Boating Adventures

OK, so I’ve now done about 1/2 of a Great Lakes Challenge. Making progress 🙂

The start was at 1000 and was light air downwind. I had two issues immediately before the start. My autopilot stopped working, and as I was clambering around inside the boat checking connections I somehow turned my phone into some sort of device for the hearing impaired. It kept talking to me instead of letting me unlock the screen so I could get the time. Anyway, I crossed a minute or two late without a working AP.

Downwind is fun and fast in Tin Lizzie. I knew that, but hadn’t paced anyone before this. I had the A1 up, and the racing main.

I didn’t really have a plan at this point. Many went north, Ratso went south, and Schock and All went down the middle. He’s local, and I figured the Schock 35 was the best pace boat for me in those conditions. I sailed by him pretty quickly. Not much wind.

After a few gybes coming off the start it turned into a long starboard tack spinnaker reach to Pelee Island. I had strayed south chasing VMGs and had to throw in a quick gybe to get inside Pelee Island.

Coming by Pelee Schock and All was several miles back, but in from the left came Thunder, and farther inshore was Coconut Telegraph. I crossed close ahead of Thunder before gybing back onto starboard. Thunder is a Peterson 34. He was sailing very well.

As I reached away from Pelee Island I was feeling pretty good. I had paused briefly in a light patch and crawled back to fix my faulty connector (see this earlier post on what that entails), and after much frustration had my phone restored to normal operation. So I made this video.

I had sporadic Canadian cell service at this point and updated my weather information. The wind had picked up a bit and I was making good speed with the A1 in the right direction. The forecasts called for more wind inshore, then going light SW after several hours of S. So I decided to sail VMGs and stay to the left side going down to Long Point. Here’s a sunset shot.

It was a nice ride, but the wind increased as it went south, up to 10-15 knots. As I was getting headed I went from sailing downwind VMGs to sailing as high as I could. But with the big spinnaker I couldn’t reach very high in the breeze. There were thunder cells all around for a couple of hours. Wind was all over.

I kept waiting for the wind to go light and right, which would have allowed me to stay under spinnaker, but it didn’t happen. So when I eventually got up to 50-60 degrees off the rhumb line I dropped the chute and headed up for Long Point. Sailed under main alone for a while then hoisted the genoa. And the wind kept going left. For a while I was sailing close hauled while pointing at Long Point. I got a flash of internet and saw that the whole fleet had been straight lining it down the middle of the lake. Didn’t look like I’d lost a lot, but I hadn’t pulled away either.

A couple of miles off the western end of Long Point the wind finally went aft and freshened a bit, and I was jib reaching parallel to the shore. Feeling a little beat up but good. I ate and tidied up a bit, sun had come out and we were going 8-10 knots in the right direction.

It was sudden and unexpected. About 10:30 there was a sudden cracking sound, and when I looked back I saw the rudder blade pop to the surface. And then we tacked and I got to work getting things sorted. Wind was 10-15 knots with a short chop. Windward ballast tank had been full. Apart from a broken checkstay no harm done to the boat.

Once I had all secure I drifted for a while waiting for cell signal. Tried calling the fleet on the radio without success, and thought about calling the coast guard. But I wasn’t in any immediate danger. Eventually I got through to Canadian Coast Guard in Port Dover on my phone, and they immediately suggested that I anchor if I had the chance, and that they would dispatch assistance within an hour. I was slowly drifting towards shore, so when I got into about 40 feet of water I anchored.

The rescue went off relatively smoothly. They put someone aboard my boat who deployed a large drogue from the stern, and with a long nylon tow line we managed to keep straight, although the motion was violent at time as the stern skidded around.

It was a long ride in at 5-6 knots, but we got into Port Dover around 6:30. Thanks Canadian Coast Guard!

Samantha and Sarah arrived by car shortly after we got tied up, and after a perch dinner I collapsed for 14 hours.

I write this from the train Monday evening en route to LaSalle (Windsor) to retrieve my car. Then back home to Guelph to borrow Kathleen’s van to drive to Chicago tomorrow to retrieve Tin Lizzie’s trailer. Then hauling Lizzie in Port Dover Thursday morning.

Go Tin Lizzie in 2020! 2019 was a blast. I’ll try to write a season review some time, but the boat is fabulous and I’ve had a great time sailing and racing.

I’ll be heading back to Mazurka this weekend.

I’m at North Cape Yacht Club, here at the western end of Lake Erie.

I’m racing tomorrow for the first time on Tin Lizzie, a 312 mile solo down to Buffalo then back to finish at Erie. See the race info here.

Got my racing main on today for the first time. Looks nice, especially after that T10 training main.

Weather looks like 5-15 knots windspeed spinnaker reaching to Buffalo, then light upwind to Erie. I can do that. My hope is to finish Sunday evening. We’ll see.

There is a nifty race tracker here. Check it out over the weekend!

