Dear Editor: On Aug. 3, we were heading home after a two-week boating holiday. We cruised under the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Bridge and were surprised to see three Seaspan tugs heading in our direction from Port Moody. Not that tugs on the water are surprising, its just that the big one, the Seaspan Kestrel appeared to be trying to race the other two tugs back to base. The Kestrel was moving at maximum speed and putting out a huge wave.
Remember that this is the long weekend, lots of small boats with kids and kayakers etc. on the water. I called the Kestrel on the VHF radio to no avail. We stopped our 34-foot boat to try to minimize the six-foot wake heading at us. Everything in the boat went flying while I was pleading with the Kestrel to please slow down and watch their wake. I called Vancouver traffic on the VHF and they said they would pass on my concern. Commercial vessels in the port, and pleasure vessels also, are responsible for the damage that the wake from their vessels cause. The Kestrel never did stop racing! Her wake crashed into every boat and dock that lined Burrard Inlet that busy Sunday. I implore all vessel operators to be aware of other vessels that are using our waters, and to please operate your vessel in a safe and respectful manner.
Jack Oerlemans
North Vancouver
