Port Dalhousie

When it was time to move on from Wilson, we headed to Port Dalhousie, and with the light wind on the nose, we motored again.  This was our first stay at the Dalhousie Yacht Club.  We had heard that it can get quite bouncy in the river, but we had three very peaceful nights.  It was a great place for people watching, as there is always lots of foot traffic along the pier with casual strollers, serious walkers, fishermen, and photographers (especially at sunset).  

On the second day, a boat from Mimico Cruising Club pulled in behind us.  Ed thought Burin Star was a familiar boat name for some reason.  When he googled it, he found an article about the boat that he remembered reading some time ago.  The boat if for sale, and looks like a big, serious cruiser.

We had a couple of really relaxing days, walking around the neighbourhood, and across the river to old Port Dalhousie.  About the most excitement we had, was when we left a restaurant on Thursday, and I missed a step and fell flat on my face.  Didn't get hurt, just embarrassed.  

Happy Birthday

Dave and Denise needed to be in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Tuesday, and would be leaving early.  Since it was Denise's birthday on Tuesday, we thought we'd try out the oven on our boat, and bake her a birthday cake on Monday evening.  I hope you had a good day, Denise!

Bad Karma?

On Sunday, the wind was really blowing from the west, and with no particular place to be, we opted to stay in Wilson for another 2 nights.  Since IYC and Sunset Marina do not offer wi-fi, I walked over to Tuscarora to ask whether I could use their internet for an hour or so.  The senior steward apologized for not being able to allow that, and informed me that technically, I shouldn't even be on the grounds since I was not staying there, and was not a guest of anyone who was staying there.  I think that's the first time I've had anyone at any yacht club around the lake be less than hospitable.  
Ed and I thought we'd try the heated pool at IYC, only to discover that it isn't being heated this year.  I only got my ankles wet, but Ed managed to get waist deep before deciding it was just too cold to be fun.
Sunday night, storms blew through, and we were first blown onto the dock, then by morning, were being blown into the boat beside us.  Lucky we have lots of fenders.  We took a walk to Tuscarora YC to see what the sea state was, and the waves were really crashing into the channel walls.  We saw a crane at TYC, and thought it was an odd time for someone to be hauling anything with the winds as strong as they were.  It turned out to be a dock that was being  lifted, and we guessed that the strong winds must have ripped it off the wall or the stern piling.  Since these are not floating docks, we wondered whether any boats were damaged.

Old friends

We filled up fuel, and managed to fill our new propane tanks in Point Breeze before heading off to Wilson.  The waves were a little rough as we motored into the wind...again.  As we approached Wilson, we called the Tuscarora Yacht Club to see whether they would have any space.  They were having a cruise in from Ashbridges Bay YC, so no space for us.  We went up the bay to the Sunset Marina/Island Yacht Club (Wilson).  As we were debating whether we would fit into the slip assigned to us, two people on bikes stopped and waved to us.  It was Ian and Shauna from Blue Wing.  We had sailed in St. Martin with them a few years ago.  Ian retired from the Bank a couple of years ago, and Shauna only recently, so they were enjoying an extended cruise this summer. Ian and Shauna are out-of-town members at IYC which gives them reciprocal privileges around the lake, and an inexpensive place to haul out in the winter. We joined them for IYC's Friday night Fish Fry and $2 beer. 

On Saturday, as we were relaxing in the cockpit, Livin' Easy came into the bay looking for a mooring.  Sunset Marina has the wrong phone number printed in the Ports Guide, so we contacted the marina office, and were able to help Dave and Denise get a spot for the night. 

New Boats

Livin' Easy

We finally got to sail for a while between Rochester and Point Breeze.  The winds had been quite strong overnight, and were still blowing from the north as we were leaving.  Because of the tight mooring at RYC, Marv helped us off the dock, and we would have been fine...if another boat we didn't see hadn't been leaving at the same time.  With some quick maneuvering, we managed not to hit anyone.  Livin' Easy left shortly after us, and we crisscrossed paths for a while.  As we headed further west, so did the wind, and as a result we ended up motor sailing most of the way.

Anahata

As we entered Oak Orchard creek, someone came out onto a dock and was waving at us.  It was David from QCYC.  He has purchased a Passport 42 - Anahata - and is refitting her prior to going on a long term cruise to the south Pacific.  To avoid import duties, he won't be bringing the boat to Canada, and is doing the work at the Point Breeze Marina.
Our only disappointment was that the bridge we used to walk over to get to Brown's Berry Patch, is gone.  Going to the next bridge south would have added at least a couple of kilometers to our walk, so no ice cream for us.

