Yes, it really is over

We dropped the mast on September 23, just as Toronto was starting into a five day heat wave with record temperatures at over 30 degrees C.  Our log book showed that we sailed a grand total of 9 times this season.    

Lets hope we get a better season next year.

Is it over already?

It feels like the summer has just started, and it's almost over!  The Labour Day weekend is one of great traditions at QCYC.  Friday is Corn & Weenie Roast, and the preparation of the pigs for Saturday's Pig Roast.








Although the weather was a little cool, especially on Saturday, we had a pretty good turn out for the party.  Emily and Leigh came out for a sail on Saturday, but the wind was really howling.  In fact, the whole weekend was extremely windy, and we didn't get out sailing at all.  

QCYC staff sail

Jacqui resurrected a past tradition this year, when the commodore and vice-commodore take the club office and maintenance staff out for a sail at the end of the season.  We picked a weeknight just before some of the younger staff head back to school.  Abby, Nick and Brian came out with us on Prime Interest, and Laura and Morgan were aboard Wild Jasmine.  We had enough wind to get a good sail, but not so much to scare the newbies.  

Back at the club, Jacqui and Eriks barbecued some burgers, and we toasted the season with a sip of bubbly. 

Mini Cruise

Since we couldn't go cruising this season, we took the opportunity of a good weather forecast to visit another club for the weekend.  With light winds on Saturday and strong winds from the east expected on Sunday, we headed east to the Scarborough Bluffs, so that we could have a downwind sail home.

We arrived at the Highland Yacht Club in the early afternoon.  It was one of those beautiful days without a cloud in the sky, and the air was clear and fresh.  We walked through the park, and down to the beach.  People were actually in the water, but I poked my toes in, and brrr... it was chilly.

On Sunday we had a rocky start to our trip home.  The wind was light, but the waves were on a terrible angle.  It got better as the wind picked up, and we were able to take a better line relative to the waves, and we had a pretty quick trip home.



 

How much water was there?

The Lake Ontario daily average water levels at Toronto are now back to about where they were the weekend we were launching boats back in April.  So how bad was this flood, really?  Pretty bad.  Water in the Toronto area was at an all-time high, since such records have been kept.

Southern Ontario had a lot of rain this spring and summer, as has the whole Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin.  Montreal had suffered flooding in May, so the flood gates in Cornwall were unable to release more water from Lake Ontario until that subsided. 

The first chart shows the average daily water level from launch day, until mid August.  The horizontal line shows the water level on May 7, when water first started seeping into the clubhouse.  When we were first laying sandbags on May 6, I never would have believed we'd have so much water, for such a sustained period of time.  It was the first time I've experienced flood conditions, and not eager to see it happen again.

There has been much speculation about whether this will be a once-every-20-years type of event, or whether we should expect significant water level variability much more frequently.  Only time will tell, but we did reach an all time high water level in May and June.  The chart below shows the previous record years for both high and low water.

We have yet to fully assess the impact of the water on our building and yard, as the ground is still mucky and wet in some areas even thought the water has receded.  Our members have pulled together to do the work that needed doing, we carried on with some great social events, and we appear to have weathered this event pretty well.  Let's just hope we don't have to endure it again any time soon.

Photos of the flood can be seen at the link on the right.

Women Skippers Race weekend

I didn't think I'd be able to race this year, as we didn't have the mast in until the end of July.  A couple of friends had offered to take me along as crew, but I was happy to decline, and skipper my own boat.  Tina and Susan had planned to come for the race, but realized that they had a conflict.  I did get one extra crew member in Julien, but as I was the only woman on board, I was at the helm for the whole race.  After a very slow start, we had a great sail to the Dufferin mark and back, and Julien enjoyed his first race.  

Genia, Julien, Ed

We ended up 12th out of 17 boats, and fourth in our division.  I have to work on that start, as it's hard to make up the time with a poor start.

In a moment of weakness, I had offered to help with the barbecue after the race.  It almost didn't happen, because when I went to pick up the sausages, the deli didn't have a record of my order!  They had a fresh batch of sausages in the cooker, and I came back a couple of hours later once the sausages were cool enough to pack.  The barbeque went well, and we were actually able to sit on the lawn.

