In 2018, we sailed our 33 foot sailboat from Fifty Point on Lake Ontario, through the Welland Canal, across the south coast of Lake Erie, along the west coast of Lake Huron and entered the west end of the North Channel. We stopped at Meldrum Bay overnight and docked at Gore Bay Marina. We went home for 2 weeks but by the time we returned, the weather was stormy, so we lifted-out, arranged for the boat to be shrink-wrapped for the winter by Norm Fogal.
Over the winter, Norm amended the battery cupboard to accommodate a larger battery for our new way of sailing which included being out of port for longer periods of time.
Wednesday, July 3.
We stayed overnight at the cottage in Rush Cove.
Thursday, July 4.
Left cottage at 5:30; arrived Tobermory ferry terminal at 6:15, got coffee and on board by 7:00. Had good breakfast. Arrived in South Baymouth at 8:45, drove to Gore Bay. Norm Fogel had Dolphin in the sling ready to launch.
The launch area was under water because of high water levels- about 4 feet above datum. We pulled the boat ahead on the dock so we could bring all the provisions on board and moved to our slip, C 4, same dock as last year but side facing the bay and right beside the big sailboat that doesn’t move. The slip is a bit of a challenge but everyone is very helpful. We had lunch at the restaurant as we were both tired.
We put up the bimini because it was hot and we needed some shade. We both unpacked and cleaned (me inside and Bill outside so we had the berth and head and enough of the galley cleaned for dinner (which Bill had made beforehand) and the night.
Over the winter, Norm had shrinkwrapped the boat and installed a large new battery and made room for it. The shrinkwrap had torn off in the winter so my dream of a clean boat was dashed and the total bill was $1300 for the battery job and launch. I paid that by money transfer to Diane Fogel as they don’t take VISA.
Friday, July 5
The cleaning continued, the sails were installed and the rest of the enclosure set up as well. We helped to move tables and chairs from the community hall behind the library to Norm’s building for the fish fry on Sunday. Market day-purchased fresh fish, lettuce, onions and sprouts as well as a blue pottery mug from the local potterer.
Saturday, July 6th
More of the same cleaning and preparation. We discovered that we didn’t have the stainless connector piece from the propane canister to the Magma. Fortunately, despite the cost ($50), the CYC Marine had the missing piece. We also bought a new life ring, throw line, and Cetol for the teak toe rail at the store.
Sunday, July 7th
More cleaning. Purchased provisions for going out on Monday. That evening was the Fogel’s Fish Fry. All the seasonal boaters were invited. There were at least 100 people there with people preparing and frying the fish in big pots over propane burners. The buffet also included salads, hors d’oeuvres and desserts that people brought. There was a 50/50 and the hat was passed around to help pay for the rental of the tables and chairs. Dave and Michelle played music-they had an extensive repertoire and made a very good sound. We were introduced to the group along with the other newbies and given a Gore Bay burgee. We didn’t stay late as we were tired.
Monday, July 8
We left around 10:00 for South Bay on South Benjamin Island, a lovely anchorage with a narrow entrance between rocks and a solid pink granite rockface. We were able to motor-sail part of the way but winds were light. Because the wind was from the west, it was calm and serene and we had it to ourselves for most of the afternoon when another sailboat came in.
Tuesday, July 9
We had intended to stay out longer but the forecast changed to high winds and thunderstorms so we started back. We anchored in Beatty Bay on the north west side of Clapperton Island which was very calm. De wrote in the Ports book that it was a beautiful place.
Wednesday, July 10th
We motor-sailed until we got into Gore Bay, arriving back before noon. It felt good to hit the showers. There were thunderstorms that night but not a lot of rain.
Thursday, July 11th
Bill also started scraping the teak toe-rail and then I would do the fine sanding to remove any of the remaining varnish. Everyone on the dock had advice about varnish and Cetol and comments on the tough job. Bill P. advised us on the products for cleaning the teak with lye (Home Lye Crystals) and teak bleach (Unique Teak Cleaner, Formula 2). He also brought us our LifeSling that he made a canvas cover for over the winter and we are in conversation with him about new cushions and a winter cover. Most of the port side was finished with the first scraping..
Friday, July 12th
Market day again-fresh whitefish, lettuce, sprouts and a sausage on a bun with music. The starboard side was finished scraping and sanding except for the bow (still some bow left on the port side).