For those watching at home, I should note that there are a variety of boats racing, and I owe all of them time. I’m scratch boat. So being ahead is not unexpected. It’ll be fun.

Seems like a long time since I left Tobermory. I better get some notes in.

Tuesday I started to leave Tobermory around 11, but got delayed when a visiting staff handed me the gas hose instead of the diesel hose. We had about 9 l in before flagging the error. The dock master was on hand and got someone in quickly to pump out the tank. No harm done. So I didn’t get underway until mid afternoon. Had a light air jib reach south, and got into Kincardine about 5 am. Beautiful night.

I made this video around sunset. Very nice evening.

I spent Wednesday night in Kincardine. Nice town, and the community flower gardens south of the marina are wonderful. There was a front coming through. Thursday I waited until things had settled down and left in the early afternoon.

It went light pretty quickly. I had originally thought I might get down to Bayfield before nightfall, but that wasn’t going to happen. When the wind eventually boomed in from the north at 10-15 knots I headed for Sarnia. Nice downwind sailing and another spectacularly nice night. Finally put a fleecy on about 3 am.

I sailed past Sarnia and eventually anchored here about 5 am and slept until 11.

Friday was down to Lake St Clair, across the lake, and down the river to LaSalle. I’ve never been through here. No pics because I was busy sailing and piloting and seeing the sights. By late afternoon shortly after I came out of the lake I was ready to quit. I was hand steering with the main only, sailing into the sun and the wind in unfamiliar waters in gusty unsettled conditions. So I took down the sail and motored over to the marinas next to Windsor Yacht Club. One was closed and the other has no transient slips. So I motored south, past Windsor. No places to stop. Eventually I found the LaSalle Mariners Yacht Club, and I pulled in around 8 pm. Marvelous club.

Ratso is a boat that I first met in Halifax when John Hughes was getting ready to race around the world. They are racing next weekend in the Lake Erie Solo Challenge with me.

Im leaving Tin Lizzie here and am going to try to get to Chicago tomorrow to pick up my car and some boat stuff. Then a visit home and back here Thursday or Friday to head for North Cape Yacht Club.

Since arriving here six days ago I’ve had a couple of days of shore time home in Guelph. Dropped off the spinnaker for repair. Got a new runner made. Not perfect, but I’m sailing.

Samantha, Sarah and I came back up here Friday night. We headed out Saturday afternoon in cruising mode, sailed past the flowerpots then spent the night anchored in Wingfield Basin.

Sunday we sailed down to Lion’s Head for lunch, then Wiarton for dinner. We anchored at the head of the bay. Calm quiet night.

T

Today started calm, but we had a nice sail once the wind came up. Got in here for supper. Fun few days. We agreed that with a few minor mods we could do more fast cruising on TL. A sunshade is on the list. Sarah’s improvised one this morning was great.

Here I’m checking on the new runner.

Tomorrow I’m heading down Lake Huron. Think I’ll stop everywhere I can, at least stick my nose in. Forecast is for light reaching conditions.

I left Little Current yesterday with the intent of having a fast run down to Parry Sound or thereabouts. But gybing out through the islands I got a wrap and tore my heavy Spinnaker.

It was windy enough that I didn’t want to use the light (and bigger!) chute so I decided to jib reach over to Tobermory. I was trying reaching with the genoa, but a couple of hours after that the wind picked up and I broke a running backstay.

So I ended up doing the last half under main alone. That was fine. It was blowing about 20 knots from abeam. I took a brief video sailing towards Flowerpot Island. Got into Tobermory around 8:00. Today is a lay day, and Sarah and Samantha are going to pick me up tonight and I’ll get the sail repaired and new runners made this week. Back up here this weekend for some more cruising.

I like it here. Lots of cruising folks coming and going.

Weather is perfect, I’m drying things out today.

I’m tied up at the downtown boardwalk. Love this place.

I slept in this morning and got underway about noon. Had a nice jib reach all day, traveled about 60 nm. Overcast and heavy rain for about an hour. It cleared up as I got into Little Current about 8:30.

It’s beautiful around here. There are still lots of spots I want to stop and visit. Another time. I’m enjoying the sailing and the nice weather, so decided to head down Georgian Bay tomorrow.

About the only thing on my provisioning list is a new hat. I left mine in Thessalon. Mallory has it, but that doesn’t help with my immediate need.

Some pics from today. No video.

Well, this has been fun. Great sailing all week.T

Tuesday I made a brief video sailing north from Chicago.

I finally packed up and got underway Tuesday morning into a dying northeast wind. Basically one long starboard beat up the shore until it got very light just off Kenosha. I pointed the bow out into the lake and napped for about 3 hours starting at 4 am.

