- Storm waves on 3rd Beach, Stanley Park.
Out on the water with the RIB, things were rather rough but not quite disastrous. The boat was low and stable with powerful engines, and it was sheltered water.
Still, there were 2-3 foot waves driven by the wind through the Lion's Gate narrows and Second Narrows to deal with. Wind and current pushed them too close to the wreckage and they spent a good half hour or more just navigating through safely in the pitch darkness and driving rain.
One of the two Geiger counters and a flashlight (but not the mounted spotlight) were lost overboard due to the furious pounding of the waves and the driving wind. Maneuvering around in the RIB was very difficult due to the need to wear both bunny suits and life jackets. Considering how rough it was, there was absolutely no other way to operate safely. For that, what sampling was accomplished suggested that radiological levels were safe in most areas but slightly elevated nearer the blast sight at the former Shellburn refinery.
The automatic pump kept the craft from foundering from the water they were shipping, and the weapons had to be stowed or otherwise secured to prevent them from being lost overboard. Getting wet wouldn't be much of a problem for the weapons but everything had to be securely fastened and tied down or it would be lost.
Finally passing the narrows, the water calmed a little and the wind died down a bit. Everyone in the RIB was exhausted and soaked, deafened by the thunder overhead and the pounding of the waves on the sides of the RIB. One good thing, it was almost certain no one heard them coming!
Taras and company were an hour behind schedule on approach to the RV point, roughly equivalent to the refinery (opposite the sulfur plant). The hills around them were dark, it was still pitch black out some time before dawn.