Saturday, July 13th
Our plan is to go out to Oak Bay in the McBean Channel on Sunday and in behind Hotham Island where there are many protected anchorages, especially from the south and west. Dave (on the Nonsuch, wife, Patty-both retired principals from Avon Maitland, and who live in Goderich told us about Oak Bay where the cottage owners invite all the boaters in their bay to bring their own for cocktails at 5:00.
The stern teak is scraped and sanded. Still the small bits at the bow and the handrails.
Sunday, July 14th
8:00 EJOLTs and Postdoc meetings at the washrooms bench in the morning sun using the iPhone as internet source as the wifi in the marina is not consistent or very strong. Great conversations with my colleagues. Then I get a message that I am over my data usage by $50 and data has been shut off. I add additional data for $20/month but the data is still not available. I contact Rogers chat and it takes almost a frustrating hour before the data is reconnected and we are able to leave port at 11:00. A lesson learned about using the personal Hotspot!
We motor-sail the whole way with the wind getting stronger as the day progresses which seems to be a pattern here. Navigating around the small islands and rocks requires careful attention but the new chartplotter that we bought at the Toronto Boat Show in 2018 does its job. As we are turning into the McBean Channel, Bill says, “Oh, no” which always startles me. I look and the dinghy is full of water. There had been a small tear in the bottom but now there was a big hole where the bottom was coming off and we were towing a boat full of water. We slowed down as we headed into the wind and then turned into the opening at Oak Point and Hotham Island when the winds and waves calmed down.
We went into the bay at the far end which is well-protected and found 6 boats (4 power and two sail) with us making it 7. We anchored on the south west side near the entrance arriving around 3:00. No sooner had we arrived than Norm, the owner of the cottage, invited us to the cocktail party. We didn’t have much to take so we took almond-stuffed olives. We will prepare better when we return.
We now had no dinghy so we asked Phil and Eileen on Black Pearl to give us a ride. We joined the group at 5:00. Both Norma and Elaine are retired school teachers from outside Chicago with two cottages on Hotham, a home near Chicago and a place in Arizona. She taught elementary grades and he computer-assisted drawing in the high school as well as having a construction business on the side. Elaine wrote down everyone’s name and boat and took a photo. They are very generous and interesting people. She asked me about my work and because she was from the Chicago area, I mentioned that I had read and enjoyed Michelle Obama’s book. She said that the Obamas were not well-liked but most of it was racism.
Phil and Irene on Black Pearl it turns out are from Ayr – small world. He is a contractor and she retired from Commercial Banking.
Monday, July 15th
Another morning listening for Environment Canada on the vhf and via Hotspot on the laptop looking for a decision for today and tomorrow. So there’s a front coming through tonight with high, up to 40 km winds and thunderstorms sometime around 9 pm and lasting most of the night. Tomorrow is a full day of high winds and possibly more thunderstorms and Wednesday the winds are low and no rain. And thus, it was a choice of finding another safe haven like this one, going back into port or staying put. We stayed put but when some of the power boats left, we moved closer to shore to the left of the cottage where the SW winds would be mitigated by the land and tucked in a little better for the storm. We hope to sail but the weather is unsettled the rest of the week.
Phil talked about having excessive amounts of chain rode for a storm and that has worried me because we have a short chain and the required amount of rode but nothing like what he was recommending. We talked about what we would do if the anchor broke off and tying to a tree seems to be the only answer so we are now close to being able to do that, although the other challenge is that we now have no dinghy!
Elaine came by on her kayak with two other ladies to invite us to cocktails again tonight at 5 unless it rains as we have the get-together on their deck. They have friends staying in the second cottage now. Her name is Mary. Four more power boats came in today around noon which seems to be the moving time-between 11 and 1. They do this every night. Imagine.
I did a hand wash today (with limited amounts of water) and Bill scraped the part of the toe rail around the bow. Hard work on your knees.
Another cocktail hour at Norm and Elaine’s with the last night’s group minus a few, plus new ones. We chatted with many of the boaters and got a photo of the owners and Dolphin in Oak Bay. And a lovely sunset!
Tuesday, July 16th
There was rain in the night but we didn’t hear thunderstorms. In the morning, grey and cloudy, we looked at the weather to determine our plan. There are still thunderstorms and high winds around but we feel the need to get moving.
The wind is backing to north-east so we changed our choice of anchorage from the east side of Clapperton Island to Clapperton Harbour on the south side. We looked at Logan Bay but were not impressed so we continued south to Clapperton Bay. We arrived in Clapperton Bay and anchored behind the island. Perfect choice for south-west wind but aware that if the wind changed as predicted to Northeast, we might be less protected. We were alone for the afternoon and joined by three other boats later.