Wednesday was calm until a SW breeze slowly started filling in late in the morning. I motored slowly 5-6 hours towards Frankfort. Finally when the following breeze reached our 5 knot boat speed I started sailing.I was watching the wind forecasts and the prediction was for the wind to gradually increase to 12-25 knots over the next couple of days. Same direction. Nice sailing conditions. But I had nagging doubts about sleeping when sailing at speed. So when a big shift allowed me to speed towards Ludington about 20 miles away I took it.I made a brief video while heading for Ludington. Didn’t tie up but went up to the head of the inlet and dropped anchor and had a nice sleep.

Thursday I got underway late morning, and had a spectacular 24 hour sail up the shore to the Straits of Mackinac, where I took down the spinnaker and reached over to Cheboygan. Tied up at the municipal marina mid morning. I should keep a better log. Not sure how far or fast, but it was about 160 mm straight line distance.

Friday was a lay day. I wondered into town, had a meal out, chatted with some J35 folks and crashed. It stormed a bit overnight, with some pretty good gusts.

Saturday I sat around drinking coffee for an hour or two – a luxury when cruising Tin Lizzie – while waiting for the winds to moderate a bit. I keep this aboard but it’s not the same.I had a spectacular spinnaker sail across to Canada. Video here. Sailed into Thessalon and met by chance a boat from Chicago with a crew that I knew and enjoyed their hot food and cold beer. Nice way to end the day.

Sunday (today) I had lunch out with Mallory. She had the day off from the camp and drove about an hour to the boat. Nice. I got underway mid afternoon and in light winds sailed down to East Grant Island where I’m now anchored here. Nice spot.

I had two lovely sails Sunday and Monday, both solo. Sunday was 10-15 knots NE with 3-4 ft waves. Monday was 5-10 knots.

The boat sails beautifully in those conditions. Fast and responsive to tweaking. I let the AP steer always, and it performed brilliantly apart from a few hiccups on my side. I need to get more comfortable with the controls and capabilities for maneuvers like tacks and gybes, but it got better each time. I used the water ballast and it makes a big difference. The new valve system works perfectly.

The armored tablet is brilliant. I keep it on and mirroring the MFD, and hang it from my neck or over a winch or in the rope bin.

At this point I’m done with electronics, safety, and sail handling. Interior is clean and decluttered and I’m making lists of provisions needed to set out for a month. I’m going to try to get some bins to keep things aft. Maybe milk crates. I’ve been seriously thinking about a beanbag chair for sleeping. Lotta hard edges on this boat.

After I took the sunset selfie I shot a brief video while reaching with the spinnaker. Boat was sailing itself at 6-7 knots in 5-8 knots of wind and I was just enjoying the ride.

I did get a little queazy on Sunday, but only for a few minutes. It’s hard to go below when it’s rough. But I have a few great spots to hang out in the cockpit. After I perched on the high corner for a few minutes and got busy tweaking I felt fine.

I feel like we’re ready – me and the boat – to hit the high seas.

I launched Tin Lizzie Saturday

All is in good order. There’s very little left to do. I finished installing the new wind and speed instruments, and everything is on the network and appears to be functioning well.

As I discussed earlier I really want to get sailing before I start mounting instruments. After I removed the big Ockam Matrix display I was left with a rectangular hole. So I temporarily mounted the heads over the hole.

That’s rigid pink foam. I used 4200 to mount everything. The only new hole was 1″ for the lower head.

I took advantage of a the time ashore and the nicer weather to dry everything out, clean the interior, and start to get the inside organized. Thinking about what I need to take when I leave here and how to store it. I think most of the stuff is going to end up aft in the quarter berths.

After much fussing with the ballast system everything is perfect. I replaced the line driven valve controls with 3 push/pull cable controls. Here’s one of the handles in the cockpit. They’re normally closed (in) and are well protected by the line bins.

The rudder blade was easy to patch up. There is a slight binding in the top bearing and I suspect the shaft is not perfectly straight between the bearings but it will be OK.

Now to get some sailing in!

I started a long shaggy dog story about the rudder. If anyone wants more details let me know.

The short version is that I hauled TL two days before the Chicago – Mac solo race start and discovered that the rudder shaft was bent.

We managed to straighten it the next day, thanks to the crew here and John Lamonica, a friend of the yard who took me and the rudder to his shop where we worked with a press from 1941 University of Chicago. But I was troubled by the root cause and only marginally ready to go before losing a day. So I bailed on the race and went home for a visit. I’ve been living pretty rough in the boat yard and was ready for some family and greenery.

After extensive consultation with a bunch of smart experienced people it seems pretty clear that the stock bent during our wipout(s) when trying the autopilot in fast spinnaker conditions.

The rudder has survived the trauma. Sarah and I reviewed the construction and dye tested the shaft, and it appears to be as good as original. There is no obvious way to strengthen it without going to a new rudder and likely replacing bearings to accommodate a larger shaft. Sarah assures me that it’s unlikely to snap off, which was a fear earlier.

I’m now back in Chicago. Spent today touching up the rudder, installing the new wind instruments, and cleaning up. Will be back in the water this week.

Note the new boom cover. Price was right :-). The old name and the beneteau seahorse have got to go…