[Public-list] Misery Cruise Georgian Bay
Gordon Laco
mainstay at csolve.net
Fri Nov 3 01:25:55 PST 2006
Good morning Marianne -
Thanks for posting the chart! We really should visit some time. We have
friends with a place on Rose Island - there are two reasons to head in
there.
The weird thing about the seitch at Pointe au Baril was that the wind had
been howling from the west for a long time - that should have piled up the
water, as you point out. When the opposite happened we were dumbfounded and
did not understand how the water level could have gone down 3' until we got
home.
Glad you liked the story. There may be a sequel - I am heading up the coast
one last time Friday night - but we won't go far, only to the top of
Beausoleil island's Frying Pan Harbour. I snowed here last night. Time to
put the boat away for the year.
Why am I awake at 4am? A ship is working its way into the harbour and its
hooting woke me up.
Gord #426
> Hi Gord!
> Lovely cruise in my home waters! You should stop in at Sail Parry Sound
> once in a while! We'd get a party together in your honour.
> For Roger , the charts are available at
> http://www.fedpubs.com/mpchrt/charts/georgianb.htm and many places mentioned
> are shown in the diagram.
> Too bad you weren't here earlier in the year.
> That Pointe au Baril seiche will have been a familiar scene to you. East
> wind will do it every time in Georgian Bay. The water all goes out, and it
> all comes back. West wind piles it up on the shore.
> I've known the Twin Sisters all my life. Owned the little island near the
> Clarence Channel for years. From now on, they'll be Gord's Sin Twisters.
> Thanks!
> Thank you for taking the time to write it up for us all.
>
> Marianne King-Wilson
> Windward 369
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gordon Laco" <mainstay at csolve.net>
> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at alberg30.org>
> Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 3:59 PM
> Subject: Re: [Public-list] Test message..
>
>
>> OK- you asked for it...
>>
>>
>>
>> Well indeed,
>>
>> We had a fair measure of weirdness, some misery, and one evening of nice
>> weather.
>>
>> Here goes...MISERY TRIP '06
>>
>> Day One
>>
>> Departed Midland about 10:00 am broad reached in a blessed 10-12kt sw wind
>> up Severn Sound, up backside of Giants Tomb Island, through the newish
>> bouyed channel around northern tip and up to O'Donnell Channel light.
>> Went
>> in through the reefs there and toodled under power up to Wreck Island.
>> Grilled steaks over camp fire, ate them in the rain.
>>
>> Day Two
>>
>> Howling north wind after frigid night (but warm and dry in the cabin with
>> the woodstove stoked up all night...) Motored up past San Souci, across
>> Parry Sound entrances and on up Adanac Island way... Fog and light air
>> from
>> north as we approached Sin Twisters aka Twin Sister Islands), but
>> visibility
>> cleared and all was well as we rounded them.
>>
>> Arrived Pointe au Baril about mid afternoon. Walked around friend's
>> cottage
>> (closed up for season of course) found all well. As dark fell retreated to
>> Siren Song's mooring. Also admired colossal peeled snake skin on
>> walkway...
>>
>> Were awoken at 4am by screaming wind as squall came through; dressed and
>> sat
>> in cockpit watching the violence. Were quite surprised to see bay
>> suddenly
>> drained of water - docks aground and all. After about an hour the water
>> all
>> came back. Were very glad to be on the mooring and not in the river mouth
>> as first considered; with a seitch like that the current there must have
>> been considerable. Learned later that an intense low had passed just
>> south
>> of us and had slurped up the water for a while.
>>
>> Had a bad moment when a very ugly struggle nearly broke out... Was in
>> process of setting extra anchors I pulled a life jacket out of the cockpit
>> locker and dropped it. A moment later I looked for it and found it gone.
>> Rod had put it on. Apparently I looked a little fierce when I took it
>> back... We laughed and laughed later at the thought of how we would have
>> looked fighting over a life jacket while the storm howled.
>>
>> Day three
>>
>> Motorsailed up to Pointe au Baril lighthouse - told Rod story (probably
>> again but he was a good sport) of earlier trips there. Just for old times
>> sake sailed in lumpy swells 15K NW wind out to bell buoy (not bell any
>> more...) then back into Nares Inlet. Anchored in little cove Caroline
>> named
>> Birdsong Bay last year.
>> Quiet night.
>>
>> Day Four
>>
>> Sailed off anchors and out inlet, roared back into P au B under genny
>> alone;
>> hung a right at Kitsilano Channel and banged a rock in the narrows just
>> past
>> (who put that f*kn thing there - must have gone over it a hundred
>> times...)
>> motor sailed in drizzle down past Twisters and increasing sw wind, blowing
>> over 30 by CCG weather report at Twisters. Once out from behind them
>> slogging along at 3/4 throttle only making 3kts into fairly large steep
>> waves...ducked into inside passage and peace.
>>
>> Motored all day getting blasted every time an openning appeared in
>> islands -
>> decided to stop at Franklin Island Regatta Bay (crowded in summer but of
>> course not now) A little traumatized by the violence of the wind all day,
>> forcast promised worse during night so put down two anchors and had a nap.