We had a long discussion about the worry of weather forecasts which had been greatly exaggerated as to severity and whether we needed a bigger, easier (more technology for masts) boats and the comparative costs as opposed to the short season. In the day, we could have sailed more but the raising of sails had seemed too much work for Bill.
Wednesday, July 17th
As predicted the wind backed to northeast and we were in the opposite direction and very close to the dock on the island which looked deserted. Bill pulled in the anchor a few feet and over coffee, we discussed our plan for the day. We decided to get going around 9:30 and see how the conditions were out in the Clapperton Channel. The channel is quite shallow in places so we followed the buoys carefully. When we were mostly clear of the channel, Bill hoisted both sails and shut off the engine. It was perfect sailing for about an hour and a half and then the wind dropped and we brought in the jib. The mainsail was giving us a little but we turned on the engine as the speed dropped under 3 knots.
Once in Gore Bay, the main was put away and the fenders put out. We arrived back in harbour with the winds still from the northeast and stronger. We stopped for pump out and gas and asked for some help on the dock. Even with help from one of the summer staff and Kathy, it was a test to get in the slip with the winds blowing us off. Next time we will put out fenders on both sides as we came very close to the big sailboat on the main dock beside us.
We talked to Norm about a dinghy and he said that he had one and would bring it over. He it was in too rough a shape to buy but we could borrow it for the rest of the season. It is much like our own. So that problem was solved by Norm, too.
Thursday, July 18th
A calm sunny quiet morning around 8:00 by 9:30 turned to clouds high winds and waves, up to 23 km winds by noon. The little sailing school went out at 1:00 and after one of the boats and its crew capsized, the group came back in by 1:30.
Bill scraped a bit more all around the teak rail with just a short piece on the stern left. Bill P. came by and went over the process again: after scraping, sand, apply the lye and acid, apply one coat of Cetol, sand it, and then multi coats of varnish thinned by 50% and then 10% less each coat and sand between coats.
Norm brought the dinghy and Bill attached the harness from our old one to it.
We debated when to head out.
We are learning about our capacities for long hauls out of port. We have enough water for 5 days, enough holding tank capacity for 3, and enough frig without the motor running for 2 days.
Friday, July 19th
Bill finished scraping the toe rail on the stern and washed off the mess. Bill Penistan is going to drop off the lye and acid for cleaning the teak tomorrow. He is currently putting new glass on the keel of a boat that ran into some rocks!
I cleaned the boat inside. It’s very hot humid day but the wind helps. Bill returned the empty bottles which is only open Mondays and Fridays from 9-1. We went to the market, got fresh whitefish, lettuce, sprouts and onions and had sausage on a bun.
We read in the afternoon and tried to stay cool and we to Buoy’s for a fish dinner, disappointed that we had not seen them.
Saturday, July 20th
The two-step process on the teak occurred today. It was a mixture of Lye and Original Teak Cleaner. It looked just as Bill P. said: the lye made the wood deep red and the acid bleached out the wood including the black sections. So now it’s ready for the Cetol.
The bedding got washed at the laundromat here and I did an hand wash. The dinghy was delivered to Bill P. and he will show it to the Zodiac rep to determine if it’s worth repairing. We got our wine and provisions for the trip to Killarney and Dave and Norm gave us advice on the best spots to go and that the bridge at Little Current opens on the hour until 6:00 pm.
We are looking at the route where we would like to be tomorrow and the next day – between Neptune Island and La Cloche Island looks good, for tomorrow about 20 km away and Heywood Island, Browning Bay for Monday.
The radar showed a severe storm at 5:00 but the storm broke up over the water and was a non-event. This week shows sunny dry weather.
Sunday, July 20th – Wyatt’s BD – 12 Years old
We topped up the water, attached the dinghy to the stern, had our showers and coffee and left about 10:00 am. Gore Bay was rolly but when we got out in the channel, the waves were over a meter high and the wind building from the Northwest, just behind us. After an hour and a half of motor-sailing with both sails up and steering (the autohelm complained) and rolling with warnings of high winds from the Coastguard, we decided to get into the safety of Clapperton Harbour and set down the anchor at 1:30 pm.
Even in the harbour, it is a bit rocky with the high winds from the NorthWest– some large motorboats came in and shortly thereafter, they left. Another sailboat, Sea Hound (Beneteau), came in shortly after us. Gary (on B16) came over to ask if we’d been here before and wondered if it was OK to walk his dog despite the No Trespassing signs. I said that another man and his dog had the week before.
