Peter Ashby

As were enjoying breakfast at QCYC before heading home from our mini-cruise, we heard on CBC Radio, that Peter Ashby, a long time member of Queen City had gone missing the previous day.  His boat, Resolute, had been found near the Burlington lift bridge overnight, with no one aboard.  

Peter was a very experienced sailor and often single-handed his boat.

Our hearts go out to his wife and children, and we pray that he is found soon.

The best laid plans

Our plan had been to cruise to the Highland Yacht Club, head over to Whitby to see Ed's sister, then make a stop at Ashbridges Bay on the way home.  The best laid plans....

We enjoyed a great visit at the Highland Yacht Club, with dinner at Catherdral Bluffs YC.  As we left the harbour to head further east, the wind and waves from the east would have made for a very uncomfortable several hours.  Another day at HYC it is.  

Then we arrived at Ashbridges Bay YC to find a boat in the slip we had reserved, and no one available to help.  Again we changed plans and headed to Queen City just as the winds were picking up, for a quiet night in a familiar place.  

Cruising to National Yacht Club

Our first cruise with LSYC was to the National Yacht Club.  As it is so close to Queen City, we had never been there by boat, although I had visited often during the winters because QCYC held our winter board meetings at NYC.  

Being just off the Western Gap into Toronto Harbour, it certainly is a little busier than either QCYC or LSYC, but is a very short walk to amenities.  This was one of our first opportunities to actually socialize with some members of LSYC, and it was an easy sail back and forth.

Upon our return to LSYC, a visiting boat was still in our slip.  We met Bruce, who had sailed on Prime Interest in Florida, with original owners Harry and Mandy.  Small world.

GlobalMedic

During the Covid lockdowns, with not much to do, I started volunteering with GlobalMedic, an organization which provides disaster relief internationally, and also supports local food banks and shelters.  

Several of the volunteers are there daily, and I got to know Dominique and Gerard, who came out for a sail with us and Marysia one day.  

West End mini cruise 2021

QCYC had a reciprocal cruise planned for the August long weekend to Royal Hamilton YC.  While we couldn't stay at RHYC, we got a mooring at the Harbour West Marina, and joined QCYC for their pot luck get togethers.  Hamilton is a great place to spend a couple of days and we walked around town, and even made the VERY long trek to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington!

The St. Lawrence II, a sail training vessel from Kingston, was moored near us at HWM and we got a great view of some of the trainees up in the rigging.

We followed up with a night at the Dalhousie Yacht Club before heading back home.