A second-year Pearson student arrived today to volunteer until classes resume in a couple of weeks.
1 visitor to the island today.
Category Archives: Island Visitors
Heavy traffic in the reserve
California Sea Lion: 14
Human Interaction
At ~1935hrs PDT a vessel was spotted fishing within the limits of the RCA in close proximity to the E. side of Rosedale Reef. The vessel eventually made its way out.
At 1245hrs PDT a vessel was spotted speeding into the Reserve from the E side. The station vessel was already on the water and advised the mariners to slow down.
At least 4 OBMG vessels were spotted this afternoon approaching close to mammals on Middle Rock and on Great Race and proceeding at a speed in excess of 7 knots.
Ocean Magic II produced a very large wake this afternoon while transiting the Middle-North Race channel against the current. This is the largest eco-tour vessel seen so far within the reserve
At 1945hrs PDT a CCG or CCGA rescue RHIB transited the South Passage E to W, then the main passage W to E. Once near the jetty end of the passage, the vessel throttled up and proceeded to power through the Middle-North Race Passage at high speed before exiting into Race Passage heading westbound.
At 2010hrs PDT a floatplane flew exceptionally low over the N side of the Reserve, E to W. No license/company name obtained.
Overall, yesterday and today were very traffic-heavy days due to whales in the area. At times 8 or more boats were in the Reserve at any single time.
Two techs arrived from Environment Canada to finish servicing the EC weather equipment at the top of the tower.
There were 2 visitors to the island today.
Vessels:
| Pleasure: 7 | Eco-Tour: 30 | Total: 37 |
Eco tour traffic
| California Sea Lion: 7 # of sealions at the NE haul out (first of a series of daily reports). |
Saw an abalone for the first time in 3 years while on a dive today. |
Human Interaction
At 0829hrs PDT a floatplane flew under 1000 ft from E to W over Rosedale Reef.
A pod of orcas passed through Race Passage (W to E) this afternoon. At one point, at least 15 whale watching vessels were in pursuit. Subsequently, heavy eco-tour traffic was experienced in the Reserve this afternoon. Most vessels respected established guidelines, but there were a few notable exceptions:
1. Birds of a Feather approached within 100 metres of California sea lions hauled out near the jetty. The sealions did not upset as there was already activity on the jetty.
2. A vessel from Seaquest based out of Sidney was observed speeding into the east side of the Reserve, well within the limits of the 7 knot speed restriction, then later observed speeding out in the same direction.
3. Several other vessel were observed speeding within the boundaries of the Reserve, either to obtain a better vantage point for viewing whales or to shorten travel time to the whales once the whales had moved well past Race Rocks.
Luke came out to RR to dive this afternoon with Adam to help take measurements of the materials testing platform and for pleasure. Erik and Hao also arrived as did a contact from \”The Big Blue Technologies\” of Victoria and his two young kids.
There were 6 visitors to the island today.
Trev and Flo Anderson visit Race Rocks
Trevor and Flo Anderson, lightkeepers at Race Rocks from July 28, 1966 until March 2, 1982 had a very pleasant visit at Race Rocks today. Trev and Flo provided endless stories of their 16 years here and certainly provided some historical tidbits for our benefit. Many, many things have changed on the Island since the Anderson’s time. Garry accompanied while Erik drove the boat.
Misery took his time in occupying the pathway as we were trying to get by.
There were 4 visitors to the island today.
Profile : Trev and Flo Anderson Connections with Pearson College 1976-1982
When Trev and Flo Anderson arrived at Race Rocks with their family in 1966, the old generator building was painted red and had a tall tower attached for the foghorn. By the mid-1970’s when we started coming out from Pearson College, the buildings were painted white. In 1978, the last of the wooden structures of the generator room were torn down and the present square block concrete building was erected.
“When I first went over to Race Rocks in 1976, the light was made up of four 1000 watt bulbs, with one in the top position on at all times. When the bulb burnt out, it would automatically change positions with a new bulb. The light floated on a platform on a bath of mercury to reduce friction. Years later, Trev wonders how many light keepers were affected by the vapors given off from such mercury sources. In 1978, a beacon was installed that relied on more sophisticated electronics to send out a powerful beam . It wasn’t until after the Andersons left the station that the basin of mercury was replaced with a newer design with 8 beams. ( see lights file)
-
- This photograph published in the Times Colonist, (March, 2000), shows some architecture no longer present on the island: the tall fog-horn tower. The photo, taken by Gil Parker of Victoria shows the unique lines of the old engine room with the tower attached. Unfortunately this had to make way for modernization and was removed in 1977
-
- Demolition at Race Rocks: A film by Trev Anderson converted to digital video, showing the stone house originally built at the base of the tower and the wooden foghorn tower. Both were removed in the1960’s and 1970’s. This was taken before 1975 a view from the South side of the islands
-
- In 1977, Pearson College acquired a herring skiff for marine science and diving excursions. Here faculty members Garry Fletcher and John Wynne Hughes arrive at the island with students Charlie O’Neill and Andy Richmond on one of their earliest trips to the islands.