The wind is predicted to go down and swing to the Northeast tonight and back to NW tomorrow. So tomorrow we plan to go to Bell Cove on Great La Cloche Island behind Neptune Island as recommended by Dave and Norm.
At noon, we called Wyatt and sang Happy Birthday to him. He had had a party with his friends yesterday and today was having brunch with his Dad and Josie. He wants a gift card for his X-Box computer game.
We both read (Bill: Becoming by Michelle Obama; me: The Orenda by Joseph Boyden) and Bill had a nap in the afternoon. A pair of loons entertained us with preening, flapping and rearing up all afternoon.
The wind from the Northwest blew all night pushed us into the mud near the shore and bounced and rattled the lines in the mast all night but we had a great sunset.
Our neighbours in the Beneteau left before sunrise.
Monday, July, 22ND
The winds were down in the morning and the water calmer. The forecast was for rising winds from the Northeast up to 20 km at noon and 30-50 in the afternoon. We decided to get going and go to the large anchorage between East and West Rous just 5 miles from Little Current. The pink sky in the east was beautiful.
Going mostly east and into Northeasterly wind, we just motored to the anchorage, entering on the west side of Mink Island with 20 feet of depth despite what the chart says. We were able to anchor right at the end of the anchorage in a lovely quiet spot with a sailboat and a large motorboat with more coming later. The winds did come up at noon but we were protected.
Tomorrow seems to have a similar pattern with the winds backing to Northwest so we will go into Little Current tomorrow or continue through to Browning’s Cove by Heywood Island on the other side of the bridge.
Bill did a final scrape of the teak and I sanded for the last time before the application of Cetol.
Tuesday, July 23rd
We awoke to a calm, cloudy day. With two different weather forecasts: Environment Canada expecting high winds and rain and Wunderground promising low winds. There was small shower as we headed into Little Current but it didn’t amount to much.
We got a pump out, had a shower, bought ice and got to the swing bridge that opens on the hour at 10:45.
Heading for Heywood Island, about 7 miles east, there was very little wind but we optimistically put up the sails anyway but also used the motor. We arrived in Browning’s Cove behind Heywood Island at 1:00 pm with one sailboat and one motorboat there already and one more sailboat came later.
The long range forecast is for high winds Friday evening, all day Saturday and 60% chance of thunderstorms Saturday night so we reserved a slip at the Killarney Mountain Lodge for Friday and Saturday nights. The cost is $2.00 a foot per night (we learned later that there was also a $2.00 a foot charge for power and a $10.00 resort fee). We have been advised to eat at the Fish Restaurant so I asked if we needed a reservation and Cheryl, the staff member at Killarney, said that it wasn’t necessary.
It continues to be a challenge to keep the frig cold when we are at anchor so we run the motor an hour in the evening.
We anchored behind Spenser Point on the west side of Browning Cove in what is a very calm, very lovely harbour with all kinds of wildlife: we saw a beaver, a heron, a loon as well as cormorans and seagulls.
We did not go behind Browning Island and may try that next time. We both read all afternoon.
Wednesday, July 24th
We left at 9 in calm waters and winds so we could not sail: destination: The Pool at the end of Baie Fine. We listened to Roy on the boaters network and heard over 100 sailboats call in their locations. I tried to call in 3 times but was unsuccessful. We arrived at the mouth of Baie Fine at 10:20, 7 km from Browning Cove. The entry is aided with buoys and a large resort on the north side.
On the north side of the fjord there are white rocks and trees; on the south side are trees and rocks. In that order.
When we arrived at the narrow part of the inlet, the chartplotter indicated that the depth in the narrows was 0 (the water is reported to be 4.5 feet above datum) but that was still too shallow with our 6 foot 2 keel and debated whether we should turn around. We circled around to contact the CYC sailboat, Shadow Sea, behind us. The boat was full of teenage boys and we asked them if they had been through the narrows before and they said that they had. When they said that their keel was 5 foot 5, we asked them to relay to us the depth as they went through and we would follow them. When they appeared to be through, we asked them how shallow it had become and they said 8 feet. We only found it got to 9 feet and were safely through. The chartplotter was either overly cautious or wrong. That was exciting!
There was lots of depth in the last 2 km to The Pool which is a beautiful natural harbour surrounded by a wall of white granite on the north and hills and trees all around the rest and two cottages. When we arrived at 11:20, there were two motorboats and a sailboat in the pool with several motorboats coming and going. What a gorgeous spot-worth the risk. There is no phone service in The Pool.
