Other Achievements

Boats & Sailing​  
I have been a sailor for 50 years. I have voyaged more than 20,000 “offshore” miles in the Pacific, Atlantic and Caribbean on a variety of yachts—in every capacity from crew to captain—and many, many more miles in coastal waters.

In 2019 I embarked on a 1,700 km expedition down the Mackenzie River to the Arctic Ocean in a 34-foot outboard powercat (see Magazines page). In 2006, I crewed on the Victoria Clipper for the 5,600-mile, 30-day Qingdao, China to Victoria, BC, leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race (we won that leg). I’ve made the sail from Vancouver to Hawaii three times, twice as navigator and once as skipper. I spent four years on the US East Coast, the Bahamas and Caribbean working and crewing on yachts.

I raced “big” boats in every Vancouver-area race for the better part of 15 years, starting in the early 1970s. I was on winning boats for most of those races at least once. I’ve worked as a sailmaker and a licensed 40-ton master. I’ve owned and restored a classic 36′ sailboat and owned a 40′ Monk-Taylor powerboat, a 28’ Trojan powerboat and a Catalina 27 sailboat.

© Ingrid Abery/Clipper Ventures

   
   
  Salmon Enhancement​
I am a trained streamkeeper and have been active in salmon enhancement for over a dozen years. Of special interest is the coho spawning stream (Mixal Creek) that backs on my Sunshine Coast acreage. Each year I work with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and spend time trying to improve the natural habitat. Each November, I anxiously await the appearance of the salmon and once here, I make regular creek walks and enumerate the fish. For me, this is one of the highlights of my year.

I compiled an extensive report and oral history for the Pacific Salmon Foundation and the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association documenting the body of historic knowledge about the unique and endangered Sakinaw Lake sockeye run.

 

Volunteer Board Seats/Memberships​

I am currently the president of the Pender Harbour and Area Residents Association.

I am currently a member of the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s Solid Waste Management Plan Public and Technical Advisory Committee.

I am the former chair of the Area A: Advisory Planning Commission.

I chaired the Official Community Plan review committee for Egmont/Pender Harbour area. It was adopted by the Sunshine Coast Regional District in October of 2018.

I sat on the board of Boating BC Association (formerly the British Columbia Marine Trades Association) from 2007 to 2013.

In 1998 I was a founder (and Director) of the Francis Point Marine Park Society, which successfully raised $3-million to acquire a 180-acre parcel of waterfront on the Sunshine Coast which is now a Provincial Park.

Former secretary of the Richmond Rod and Gun Club

Member of the Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society

Member of the Pender Harbour and District Wildlife Society

Member of Boating Writers International

Member of the Loon Foundation