Hayley, Derek

Sunday we again took advantage of great conditions and had Derek and Hayley out for a sail.  We caught them between visits to their cottage in New Brunswick.  Another perfect sail.

August long weekend

On August 5, almost exactly three months after we laid the first sandbags, we could finally start the cleanup.  Although there is still a little water in the yard, most of the grounds are dry.  We had a great turnout for the work party on Saturday morning and were able to remove the temporary walkways, and move all the sandbags from around the clubhouse.  We filled in ruts and low spots on the lawn with sand, and stacked some sandbags in case they're needed in the yard later in the season.  There are a few sections near the seawall where the sandbags are still in place to fill in sink holes, but otherwise, the place is looking great. 

Lynn, Ed, Ken

On Sunday, we invited Ken and Lynn out for a sail.  They've been spending the summer in Canada, with Silverheels III left in Martinique for the hurricane season.  We had another beautiful day with nice conditions for a leisurely sail. There's nothing like good company, sunshine, and a nice breeze.

Finally!

On the last weekend of our vacation, the water was finally low enough that we thought we could try to step the mast.  With a little help from some friends, the mast went in smoothly, and we could finally get the season started!  As vice-commodore, I get to fly a special burgee this season, and it was wonderful to hoist it up the halyard for the first time.

We put the mast in Saturday afternoon, and got the sails on Sunday morning.  The weather was perfect for our first sail of the season, on Sunday afternoon, July 30.  Better late than never. 

Lobsterfest

Once again, the water couldn't dampen the social atmosphere at Queen City!  Rearranging our social schedule again, we had a huge turnout for this year's version of Lobsterfest.  Although the flood water has started to recede, most of the lawn is still too wet to be usable.  Instead, we set up the lobster (and steak) stations on the driest section of lawn near the clubhouse, and people sat at tables on the Rapids Queen and in the Great Hall.  The lobster was great, and the band kept the party going into the evening.

Happy Canada 150

The Canada Day festivities were originally planned for July 8 (huh?), because we were supposed to have a cruise out to another club on the July long weekend.  However, due to water levels on the lake, we've had to cancel all our cruises this season, as few clubs are able to accept visitors.

Instead, we held a great Canada Day party on July 1 - where it belongs!  Ed and I had dinner at the clubhouse, with Canadian themed menu items.  After the flag lowering complete with piper, we made our way to the Rapids Queen for some Canada 150 cake, and awaited the fireworks, first from the CN Tower, then from a
barge off Harbourfront. 

Oh - and we got a great view of the giant duck being towed into position, when we were on our way to the club the day before .

QCYC 2017 Come Hell or High Water

We normally hold Sailpast on the May long weekend, but with the water still rising, we opted to delay.  By the Spring Meeting, though, the members made it clear that it was time to get the season going, despite the flooding.  We combined Sailpast with the Salute to New Boats on June 10.  Lack of a mast was no excuse for not participating.  As one of the boats which has not yet been able to step a mast, we flew our burgee attached to a boat hook.

Ken and Bob

As the Vice Commodore, I got to lead the fleet in the in the review of yachts.  Ken and his brother Bob joined us for the festivities.  Lynn was running a half-marathon the next day, and wasn't able to join us.  Just before we headed out into the harbour, Ed invited Troy and Julien to come along too, as their planned hosts were not going out.  

Troy and Julien

It was a beautiful, warm day, and we had a great turn out.  Back at the club, instead of the usual socializing on boats and lawns, we all gathered on the balcony to watch the new boats receive their 3 cannon shot salute.

Commodore Jacqui Cook

The commodore normally dresses ship by displaying the boat's race flag.  What to do when you don't race?  Jacqui brilliantly used alphabet flags to spell out....you guessed it - QCYC 2017 Come Hell or High Water.

And the water keeps rising

We thought there was a lot of water last week, but the water levels have done nothing but rise.  The entire length of the railway is flooded, and is quite deep at the south gate path.  The mast area is completely flooded, and the lake is close to breaching the sea wall in a few places.