There was lots of activity of boats coming and going. At the end of the day, there were 5 motorboats and the other sailboat and us. Clearly the narrows is a concern for sailboats. We worked on the teak in the afternoon: I sanded the stern and taped portside. Bill applied Cetol to the same side. Tomorrow we will do the starboard side.
Thursday, July 25th
A beautiful sunny morning with sun reflecting on the flat water reflecting the boats and the rocks, heading for Mary Ann Cove today. This is day five of the trip and we still have water and food but they are getting low. Now that we know the route through the narrows, there was nothing to worry about as we followed our path in and it only went down to 12 feet.
Three sailboats in Mary Ann Cove and we anchored behind the island on the east side of the cover with one other sailboat on anchor; the rest were tied to shore.
Bill tried to get the dinghy motor going and it did start but was leaking gasoline.
We finished the starboard side and the stern teak rail with me taping and Bill applying Cetol. Sanding is next and then diluted varnish. Once we had finished the teak, we went for a swim. Our neighbour said that the water temperature was 73.
This is a beautiful cove, surrounded by rocks, trees and water with one small cottage on the island.
Limited internet here.
Friday, July 26th
We headed out just before 9 with the water flat and no wind so we motored to Lansdowne Channel and put the sails up in the wider part but the wind didn’t last long so we took them down. We arrived at Sportsman’s Inn in Killarney with a lineup at the dock and got a pump out and water as they had had trouble with the water on Georgia Island where the slip was.
We found ourselves docked next to the Black Pearl with Irene and Phil. Later Allegro came in with Jessica and Bill who were in May Ann Cove and left just after us. Jessica had been playing the flute in Gore Bay and I had stopped to listen to her.
We tried to get the motor fixed but the only place in Killarney that fixes motors doesn’t work on the weekend!
The water taxi picked us up and took us to the mainland and we walked to the Grocery store and the LCBO. The store was well-stocked with meat and vegetables and we stocked up for 2 days and may go back tomorrow. For dinner we went to Herbert’s Fish Restaurant which used to be called Mr Perch and in a bus. Very good and very reasonable. To have a drink (won’t order the wine again) , we had to eat inside but that was fine.
We were told to bring the garbage to the mainland because the garbage boxes at the end of our dock had been raided by a bear the night before.
Warning about bears
Saturday, July 27th
There were thunderstorms and heavy rain in the early morning and lasting until 10:00 with some flashes and rumbles very close together and a couple of inches of rain accumulated. The canvas leaked at the zippers in the top. I took the opportunity to put some colour back in my hair as the washrooms were close by.
The garbage boxes were raided again last night by the bear despite the sign that tells boaters not to use the garbage bins.
We went for a walk to the local art show where we saw some interesting paintings and photographs of local images and to the Killarney Mountain Lodge, went back to Pritchard’s for some ribs and got fresh produce at a farmer’s market stand. It’s a very nice small town with the basics but we needed some paint thinner and couldn’t find any. It rained again and it is quite cool. I have socks on for the first time this trip. Around 5:00 it stopped raining and the sun came out.
On the slip, we are blocked in by very large, over 50 feet cruisers (Allure) so we chatted to the one in front of us and he, Rich, indicated that they were pulling out mid-morning. They sold their house in Fort Lauderdale and have been cruising for 2 years, eventually planning to buy some property on the Gulf coast of Florida. They had planned to cruise the south Caribbean but with the problems in Venezuela and the prevalence of pirates decided against it. They are headed to Baie Finn and we shared our knowledge of the narrows into The Pool and Mary Ann Cove.
Sunday, July 28th
A lovely calm sunny morning in Killarney. We had a leisurely coffee. Allegro (Bill and Jessica) left around 9 and Allure left around 9:30. We filled up the water tanks, had a shower, chatted with Irene and Phil who are staying another day for the Fish Fry, and went ashore on Tinkerbell to use the internet (much better reception) for the weather (increased winds and chance of rain today and tomorrow so we will have to get moving in the morning) and to get ice. Irene and Phil cleaned out their water tanks and said that there were chunks of black stuff that came out. We need to do that.
We motored to Covered Portage Cove and anchored on the south side on the entry to the cove where the Indian head has been seen on the rock wall (we couldn’t see it). However, the changing colours of the rock face were stunning.
Instigator (Steve, one of the Lion’s Head group moving to Midland) is anchored here. We are up against this beautiful rock face that changes colour with the light.
We have been having trouble with the motor when we try to accelerate: it often needs a couple of nudges so we will have it looked at when we get back.
