Zatarra Cruise to Ashtabula



The original plan was for Paul, Sharon, Chelsey and I to sail to Port Stanley on Wednesday, race to Ashtabula on Friday and then cruise back along the south coast of the Lake. A number of things conspired against this. Paul was put on very heavy antibiotics that wiped him out, we worked out it would be a minimum  of a 14 hour day and the wind was against us all the way. We decided to scrap that plan and go across to Erie and cruise down to Ashtabula. This turned out to be a good decision.


We started out with a good wind from the North East which gradually dropped. We tried
sailing wing on wing but this became more difficult as the waves increased. We turned on the motor
and bought in the head sail.

The winds as usual were fluky around the Point and just as we reached deep water the engine quit.
We unfurled the headsail and as the wind was picking up were able to sail close to our planned course
to Erie.

Paul was not feeling that well and now had to figure out what was wrong with the engine. He let it cool and the wind built.

This Laker waited for us to tack away before turning in towards Nanticoke

I don't usually helm while standing on the seat but I was also spotting as Sharon
and Paul reefed the mainsail.

The wind continued to build and we had a very rocky and wet ride with 20knot winds and 6 foot swells down the middle of the Lake. Meanwhile Paul had his head in the engine compartment. Every now and then he would emerge to try and settle his stomach before checking another component - not the oil, not the anti freeze, water is coming out the stern, belts all look good. We restarted the engine a number of times but it didn't sound or smell right. Paul was focused on the engine and Sharon and I were starting to calmly discuss whether we could tack up the channel (directly into the wind) or towing options. Calmly because we didn't want to worry Chelsey or bother Paul.
We were almost to the Pennsylvania shore, East of the Erie channel when Paul (looking green again) found the problem, plugged air filter. We turned the motor on with the air filter off and slowly motored up the channel, to the customs video phone and to our slip in the Erie Yacht Club.

Dredger in the Erie channel.

We were very happy to get to this dock. Tidy up the boat (the combination of rough weather and
engine examinations had made quite a mess), have a glass of wine and have dinner. Needless to
say we were all pretty exhausted and went to bed by 9:30!