Or maybe it's a late start. Ed and I were planning to leave Toronto on Friday late afternoon, but with a forecast of severe thunderstorms, we decided to wait until they were done, to make run for Rochester. The severe weather was pretty dramatic, with high winds (while we sat having dinner in the clubhouse) and an amazing lightning display late in the evening. It was still raining at 2:00 am, and any hopes of a really early morning departure went out the window, because we fell asleep and didn't get up until 5:00. A quick check on the forecast, and we were off by 5:25 on Saturday morning. We had a quick downwind sail for the first 3 or 4 hours, and then alternated between motoring and sailing, and made it to Rochester by about 7:30 pm. On Sunday, Ajay, Kathy and Sara came for a visit to the Rochester Yacht Club, and then we went back to Webster for a barbeque dinner. Our 'traditional' dinner at Schooners followed on Monday evening.
In May, our friend Cathy's daughter, Diana, helped organize a fundraiser in support of Light the Night, a charity dedicated to ending blood cancers. Although we were not able to attend the event, we offered an afternoon of sailing for the silent auction being held at the event. Terry won the sailing trip, and invited her friends Laurie, Cindy, and Elaine. Two of the ladies had gone to elementary school together, and three of them attended high school together - in Belleville. They hadn't seen each other in decades, and got together at the fund raiser.
After storms and flooding earlier in the week, the day we picked turned out to be perfect - sunny and warm, with enough wind to give us a good sail. We did see some of the aftermath, with lots of debris floating in the lake.
We had some guests aboard this weekend, and for possibly the first time, I have no photos to show for it. We didn't invite anyone for Saturday, since the forecast was for rain, but while there were big clouds over the city all day, on the island we had sunshine until past dinner time. Derek, Hayley and Marysia came on Sunday, and although it was sunny and warm, the wind was fairly calm, and we only actually sailed for about an hour. We mostly motored around the island, and went past IYC to show our guests where Katie is working this summer. There was a great firework display just off Harbourfront in the evening, and we had a prime view from the QCYC lawn. On Monday - Canada Day - Cora came with her husband Dwen, and children Alex and Olivia. We had hoped to take them sailing, but it was overcast and cool, and there was a high wind warning in effect. Instead we enjoyed some refreshments on board, took a walk around Algonquin Island, and fed the baby ducks...and the bigger ducks....and the little ducks....
June 22 was a busy day at QCYC. It started with a Marine Sale, where members donated items from their boats or lockers, with profits going towards the Learn to Sail program. We picked up a new anchor, sold the old one, and bought a beautiful sextant. Now we just have to learn to use it.
Joe and Lynn were going to come for a sail, but it was raining heavily until about 3:00pm. They came for a visit, and stayed for Lobsterfest, where Joe ran into someone he had once curled with. The band which played on the lawn during dinner was great, and helped get the party started for the after dinner band in the Great Hall.
Summer solstice fell on a Friday this year, so Ed and I headed out for a sail after work, to enjoy the longest day of the year. The weather was great and we got a few hours out on the water. We then toasted the arrival of summer with a sip of rum, with Ken, Deanna, Eriks and Jacqui on Wild Jasmine.
Or maybe it's a late start. Ed and I were planning to leave Toronto on Friday late afternoon, but with a forecast of severe thunderstorms, we decided to wait until they were done, to make run for Rochester. The severe weather was pretty dramatic, with high winds (while we sat having dinner in the clubhouse) and an amazing lightning display late in the evening. It was still raining at 2:00 am, and any hopes of a really early morning departure went out the window, because we fell asleep and didn't get up until 5:00. A quick check on the forecast, and we were off by 5:25 on Saturday morning. We had a quick downwind sail for the first 3 or 4 hours, and then alternated between motoring and sailing, and made it to Rochester by about 7:30 pm. On Sunday, Ajay, Kathy and Sara came for a visit to the Rochester Yacht Club, and then we went back to Webster for a barbeque dinner. Our 'traditional' dinner at Schooners followed on Monday evening.