We were just having a sandwich when the young people on the motorboat beside us hollered that our dinghy was getting away and so it was -merrily floating out into the Channel. They started their motor and rescued it. We offered them some money but they wouldn’t take it. The plastic rope on the neck of the bridle had broken off. Bill replaced the rope and tied it back to the boat. We are having our problems with dinghies and motors.
It was a steady stream of boats coming all day: we wondered if they would all fit as it appeared to be getting crowded in the cove (seemed like 40 boats went in. The day-trippers came for a swim and went home and the kayakers came and went.
I emailed Diane about lift out as Norm is going away on August 11 so our date is August 10th.
Monday, July 29th
We had a brief shower at 7:00 am with the sun peeking through for a brief period after it passed; otherwise, it was a cloudy day. With high winds and thunderstorms in the forecast, we got moving by 7:40 in a cloudy day. Out in the Lansdowne Channel it was light winds and low waves so we put up the main but were only getting a little out of it and needed the motor. We kept checking that the dinghy wasn’t escaping! When we rounded the corner at the end of Badgeley Island past Creak Island, the winds came up out of the South and lifted us into Boyle Cove on the south side of Fraser Bay.
We listened to Roy and the Cruisers’ Network for a while but the reception was not great in the Channel.
We arrived at 10:30 am and Bill had to set the anchor twice as the water is deep close to shore and we were getting too close. There was one other sailboat in the cove but they left just after 11:00. By 11:00, the winds were picking up. This is a good location unless there are north winds but the forecast is for west winds overnight so we should be well-protected. The small buildings on the shore are ice fishing huts.
The clouds gathered and by 2:45 the rain started to fall heavily with accompanied thunderstorms for an hour accompanied by light rain for another hour. The canvas leaked at the zippers but Bill stayed in the cockpit and I stayed below. By cocktail hour, the rain was over and the sky brightened. We are still totally alone in this anchorage which is very nice with an awesome sunset.
I am reading an ebook, The White Bone, and now am out of storage so we charged it with the Battery Booster Pack.
After dinner, we started the motor as the frig was up to 9 degrees.
Tuesday, July 30th
A lovely sunny day with the intention of going to Little Current but the West winds and waves came up quickly and it became a very rocky sail and Bill had trouble with the main so we rocked and rolled into the waves back to Browning Cove on Heywood Island as the forecast is for high west winds today and north winds tonight.
The wind continued to blow well into the evening but calmed in the night and moved to north where we were still well-protected.
Tuesday, July 31st
With the winds down, we ventured out about 8:40 with winds from the north so both sails went up and we sails without motor for over half an hour and then the winds died. We were heading for the 10:00 swing bridge at Little Current and got there easily. As we hadn’t been there before except for the pump out and showers coming east at Spider Bay Marina, we were unsure of the facilities. We went to Spider Bay for a pump out but they could not accommodate our size of boat and to get our bearings.
We called the Port of Little Current for an overnight slip and they said that they would meet us at D8 dock. We waited briefly but Bill got impatient and we docked on our own, ramming the dock and scratching the hull. After I calmed down, I had a shower and we headed for the laundromat. While we waited, we walked the town – there are several very nice shops with clothing and souvenirs. We went for lunch at the Anchor Inn from where the Cruisers’ Network and Roy operate in the 9:00 am broadcast. Next was the trip up the hill for paint thinner at Redbow’s, groceries and drinking water at Valu Mart and liquor and wine at the LCBO.
I was unimpressed with the washroom/shower and when I watched the two young men from the Port of Little Current who were doing the cleaning, I was even less impressed. This seems to be a prosperous town with great docks and facilities. The town provides the docks and Wally’s Dock Service provides the fuel, ice and pump out.
Our plan for tomorrow includes visiting Roy and the Cruisers’ Network, getting more ice and heading for Bell Cove or Sturgeon Cove on the north side of La Cloche Island.
Wednesday, August 1st
We joined the group of 10 visitors for the daily transmission of the Cruisers’ Network, located in the bar of Anchor Inn in downtown Little Current. Every day at 9:00 Roy Eaton, a retired Secondary School principal who lives on the Bluffs to the east of Little Current, has transmitted on Channel 71 to the North Channel boaters for 16 years. He gave us a gift bag with lots of information about the North Channel. He starts with any emergencies amongst the listeners. Then he reads a local and international current affairs update, as well as, Canadian history events on this date and the marine weather.
