Lake Erie Interclub - Erie to Port Dover

Saturday started before the "crack of dawn", literally. We woke at 3:45am for a 5:30am race start. As part of the cruising, or rally, fleet, we were started first. Although, as you get up, you wonder why on earth you are voluntarily going out onto a cold dark lake at this hour, there is also a level of excitement and enjoyment of being part of the event.

We had started the race and were sailing out of the channel, into the lake, as
the sun came up.

There was good consistent wind and we could see behind us more and more boats setting out, as each fleet was started, 5 minutes apart. Zatarra performed very well and it was 2 hours before the first spinnaker boat caught up with us.

It was Lake Shark, fastest boat in the race, whose fleet was started last, that came past us first.
They didn't however finish the race, as, we heard, they had run aground.

Gradually the faster boats came by us, sometimes just one at a time, sometimes in groups, so we were surrounded by the sound of sails, the shouts of spinnaker trimmers and the water under bows. Made for great photo opportunities.

Special K, a Port Dover boat, leaving us in her wake.

West Wind, another Port Dover boat. They ruined this spinnaker 2 days
later on the race to Port Colborne. Racing is expensive!

Of course you can't have photos of the Interclub without a photo of
Dreamer. She is beautifully maintained wooden boat who can actually fly two spinnakers,
but wasn't this day.

The race is run from a large trawler, Commune, and a small power boat (pictured) who sets the tetrahedrons to mark the course, otherwise known as Mark Set. Mark Set powers from one end of the course to the other in any weather.

We put up the Asymetrical Sail and used it until we rounded Long Point and we could see up ahead that a lot of boats were having trouble managing their spinnakers. We attempted to "snuf" the sail but the "snuffer" (a long sock that is pulled down the sail to contain it) wouldn't come down. We dropped the whole thing down onto the deck and then shoved it in the galley. Not popular with the "galley wench" as she had to pretty well stand on her head to get into the frig.
We crossed the lake in about 7.5hrs, very fast! After milling around at the customs dock at Port Dover, getting checked in, we headed for the dock. Made Zatarra "ship shape" and re-stuffed the Asymetrical.
Mike and George had had a good crossing. Mike had managed to stay awake for about half of it. We were all pretty tired so just headed home as George had to take Mike to the airport early on Sunday. I was in bed by 8:30pm.