>>
>> Were awoken about 4pm by squall (right on time by forecast) and noticed we
>> dragged during it. Once past got to work in dinghy and moved boat further
>> up bay and laid elaborate tackle. Doubled little Bruce anchor on the big
>> CQR on the all chain rode... Teamed up two fisherman anchors (like Popeye
>> has on his arm) on 100' nylon 60 degrees to stbd... Big danforth on nylon
>> 60
>> to port. Five anchors down on three lines... Had a peaceful night
>> although
>> it howled the whole time.
>>
>> Charcoal running out so all hands frantically cutting firewood to fit in
>> stove as sun set....
>>
>> Day Five
>>
>> Blessed clear day - motored in glassy calm around entrances to Parry
>> Sound,
>> on down to Long Sault. Anchored for lunch in cove off channel (one of
>> those
>> I have looked at for years and said - if only we could stay there some
>> time
>> instead of being half way to somewhere evey time...) Saw eagle nab a
>> large
>> bird (crow?) then eat it while being yelled at by two crows sitting just
>> above it out of reach in tree. Wondered if they wanted to avenge a
>> friend,
>> or steal the feast, or both?
>>
>> Ran aground in mud on way out - moment of fear as it crossed collective
>> minds that water had dropped while anchored but no, not this time, got
>> out.
>>
>> Sadly looked again at ruin of old cottage at narrows that burned down
>> recently.
>>
>> Stopped in at Sans Souci for fuel and pumpout - found all power still out
>> from storm of day 2 - nothing working. Bought two steaks and some
>> pototoes
>> carried on with all our sh*t still below but OK so far, tank not near
>> full.
>>
>> Motored all day down to Indian Harbour, anchored with two hooks off cove
>> on
>> Bands Island. Went ashore and cooked steaks over coals of fire, ate them
>> in
>> soft warm clear air sitting on rock top of island watching sun set.
>> Lovely.
>>
>> Went back down to shore and lay on warm rocks feet toward fire watching
>> stars - incredible show. Suddenly heard loud clank on Rod's beer can.
>> Switched on flashlights and saw HUGE beetle enjoying fire with us.
>> Measured
>> 4" See pictures, look at evil shining eyes... V. ugly monster.
>> Eventually
>> flew off into dark. Holy cow, it can fly?!
>>
>> Suddenly darkness not so attractive anymore, retreated to boat lit
>> woodstove
>> and continued yarning in safety.
>>
>> Wye Marsh naturalist has since reported we encountered a female Giant
>> Water
>> Bug. Wonder how it got that name...
>>
>> Day 6
>>
>> Woke to calm and morning mist to find a 30 yacht was anchored near us,
>> must
>> have come in while we were ashore eating evening before. Was from King
>> Bay
>> and had dead batteries. Handed over our booster and circled while he
>> started up. Parted, he going North we going South.
>>
>> Wind built all morning to usual howler on the nose. Went inside all way
>> down to Honey Harbour, were in hopes of sailing close hauled from Present
>> Island to Midland. Not to be. Once out in Sound big pair of squalls
>> developed and motored through them. Watched fool behind us sailing into
>> one
>> with everything up, then panic scramble to drag down sails while on ear
>> sliding onto lee shore at Present. Could imagine tale later "...wind came
>> suddenly from out of nowhere...'
>>
>> Arrived at Club late afternoon - Called Caroline on cell, had quiet beer
>> with her before going home.
>>
>> Airport shuttle picked up Rod at 3am to catch plane back to Boston - end
>> of
>> story.
>>
>> -------------
>>
>> Big improvements to boat this season were second fuel tank with associated
>> valves; complete success. Extra range v nice and engine ran fine. I have
>> always wanted to increase the range but here is how I came to break down
>> and
>> do it.
>>
>> This summer the fuel gauge on the factory installed tank died. Traced
>> trouble to sending unit. Discovered cannot come at sending unit without
>> removing tank...can't remove tank without removing steering and engine.
>>
>> Decided to break down and install new second tank with working new sending
>> unit... Routine now is to use old #1 tank until empty (estimating fuel by
>> hours run) then switch to new larger tank with gauge. Success.
>>
>> The other improvement was decent galley water pump. What a diff to
>> washing
>> dishes etc that little change made.
>>
>> Perhaps becoming fond of boat at last... Still dream about finding Touch
>> Wood and buying her again though.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> Gord Who, tell us a story. Tales of misery cruises, lost kayaks,
>>> cockpits
>>> full of water, sailor versions of the Darwin Awards, the Canadian
>>> version
>>> of the rebel yell while docking; that kind of stuff.
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "John Birch" <Sunstone at cogeco.ca>
>>> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at alberg30.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 3:45 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Public-list] Test message..
>>>
>>>
>>>> Gord who ?
>>>> ; )
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Gordon Laco" <mainstay at csolve.net>
>>>> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at alberg30.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 2:35 PM
>>>> Subject: [Public-list] Test message..
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi there - this is a test message - have not heard from anybody for a
>>>>> long
>>>>> time...
>>>>>
>>>>> Gord #426
>>>>>
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