of following dreams. It is an odyssey seen through stunning images and captivating film of two of our Earth’s great natural havens: South Georgia Island and the Great Bear Rainforest. Travel information will also be available.

Kayaking to Save the Albatross: Vancouver Island based wilderness guide Hayley Shephard set out to attempt the very first solo sea kayak expedition around the remote Sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia to raise awareness for the Albatross.

While Hayley paddled alone beside this gale torn island, wildlife and weather dictated her every move and battle with obstacles and challenges were endless.

The presentation ‘A Beautiful Burden’ encompasses the human elements of courage, character and personal challenge while a dream is being fulfilled.  Albatross will take the spotlight as Hayley links their unique behaviors and admirable feats to the devastating situation which may eliminate them from our planet.

Entertaining story-telling, stunning images and captivating video stylishly merge the imperative tale of the Albatross and one woman’s dream to kayak alone around a treacherously spectacular island to help save a magnificent bird. Featured presenter at the Vancouver Mountain Film Festival 2011.

Sailing the Great Bear Rainforest for Good: Working on the BC schooner Maple Leaf for seven years, in BC fjords and archipelagos that are hundreds of miles from the last road, Victoria guide Maureen Gordon has witnessed how adventure tourism helps to save bears, whales and seabirds.

Just 10 years ago, most grizzly bears ran in fear from humans; now, in special places, totally wild female bears will nurse cubs in front of people. This is the result of conservation and ecotourism working together in BC.

Through beautiful video and stunning photos captured on Maple Leaf expeditions, Maureen will share stories of coastal wildlife, natural history and the growth of trust between human and bear.

Ecotourism can help change the world… and protect BC’s rugged fjords and archipelagos — some of the planet’s last wild places. Information about travelling on the Maple Leaf will also be available.

Info: 250-386-7245 or info@MapleLeafAdventures.com

—————-

Wild BC and Alaska Coast by Sail
Maureen Gordon, Maple Leaf Adventures
and
Bear Conservation in the Great Bear Rainforest
Brian Falconer, Raincoast

Date: Friday, March 25
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Stan Hagen Theatre, North Island College, 2300 Ryan Road, Courtenay
Admission: by donation
Info:   250-386-7245 or info@MapleLeafAdventures.com

Join Maureen for a visual odyssey through the natural history of the BC and Alaska coast.

From the spring plankton bloom that culminates in spectacular concentrations of feeding humpback whales, to the autumn salmon that feed grizzly and spirit bears, you’ll learn about the natural engines that power life on the coast. Photos and video, from intertidal habitats to calving glaciers included.

After Maureen’s presentation, researcher and conservation director Brian Falconer, of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, will talk about Raincoast’s bear conservation research in the Great Bear Rainforest as well as their effort to protect bears from commercial trophy hunting in the habitat of the spirit bear.

Information about trips to Alaska, the Great Bear, Haida Gwaii and other coastal locations will be available.

—————-

Wild BC and Alaska Coast by Sail Maureen Gordon, Maple Leaf Adventures and Bear Conservation in the Great Bear Rainforest Brian Falconer, Raincoast Date: Thursday, March 31 Time: 7 p.m. Place: Charlie White Theatre, Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave., Sidney Admission: by donation Info:   250-386-7245 or info@MapleLeafAdventures.com Join Maureen for a visual odyssey through the natural history of the BC and Alaska coast. From the spring plankton bloom that culminates in spectacular concentration s of feeding humpback whales, to the autumn salmon that feed grizzly a nd spirit bears, you’ll learn about the natural engines that power life on the coast. Photos and video, from intertidal habitats to calving glaciers included. After Maureen’s presentation, researcher and conservation director Brian Falconer, of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, will talk about Raincoast’s bear conservation research in the Great Bear Rainforest as well as their effort to protect bears from commercial trophy hunting in the habitat of the spirit bear. Information about trips to Alaska, the Great Bear, Haida Gwaii and other coastal locations will be available. Can’t Make a Show? Learn About the Trips from a Live Webinar Learn more about Maple Leaf Adventures vacations, directly from our experienced crew on this first-ever webinar! “Wild BC and Alaska by Sail” will explore the highlights of each area and the unique benefits of travelling aboard the Maple Leaf. It’s an online version of our popular slide show series – now accessible to anyone, anywhere. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions directly of the crew, via chat or email during the presentation.   Space is limited. Reserve your seat now at: Webinar Details Date: Thursday, Mar. 17 Time: 5 p.m. Pacific time / 8 p.m. Eastern time System Requirements: Flash player 6.0 or later or Windows Media Player 9.0 or later or QuickTime 6.0 or later. Check your system here. To Register: Go to the Event Website. Click “Register”. On the registration form, enter your information and then click “Submit”. After registering, you will receive an email confirmation containing information about joining the webinar. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@MapleLeafAdventures.com