Lake Erie Interclub, 2025

 

This year Rick and I volunteered to work on the Customs Dock as the boats arrived on the race from Erie, Penn. These were the first 3 boats and they arrived shortly after 10:30am, having left Erie around 6am. A very fast crossing.

 

After that they started arriving fast and furious. There were 6 of us to catch ropes, tie them fast, warn that the tires on the dock would leave black marks on white hulls, and then untie and push off when the customs officials had finished with them. There were 8 customs officials but unfortunately only one computer but they got more efficient as the day progressed and no-one was on the dock for too long. While waiting for room at the customs docks the boats milled around in the harbour as we tried to bring them in in approximately the same order that they arrived. Many of the 37 boats continued up the river to dock at the Port Dover Yacht Club, some went to the Port Dover Harbour Marina and 2 of the largest, docked in the Commercial Basin with the fish tugs. We were done by 2pm.

The next day they were supposed to race around Long Point Bay but it didn't look very promising.

 

When they were supposed to start, at 10am, we could see them out there, no sails up. We had Rick's radio and monitored the wavelength they were using. The start was delayed, waiting for wind.

They finally decided not to race around the bay but to place a tetrahedron out, for a windward mark, and just race back and forth to the committee boat a couple of times. Rick and I headed down to the marina and took Spellbound out to watch (and so I could get some pictures, I took 160!)

I love the spectacle of a fleet of spinnakers flying, they are so pretty.

 

There will now be too many spinnaker photos.

It doesn't always go to plan. I suspect they are in the process of "gybing" the spinnaker (moving it from one side of the boat to the other)

We sailed around for a while as the day was perfect - breeze strong enough to comfortably move the boat but light enough that we weren't healed over and we had the lounge chairs out to sit on. Then we maneuvered over to the leeward mark, the green tetrahedron on left of the photo. The boats flew spinnaker down to it, rounded it and went back upwind using only the jib and mainsail.

Love the colouring on this one.

There are different ways to drop a spinnaker. The boat, second from left, is using a sock which is pulled down to encapsulate the sail. The one on the right is pulling it in from the cockpit and dropping the halyard from the mast (I am not 100% sure of this as that may be a j120 and as they have a bowsprit it may be slightly different from what I am used to) 

I always get photos of Dreamer, a wooden ketch (2 masts) out of Erie, but she wasn't here this year so I got this shot of the only wooden boat participating.

We were in a perfect position for me to document a full spinnaker take down as Promise approached the mark.

The person on the foredeck unhooks the spinnaker from the pole that attaches it to the mast at the bottom.

As the person on the helm turns the boat, the spinnaker flies free on the leeward side. At this point crew is also starting to trim in the mainsail and the jib and the person on foredeck is bringing down the pole to get it out of the way.

As the spinnaker halyard is released (letting it drop from the top of the mast) crew are pulling the sail into the boat (usually down the companionway, into the cabin, where it will be repacked and readied for the next hoisting at the windward mark)

The crew is scrambling to bring it in fast enough for it not to drag in the water but they are also still working on getting the other 2 sails in tight.

So sometimes it does get wet. Its a complicated process that requires speed, coordination, teamwork and at least 6 people if it is to go well.

We watched Shaibu come past the committee boat and retire, not enough wind for a big heavy boat.

Then we sailed up parallel to the course to give me more opportunities for spinnaker pictures (because, you know, you can never have too many)

Rick and I sailed a while longer and then went home for supper before heading in to the Yacht Club for a drink and to socialize with sailors.

The Club was decked out for Canada Day and packed with members and Interclub participants.

 

The fish fry was almost finished and there was a band playing on the deck

During an intermission from the music, flags were awarded for the first 2 races. From Port Dover, Between the Sheets, Sequence and Sea of Dreams all won flags.

Boats displayed their past flags and yacht club burgees.

Socializing occurred in the clubhouse, on the deck, at the picnic tables and in or on the boats.

Sails on the deck to make room in the cabin for sleeping. It would be an early start the next day.

Another light wind day

and we saw the fleet motoring eastward. It's a long way to Port Colborne and they will motor until there is enough wind to start the race.

Water sports and a rug repair.

Finally summer has arrived and the sailboat racing has started. The weather has been varied and, often, extreme. Either too much wind (a couple of cancellations due to this) or not enough (and the racing is painfully slow.)

One night it was quite calm, reflections on the water, and Dave was able to get a few shots on my camera (I was on the helm).

 

On windy nights there is no chance for photography.

A recent Monday Night Crew photo--- myself, Rick, Dave and Gord. (taken by Dave)

Had to include the boat. We usually also have Fiona and sometimes Fred and/or Dave. (Photo by Dave)

I found that I was able to get the kayak into the new car and

actually had better visibility out of the passenger window than I had with the Prius.

Calm, muddy water

and a slight breeze meant that it was very comfortable for a leisurely kayak on Black Creek.

As usual, there was an abundance

of turtles, different types and sizes, all

quite happy to share the same log. All sliding off into the water with some prearranged signal when I got too near.

Living his best life and really didn't want to be disturbed.

I kayaked down as far as the Yacht Club, past the huge mansions and tiny cottages, past the huge powerboats and little runabouts. Not many people out on the water on a Monday, I was just passed by 2 other kayakers and a couple of power boats.

Not a lot of birdlife ...no herons (though one flew over), some geese and ducks and this Kingbird who

 

repeatedly leapt into the air to snatch a bug and then returned to his stump.

The logs that had been vacated when I kayaked to close on the way down, were full again on the way back.

A customer bought a damaged rug into the Woodhouse Gallery and asked if I could repair it. I have done some minor rug repairs before so decided to give it a go. One section of the edge was ripped and the binding had come away from the rug. The burlap was unravelling in that spot.

 

First I took all the old rug binding off. This took longer than any other step in the process.

Then I pulled out some rows of hooking until I reached stable burlap.

Then I used fabric glue and stabilized the worst areas before

attaching new rug tape to the front.

I then rolled the burlap and attached the rug tape to the back.

I was loath to cut the burlap so, unfortunately, some areas were thicker than others.

I had cut off the rug hookers stitched initials and now sewed them back on.

Completed and back to the gallery to be picked up.

Grandchild Updates:

River loves the Quail from Mike's first hatching.

 

Cigi graduated from Preschool.

Looks more mature in this one.

Final photo - Amaryllis are not just for Christmas!