Then the boaters call in. Two female boaters helped him keep track as 127 boaters call in their location for the day. Sometimes the transmission is very noisy and the man next to me said that is often caused by the motor running on the boat but it is also a factor of the location which may be behind the escarpment. If a caller can’t be heard, Roy asks for a relay from another boat.
When the Cruisers Net started in 2005, as few as 3 boats would call in a day but today Roy says that only one in ten boats call in and he released his statistics for the month of July: 2584 boats called in; in 2015 there were 900 more; 129 today; 172 on this day in 2011. I joined the Facebook page and will send Roy the photo of us together.
We got ice and called for help from the dock staff to get us off the dock. Another terrible experience as the current caught the boat and was pushing us toward the main dock and the slip we were trying to get out of. The dock hands kept pushing us off but we banged again into the dock before we headed out into the channel. If we return to dock in Little Current, we will ask for a dock next to Boyle Marina and further from the bridge.
We were able to sail as we entered the Waubuno Channel but the wind died by the time we got to Mosquito Island but we kept the main up until we entered Bell Cove. The Ports book said that the entry to Sturgeon Cove, right next, is tricky so we asked a man in a kayak, Gerry, and Shiela on a paddle board from Down Beat who have a slip in Gore Bay (B4) what it’s like to go in and they gave us good advice for next time: stay away from the shoals on each side of the entry and aim at the rock straight ahead in the cove. We watched as at least 15 boats kept entering the cove so we were happy being where we were tucked in behind Neptune Island alone with one motorboat and protected from the west and southwest winds.
Now that we had paint thinner, I sanded and Bill varnished the toe rail with the first coat of diluted varnish.
Friday, August 2nd
We left Bell Cove at 9:45 after the Cruisers’ Net broadcast in which there were 120 callers and when we couldn’t get through, Down Beat in Sturgeon Cove relayed our call. The wind and waves were from the North West and we were heading west so we managed to use the main but were too close to the wind for the jib.
As we followed the white bluffs of the La Cloche Mountains on the north of the channel, we arrived at Gibson Cove on the northeast corner of Fox Island, considered to be part of the Benjamin group.
We were alone for a while and then a motor boat with Cliff and Martine on board (D 4 in Gore Bay) came in wanting to tie up close to shore and we said that was no problem. There is a group on Fox Island camping or building but they are at a distance. This is a lovely anchorage where we are tucked behind Jones Point and protected on all sides except north east and winds are north and light tonight.
We finished sanding and varnishing Coat Number 2 today and went for a swim. Our neighbours said that the water temperature was 73 but getting in it felt cooler than that until we got used to it. Very refreshing,
Saturday, August 3rd
We tried to listen to Cruisers’ Network but the signal was too weak. We have a new antenna but have to take the mast down to install it.
When we left Gibson Cove, a very lovely anchorage, we headed west with both the sails up for a short while and then were too close to the wind for the jib and used the main to increase out speed.
We headed down the McBean Channel where we’d been before on our way to Oak Bay and then into new territory through the narrow Little Detroit cut into the channel between Aird Island to the south and various small islands to the north.
There was distinctly less traffic going this direction and we passed very few boats going either way. On a long weekend, that seemed strange but maybe everyone goes to the same spots near Little Current or Gore Bay.
We anchored alone near the end of the channel between Aird Island and Jackson Island. There was more wind today than forecasted but by 4:00, the water was flat and the wind gone. There were thunder clouds off and on all afternoon but only 6 drops of actual rain.
There is one cottage in the cove but it is very quiet and calm.
We sanded and painted again, worried about the rain but there was none. Coat Number 3!
Sunday, August 4th
What a night: we were not expecting high winds and we got them all night. So we should have found an anchorage with more headland to the north east but we didn’t because the forecast said that the wind would be light and variable from thew north east. The winds came up overnight with the lines in the mast clanking and the boat bobbling under the waves. These are all things that in the daytime seem like nothing but at night are a big deal so much so that we both got up and looked around to see that we were still in the same anchorage
It is Joe’s 100 th Birthday, were he here, and he wouldn’t have wanted to be here. We started out about 8:45, took the narrows from the west of Aird Island and set sail due south for Gore Bay. Wow! Best sail of the year: we hit 7.1 knots and generally sailed at about 6 knots with building waves. The best sail of the year!! So what we learned is that we need to give up sail plans and go with the wind.
We got back in, got provisions, water, ice; washed the deck and cockpit; took the dinghy motor over to Norm’s building, checked the weather and prepared to go out again tomorrow.