-
- We started to visit Race Rocks more frequently and the Andersons invited students to stay on project weeks. Andy and Bronwyn were among those who spent one such week on the island
-
- n 1977, PC students Alex, Edmond and Pierre were part of the group visiting on one occasion.
-
- In 1978, the herring skiff acquired a new fibreglass cabin , built by our Brazilian duo, Joao Luis and Anthony with help from many others. It was christened by them with the name “Ubatuba” after the beach of that name in Brazil meaning “big canoe” in a Northern Brazilian dialect
-
- Margaret, Kumene, Bartolomeo, Marta, Laurie and Soledad are a few of those recognized here
-
- Trev and Flo invited those of us who had worked so hard on the creation of the Ecological Reserve for Race Rocks in 1979 and 1980 to come to the island for the presentation of medals, ( I think it was “The Order of Race Rocks!”) Trev, Hans, Johan, Iina, Garry, Jens and Flo line up under the tower for this picture to mark that occasion.
-
- Trev and Flo helped us when the divers took local students from the public schools on our “Schools Project” field trips out to the Light Station.
-
- The many strips of wood which Trev glued together to make the hull
-
- A snow storm on the island, with winds from the North West.
-
- In one storm the plywood that was covering it blew away. It was for the Anderson’s a labor of love for the next seven years.
-
- Perseverance paid off, and in the spring of 1982, the “Wawa” was launched.
-
- If it had been durable enough to survive that, it would be a good bet to protect the Wawa as she was launched from that most precarious of locations into the seas of Race Passage. Building a 44 foot ketch by an amateur is hard enough on the mainland. Here, isolated on the rocks, it was even that much harder.
-
- After breaking the champagne bottle, Flo goes on board with Trev and no doubt could be heard to be saying “She does float after all!”
-
- The Red Ensign (coast guard version) which graced the bow had been the recognized Canadian flag until 1965. It was under this flag that Trev had served in the North African campaign with the RCAF on active service in the early 1940’s.
-
- Oded and Ricardo in the “banana boat” help tow the Wawa.
-
- Peter and others catch the lines as Wawa nears the docks
-
- Wawa in Pedder Bay
-
- After the fitting of the forward mast in Pedder Bay , the next stop was Vancouver for the fitting of the main mast.
-
- With masts and motor for full control, Wawa would return to Race Rocks for one last time to pick up the rest of Trev and Flo’s possessions that they would take with them aboard the boat.
-
- On their return to Pearson College, the Anderson’s spent many hours with our students aboard for shakedown cruises out of Pedder Bay.
-
- College director Jack Matthews accompanies the Andersons and students on one such outing.
-
- On one visit in the fall of 1982, Helen, Garry and Sarah Fletcher and Marc and Paul Marc Abrioux go out for a sail with Trev and Flo.
-
- Trev and Flo came by Taylor Beach for the year 3-4 ten year reunion in 1986. Marks McAvity, Anita and others were part of the group with the Wawa anchored off shore.
-
- Helen and Sarah talk to Trev and Flo on the docks at Pearson College.
-
- Flo Anderson has now written a book on their experiences entitled “Lighthouse Chronicles- Twenty Years on the BC Lights” See below for ordering information.
The book by Flo Anderson above is available from Harbour Publishing, P.O. Box 219 Madeira Park, B.C. V09-2H0
phone: 604-883-2730 fax: 604-883-9451 e-mail: harbour@sunshine.net To order direct from the publisher, pre-payment is required by cheque or Credit Card. GST for purchases in Canada, postage extra, No duty or GST in purchases from the US. Cost is $18.95(CAN)
Link for this profile of Flo Anderson:
Flo Anderson was born in Victoria, B.C. She and her husband Trevor and their four children lived at five different B.C. lighthouse stations from 1961 to 1982. In December of 1961, her family left Vancouver to start life anew at the light station on Lennard Island, near Tofino. There wasn't a furnace. She used an old wood stove for heat and cooking, collecting driftwood for burning. She didn't meet anyone else on the island for weeks. "Writing about Lennard Island was very painful for me," she told interviewer Marianne Scott, "Life was traumatic. I was so naive. Recounting it all was therapy. Lots of people have this romantic view of living at a lighthouse. That's why I wrote about it." In 1963, Trevor Anderson became senior keeper at Barrett Rock, seven miles beyond Prince Rupert. Four months later they were sent to McInnes Island in Millbanke Sound, between Prince Rupert and Vancouver Island. Fourteen months later, they were relocated to northernmost staffed lighthouse in Canada, Green Island. In July of 1966 they were transferred to the southernmost point on the Canadian Pacific, Race Rocks, where they spent 16 years. As of 1974, they spent seven years building a yacht in whatever spare time they could find. "All the wives were part-time lighthouse keepers," she has recalled. "Unpaid, of course. It was just expected. When the man was away, the wife filled the gap." Trevor Anderson took early retirement in 1982, the year they launched their 44-foot wooden ketch, WaWa the Wayward Goose, circumnavigating Vancouver Island in 1983. For thirteen years they lived about their boat, once sailing as far as the South Pacific and New Zealand. Flo and Trevor Anderson came ashore in 1995 and now live in Sidney, B.C. At age 70 she wrote Lighthouse Chronicles: Twenty Years on the B.C. Lights (Harbour Publishing), published in 1988.