For now, we have been able to get the water out of the clubhouse by piling sandbags all around it, and pumping the water out from under the clubhouse.  If the lake breaches the seawall, this will no longer be an option.  The flow of water has caused erosion and collapse of patio stones in a couple of areas in front of the clubhouse. 

It is no longer possible to get around the club without tall rubber boots.  There are a few areas of higher land, but they are surrounded by water.  It's all really very overwhelming.  It gives us a new appreciation of the news footage we see of flood areas.  

The great flood of 2017

Sandbagging

We didn't get a lot of snow this winter, and there was some thought that the water levels might be low this year.  What we've actually got, is unusually high water in Lake Ontario - at least 70 cm higher than normal, and expected to rise until early June.  We've had a fair bit of rain, and in an effort to keep Montreal from completely flooding, the organization which manages water levels on the Great Lakes, has been unable to release more water through the St. Lawrence.

This weekend, when we are normally getting the club looking its best for Sailpast, we were filling sandbags trying to limit the impact of wave action on the clubhouse.  Because the island is all sand, and the water table is high, even if we keep the water from coming over the retaining wall, it still comes up from the ground.

We experience a weird ebb and flow of the water, which is really evident in front of the clubhouse.  Every 20 - 30 minutes, we go from having lots or dry areas, to ankle deep in water.  We tried to limit this by putting sandbags across the dinghy ramp, but there are enough gaps in the sea wall that the water still flows in and out.  

Louise

The launch ramp is another huge low spot, where the water comes rushing into the yard.  When the water is coming in, some areas behind the dinghy shed (where our locker is) are a foot or more under water.  Louise even got her kayak out, and paddled up the railway towards the winch house.

Launched!

I missed most of the first launch day, to attend a baby shower.  The skipper managed to get her launched without me.

Sailing in the BVI

Ed, Andrew, Ken and Rod enjoyed a week long charter out of Tortola BVI.

Commodore's Ball 2017

Jacqui's first Commodore's Ball was held at the Latvian Centre in Toronto.  With Ed in the BVI for a week of sailing with the boys, I attended by myself.  It's always great to see everyone dressed up.  In a couple of weeks, it will be work boots and coveralls, but tonight was all heels and tuxedos.

Eastern Caribbean Cruising

Ed and I took a cruise with my siblings and their spouses aboard Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas.  My family is celebrating 50 years since we arrived in Canada by ship, so thought this would be an appropriate way to mark the anniversary.  



There is a new cruise ship dock in St. Thomas in Crown Bay,with a nearby marina and mooring field.  We saw an interesting facility for hauling boats, where the container is lowered into the water, the boat floated in, and the whole container lifted up with the boat in it.  Very cool.  On departure, the cruise ship captain (Dustin from Canada) performed a very tight turn passing very close to the boats at anchor.  It must be quite the view from the cockpit to see a huge ship spinning around a few feet away.



In Antigua, we caught up with friends from home at Nelson's Dockyard, where Dr. Reg Murphy was giving us a short tour.  Ken and Lynn have been living aboard Silverheels III for many years, the last several in the Caribbean.  The link to their blog is on the right.  We stopped for lunch at a local roti shop before admiring the beautiful yachts in Falmouth Harbour, near the Antigua Yacht Club.

In St. Lucia, Ed and I signed up for sailing lessons, as it was the only sailing excursion we could find.  We sailed out of Rodney Bay, in the lee of the island, where the wind was blowing in the 28-35 knot range.  Captain Ben and mate Brad of the 40 foot sloop Papagayo, were brave to take a group of seven guests, some of whom have never sailed, out in that kind of wind.  Even with a double reefed main, and only a scrap of jib, we were flying along and heeling more than I would ever be comfortable with at home.  

According to the crew, the conditions looked 'pretty good' beyond Pigeon Island, where the Atlantic waves come around the top of the island, so we poked our nose out beyond the bay for a few minutes.  It was quite the introduction to sailing for the novices aboard.

In Barbados, we took advantage of QCYC's reciprocal arrangement with the Barbados Yacht Club, and enjoyed a cold adult beverage on the beach just south of the cruise ship dock.