I talked to Kathy and Ann on the dock about bashing the dock in Little Current and they said everyone has trouble there; in fact, one boat is currently being repaired from docking there. Best to avoid the town docks. Spider Bay is a better choice: you can pump out, have a shower and get provisions while on their service dock. It is a bit of a hike to town, though.
Mon, August 5th
After getting ice and making arrangements with Bill Penistan to make new Marine Blue cockpit cushions (estimate: less than $1100) and chatting about a proposed boat cover next year, we left just after 10:00 am. We past the lighthouse and sailed most of the way from Gore Bay to the west end of John Island and entered Beardrop Harbour.
We followed one large sailboat in and another followed close behind us. As we approached our proposed anchorage, the 40+ boat behind hit a rock with a huge bang, lifting the boat right out of the water. How we missed it we don’t know but I could see it on the port side. We anchored right beside Gary on Almanine from C dock in Gore Bay.
We hadn’t been there long before I spotted a young black bear on the shore of the island south of us but he quickly scampered up the rock and we didn’t see him or her again. Although there were thunderstorms all around us, only a few drops came but there were high winds in the night.
No varnishing today with the threat of rain.
Tuesday, August 6.
With concerns as to departing this lovely harbour, we took the route closer to the south and west shores to avoid the rocks in the middle. We escaped with no depth under 15 feet.
We had a great sail up the Whalesback Channel, 14.4 miles to Little Detroit in a mainly sunny day with winds from NE to South.
Once we left the channel, the South West winds and waves were very strong through the narrows at Boyd Island. We brought in the jib and as we turned north east toward Eagle Island harbour, the wind and waves were following us. Even in the harbour between Eagle and Freshette, it was bouncy and windy all afternoon.
I sanded and Bill applied the 4th coat of varnish. With the winds up and thunderstorms tomorrow night and the list of jobs to get done, we decided to head back Wednesday. The lift out is at 8:00 Friday morning because Norm is going away on Saturday. We have booked the 1:30 ferry from South Baymouth to Tobermory.
Wednesday, August 7th
The water is like glass in Eagle Bay this morning. We have coffee and head out at 8:00 as the winds are predicted to increase in the course of the day. We get on our course South west as it is a west wind and have a beautiful sail for an hour. Then the winds and the waves come up and we are doing 7.4 miles an hour and the rails are uncomfortably close to the water so with some difficulty, Bill hauled in the jib which is flapping. For the next 2 hours, we dip and crash into the wave crashing over the starboard bow. Even in Gore Bay, it is still rolling.
So we start the job of packing up. We got the mainsail down and folded without problem but the jib wouldn’t come down. Kathy stopped Al and asked him to help. So Al on Encore brought his bosun’s chair and offered to go up. Bill cranked him up and he is a big guy. Brad and Norm do a small part of the winching. I pulled in the safety line in case the main line faltered. Al released the jib and found that the furling mechanism had gone too far and was wedged over the rubber knob at the top.
The solutions for next time include putting a nail on the mast so it won’t go too far but that will mean reducing the size of the jib; watching as the jib is being hoisted with binoculars to keep it from going too far and then marking the halyard with the location; fitting the smaller jib that we have with the UV strip. I remarked that when we were putting up the jib this year the mechanism seemed to be stretching. That was more excitement than we needed! Good thing we came in a day early.
Kathy helped with the sails but said that she doesn’t go up in the bosun’s because of her bad hand. I asked her what happened and she said that they had been in Blind River and were helping a boat in distress when the line to the dinghy got wrapped around her wrist and severed her hand. They flew her to London, reattached the hand but it is severely crippled. She was in hospital for 25 days.
So the jib got folded on the main dock and both sails put in their bags and stored in the stern berth. We are both exhausted from the tough sail and removing the sails. Over the last few days, I have been packing up the cleaning stuff, our clothes and the food.
We made plans to go out to dinner tomorrow with Kathy and John.
Thursday, August 8th
From 3:00 am until 9:00 am it rained, thundered and there was lightening. Then the sun came out.
The lift-out is on! We put the stern berth cushions back on the boat and gradually emptied the boat of clothes, gear, bedding: everything we wouldn’t need for the night and the morning.
We went for dinner with Kathy and John at the Country Club. It was basically pub food. We came back past the headland looking down on Gore Bay Harbout.
Friday, August 9th
Lift out day. We were at the service dock before 8:00 am for a pump out, moved to the pull out dock and the boat was lifted out. It took about an hour. Then we finished the off-loading of stuff, put antifreeze in the engine, went to the market and headed to South Baymouth for the 1:30 ferry. Another sailing season over.
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