[BCBW 2003]
[BCBW WINTER 1998]
Photo by Trev and Flo Anderson
|
I In 2014 Trev and Flo celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. At that time they still lived in Victoria BC. Flo Anderson passed away in 1997..https://www.racerocks.ca/flo-anderson-in-memoriam/Â Trev celebrated his 100th birthday on October 22 , 2020 Trev had indicated that he had donated several artifacts from Race Rocks to the BC Maritime museum so we went in search of those items on May 22, 2014: |
Trev and Flo return to Race Rocks for a visit and an
Article in Pacific Yachting magazine by Marianne Scott on Trevor Anderson 2019
boats and planes!
Human Interaction
At 0835hrs PDT a floatplane flew W to E over the south side of the Reserve under 1000 ft.
At 1035hrs PDT a small RHIB entered the east side of the Reserve near North Race at high speed. The vessel proceeded to transit the main passage to the south side of Middle Race where they approached within 30 metres of harbour seals on the Rocks. At least 25 seals took flight to the water.
At ~1100hrs PDT a vessel was spotted entering the Reserve from the east at high speed.
At ~1330hrs PDT a vessel was spotted transiting the main passage at very high speed. Communication was made with the vessel and it slowed.
At 1510hrs PDT an Oak Bay Marine Group vessel was spotted fishing within the limits of the Reserve. Pedder Bay Marina was alerted. The vessel was halted by another recreational fishermen before PBM staff could respond.
At 1515hrs PDT an OBMG vessel was spotted speeding in the waters west of Great Race. The vessel eventually departed.
At 1515hrs PDT a recreational vessel was spotted fishing near West Race. The station vessel was launched to intercept the violators and they departed shortly thereafter.
At ~1900hrs PDT a recreational vessel was spotted speeding into the eastern portion of the Reserve in the direction of the North Race-Middle Race channel. The vessel slowed before entering the channel.
Divers from Ocean Educations arrived in the afternoon to dive off the front side of the island.
There were 18 visitors to the island today.
Pleasure: 10 Eco-Tour: 5
Orcas again
Mid-morning (exact time n/r) a small aluminum vessel with 4 persons on board entered the main channel and transited W to E to the NE corner of Great Race at which point they proceeded to throttle up, maneuver around the kelp beds and out of the Reserve.
At 1350hrs PDT an aluminum vessel with 4 persons on board was spotted fishing in a line drawn directly westward from North Race. A license number was not recorded.
At 1357hrs PDT a vessel was spotted transiting the west side of the Reserve at high speed (14K 27490).
At 1357hrs PDT a fibreglass vessel (WN 0516 NH) was spotted fishing on the W side of Great Race within the limits of the RCA. This incident was reported to the DFO Fisheries Violation Reporting Hotline.
At 1425hrs PDT a pod of orcas passed over Rosedale Reef from E to W. A whale watching boat(red/orange RHIB, name not visible)previously outside the Reserve and following the whales, approached within 100 metres of the pod and followed the whales into the Reserve. As the whales passed through the Reserve, the vessel headed south towards the green buoy but ultimately passed on the Reserve side of the buoy. This action is in violation of the PWWA guidelines stating that eco-tour vessel operators must not follow whales into the Reserve. Photos of the incident were taken.
At 1430hrs PDT, Chris, Garry, Andrew and son, two photographers and an employee from the Development Office arrived at RR for a tour/meeting.
There were 7 visitors to the island today.
Posted by Adam Harding
visitor re: sea water measurement data
A scientist from DFO’s Institute of Ocean Sciences visited RR this morning to discuss the collection of seawater temperature and density readings.Â
DND blasting
–At 0945hrs PDT a recreational vessel with a man and a woman on board entered from the NE near North Rock at high speed and approached Great Race where they slowed down to transit the Reserve.
–DND has been blasting since 0900hrs this morning.
–A Pearson alumni arrived today to help with some projects over the next few days.
There was 1 visitor to the island today.
visitors
David and friends arrived for an overnight stay.
At 1950hrs PDT a Canadian Coast Guard chopper flew in from the west over the strait and circled the tower once before heading east in the direction of the CCG Victoria base. Suspect they were performing a quick visual inspection of their equipment while on a return trip from servicing stations up the coast.
There were 3 visitors to the island today.