New friends

With no wind, we motored to Rochester, going past the entrance to Irondequoit Bay, just to have a look.  Rochester Yacht Club was quite busy, but the dockmaster gave us a choice of slips.  We picked one that looked like it wouldn't be too hard to get in and out of, but the docked turned out to be VERY short.  A few minutes after we were docked, a National YC boat came into one of the slips which we had declined.  I walked around to invite them over for drinks, and it turned out that the boat beside them was from Etobicoke YC, so we invited them over too.  We met Marv and Kathy on Wet and Wilder (oops - no photo) from NYC, and Dave and Denise on Livin' Easy from EYC.  Turns out Dave works at Scotiabank, and deals with the department I just joined. 
Dave and Denise just purchased their boat, and were making their way to Niagara-on-the-Lake for a date with the customs broker.  The next day was rainy so we did some boat chores. We got another chance to see Ajay and Kathy for dinner at Schooners, and Dave and Denise were able to join us.

This year's sailing vacation begins in....Sodus Bay

We left Toronto on a Friday afternoon, with a forecast of light winds.  We wanted to begin our vacation in Rochester, but they were hosting a regatta the first weekend of our holiday, so we decided that since we were making an overnight passage, we'd keep going to Sodus Bay, and work our way west from there.  We've spent the last 2 summers at the east end of the lake, so I thought it was time for something different.  We had a great sail for about half an hour, then the wind died and we started the engine.  There was light wind all night, and what was there was on the nose.  The lake was flat and we made great time, so much so that I slowed us down at about 5:00 am so that we wouldn't arrive too early.  As it was, we got to the Sodus Bay Yacht Club at about 9:00, checked into the country at the video phone, then had a good breakfast and a nap.

Ajay and Kathy were hoping to bring Sara to Sodus Point for a beach day on Saturday, but circumstances prevented that, so Ajay came on his own to pick us up and take us to Webster.  The Webster Jazz Festival was on, but we didn't stay long because of the weather.  We spent a cool, rainy evening in the company of good friends, and on Sunday, went shopping while Sara attended a birthday party.  We only had a short visit aboard before going to The Bay Street restaurant.  We enjoyed it last year, and were glad to introduce Kathy and Ajay to the place, particularly as they have a fondness for the Florida Keys, and this place has a Key West connection.  
We spent a relaxing Monday in Sodus Point, walking the beach, and the small community around the yacht club, with dinner at Captain Jack's. 

Ladies' Night 2014

After the annual Finance Picnic on the island (likely my last, since I just joined Global Risk Management), I had a few of the women over to the boat for the evening.  Cora, Jenny, Rebecca, Christine and I enjoyed some refreshments, snacks, and good conversation.  It's always nice to get together outside of the office.  The afternoon had been beautiful but the evening was a little cool, particularly by the time the sun was setting.  I forgot to factor in the race night crowds, and my guests couldn't get on the 9:00 tender.  Thankfully, the tender was making back to back runs, so the ladies weren't too late heading home.

Are they curlers or are they sailors?

Maybe they're both!  At the end of the curling season in April, my Tuesday team had arranged to go sailing on July 5.   With a short summer, and vacation plans, we have to plan well ahead.  The date was approaching, the weather looked good....but with two FIFA World Cup games, and Eugenie Bouchard playing in the Wimbledon finals on Saturday, Joe asked whether we could go sailing on Sunday instead.  Not ones to stand between sports fans and a good game, we agreed, although the weather forecast for Sunday was for strong winds and high waves.  

Ed and I went to QCYC's Ribfest on Saturday and who did we meet, but some more curlers. Kate and Marina had come to join Kate's sister Karen for the festivities.  Karen and her partner Richard, on Catspaw, just joined the club this season.  The High Park ladies tried our hands (or feet) at some line dancing ahead of the evening's entertainment.  I wish I could say we were great, but I think our Entertainment Chair Phil picked the hardest line dance lessons he could find on the internet. 

Before our guests arrived on Sunday, I warned them that we may not actually get out on the water because of the weather forecast.  Lynn was so keen to sail, that we agreed to see how things were on the lake.  We had a good breeze, but certainly not what had been forecast, and the waves were nothing to speak of.  George was surprised that he didn't need a licence to sail, and did great for his first time at the helm.  We had a quick sail, and it was only when we were returning to the club that the clouds rolled in and the wind picked up a little, but our captain docked us expertly, so no worries.

And here it is - Happy Canada Day

Harbourfront held their Canada Day fireworks show on June 30.  We had a great view from the lawn of QCYC.  The skies were clear, the CN Tower was lit up in red and white, and we enjoyed a great pyrotechnic show.

Today is hot and hazy, with storms forecast for mid day.  After breakfast we hoisted our huge Canadian flag which only comes out on this day each year.