2022 Chaos Race

 Rick and I , on Spellbound, entered the Chaos race for a second year. Last year, because of light winds, we only had to go around three course markers but this year, with steady winds forecast it was a four mark course. 

We start, slowest boat first, one at a time, at ED2 and can sail the other 3 marks in any order, finishing again at ED2. We chose to head for the Nanticoke mark first. This large green buoy marks the channel that takes the Lakers in to the pier at Nanicoke to load and unload for Stelco. As we approached, I was on the helm, and a Laker was coming into the channel. I felt like we were playing chicken with this fast moving giant but we made it around the buoy well before he came into the passage.

We were using the Navitronics App on Rick's phone and it performed very well. Last year we had no idea where the buoys were. This year we knew exactly when and where to start looking for them.

Sailing diagonally across the bay to the Turkey Point buoy we again crossed paths with a working boat.

This time it was the Donna F. going back to Dover after a morning of fishing.

At Turkey Point we started to see other boats that had chosen different routes around the buoys. Redhead with her easter egg coloured spinnaker.

I think this is Shaibu but it might be Bluebird, both are Nonsuch's.

From Turkey Point we sailed along the north coast of Long Point

to the buoy marking Bluff's Bar sand spit.

Diagonally back to ED2 (Port Dover) and the course took us straight through this anchored Laker so we had to dodge around its bow.

Approaching ED2 we could see Grey Escape, moving much faster than us (he was close hauled, we were running) and he passed the mark ahead of us. About 9 hours out on the water on a beautiful day for sailing.  It turned out, when all the stats were crunched, that we came in 2nd in the JAM fleet, beaten only by Grey Escape. In hind sight we decided that we might have had a better chance of winning if we had started on the diagonal to Bluffs Bar. We came in 3rd last year and were happy with how well we sailed Spellbound, "to her PHRF" according to Rick. Each time we learn a little more about the strategy for this strange race.

I will end with some grandchildren pictures:

The Edmonton contingent swimming, in Kelowna. Photo by Aimee.

River. Photo by Aimee. They just sent me a video of her standing up, walking will happen shortly.

Cigi sporting her Blue Jays fan togs. Photo by Chris.

August long weekend in Erie, PA - return journey

 We had to "pump out" at the gas dock before leaving so left shortly after it opened at 8am. We were again gifted with a decent following wind and set the sails after clearing the channel.

Relaxed and dozing so not many photos even though there was some Laker action.

I tend not to feel sea sick when I am at the helm...focused, checking the horizon for ships, looking at the course and the sails.... distraction from the motion. Photo by Rick.

Rick checking for a change in water colour as we approach the tip. Although the charts show depth and the boat has a depth meter, the sand bar at the end of Long Point changes with each storm and shift of the current and can get too shallow for the keel rapidly.

The mandatory photos of the lighthouse.

Not as much traffic out here this day. We were passed by a very fast catamaran power boat but that was it.

We got in to Port Dover just before the thunderstorms were forecast to hit so quickly gathered up our stuff  and headed home. Sharon cleaned out the frig the next day and I picked up my leftover food on Wednesday night after the race.

Cigi's first baseball cap. I gather that she kept taking Jason's so had to have one of her own. Photo by Chris.

August long weekend in Erie, PA - Venetian Night

 It is amazing how tiring it is to sit on a boat for a day...fresh air, constant motion, a little nausea (for me)... so we ate on the boat, salmon, rice and salad and went to bed early.

Saturday morning we walked up the hill and through the residential neighbourhood to Avanti's for breakfast.

It is a lovely walk up the winding road, in the shade and then through an area of older, well kept homes with a filling meal to walk off, coming back.

When Rick and I walked the docks we wondered about this boat

covered with skeletons. A little early for Halloween???

And this one with penguins? But then found out they were being decorated for Venetian Night.

Zattara II at dock.

Paul and Sharon belong to the Long Point Bay Yacht Club and a group had come over for the weekend so we had appetizers together and then

dinner at the club house.

We then waked over to the pavilion by the bay to watch the Venetian Nights parade.

Some of the boats had been decorated but just stayed at their slip

As it got darker it got more difficult

to see all the decorating that had been done

and all the people on board in costumes. This is "Dorothy" and "The Scarecrow" dancing on the bow.

Everyone on the penguin boat was dressed in white and an "ice berg" with 2 penguins on it was towed behind.

When the parade was over, and the prizes awarded, the band started up and we danced. I looked up at one point and realized that most of the people on the dance floor were from our Port Dover group.

The next day was a lazy day. I was tired and stiff from a late night and dancing. Not complaining, it was a lot of fun.

I sat and painted the flower gardens by the clubhouse steps

Walked the docks (jealous of the dedicated committee boat for racing)

and watched some boats go out. I believe there was some napping and a walk to the chocolate shop.

That evening a group of us took our lives in our hands and Ubered to Rum Runners at the base of the Erie pier, for dinner.

While away I was sent pictures of Mike, Aimee and the kids at an Edmonton Elks game.

Noisy so River had ear protection.

August long weekend in Erie, PA. - crossing.

It's been a long time, years, since I last cruised on Zatarra II and Paul and Sharon invited Rick and I to go with them to Erie for the long weekend. The weather was co-operative (always a deciding factor) and we set off shortly after 8am on Friday. We motor sailed for the first hour or so but as the wind built we were able to turn off the noise and just enjoy the sound of the wind and water as we raced along at the same speed as we would have been motoring at, with the wind from our side.

The chart plotter was not working so we were using the compass and the navatronics app on Paul's tablet.

Approaching "the Point" I took a chair up to the bow for a comfortable seat from which to view the lighthouse.

There was lots of activity at "the Point"

with fishing boats speeding back to Dover with their catch after fishing south of it.

We must have hit it just at quitting time as 3 of them passed us

followed by their seagull escorts.

Another sailboat was closer in.

We were playing it safe, not wanting to run aground on the sandbar that snakes off the tip.

Past "the point" and we were into the shipping lane

and amazed at the speed of these monsters.

A full 8 hours on the water and then past the lighthouse and into the sheltered waters of Presque Isle Bay.

Dodged the paddle wheeler

and docked at Erie Yacht Club.