Winds have finally subsided and then switched around to NE. No wind warning in the forecast so we are off to Kincardine. We take the Cape Hurd Channel rather than the Devil's Island Channel which shortens the distance somewhat. Cape Hurd is narrower but no worse that other channels around here. We are able to sail on a broad reach doing 6-7kts. but after an hour the wind drops a bit which puts arrival into Kincardine rather late. We started the motor and kept the speed at 7 kts. The wind shifts more N so we furl the headsail and motor sail with main alone. We are following a trawler out of Sarnia yacht club, Mary Rose, with Ken and Leslie. All day we slowly close the gap. We talk on the radio with Marty on Queen's Ransom who is ahead by a couple of hours. As we approach Kincardine, the waves have now built to 1 to 2 m so we are surfing down the face at 10kts. What a ride.
As we approach Kincardine, there is an emergency call on the radio and Mary Rose goes out to investigate. No distressed boats are located. We go to the fuel dock and top up with diesel. The dock hand says that the emergency was a laser type boat that had capsized but had managed to get ashore. All good.
After a shower, it is off to see the parade. Every Saturday night during the summer there is bag pipe parade which goes down main street and turns around and comes back. By the time we get there the parade has already gone down the street. There does not seem to be any sign of them coming back so we head off to the Bruce for dinner. As we are having our drinks, the parade comes back. A pipe band followed by the entire population of Kincardine.
September 2, 2012
We leave Kincardine at 0810. We again wake up at first light to the sound of Bliss starting her engine, doing the chart plot beeping and then operating the bow thruster. Bliss is the C & C 51 that we saw in Gore Bay earlier in the summer. They left Tobermory at first light.
The other boats, Queen's Ransom and Mary Rose, left early but were headed directly to Sarnia, about 80 miles. We are headed to Bayfield, only 45 miles so we do not have to leave as early. We are off the dock by 0810 and sail south along the west coast of Ontario. Once we turn southerly, we are able to broad reach in 15 to 20 kts of wind. We sail along at 8+kts but got a little overpowered so we furl in the head sail and slow down a little to 7+kts. We cruise along all the way to Goderich when the wind diminishes. We have to motor the rest of the way 10 miles. We get into Bayfield and the dock hand Ethan remembers us from our June visit.
Terrence, who was crewing on Stella B back to Goderich came by to say hello. We had a couple of beers and got the gossip and news of the local boaters. They had a 13 hour sail from Tobermory back to Goderich.
Bonnie and Jim drove in from St. John's via the James family reunion, New Brunswick and bee lined across Ontario. We head off to the Black Dog for dinner. I had pork tacos to make up for the missed Pig Roast at QCYC.
John and Heather H, former QCYC members also came by to say hello. Also Reynold from China Rose, dropped by to say hello. We last saw China Rose in Mary Ann Cove when we had Pat and Paul onbaord.
Tragedy in Bayfield today. Two boaters went swimming and 1 could not be found. (http://www.lfpress.com/2012/09/02/one-person-pulled-from-water-without-vital-signs-another-missing-in-lake-huron-near-bayfield)
September 3, 2012
Jim and I departed Bayfield, while Belinda and Bonnie drove around to Sarnia via Grand Bend.
We had light ESE winds so we motored sailed for several hours until the wind died and furled the sail in. After lunch, the wind picked up again from the NNW and we were able to motor sail again. As we approached Sarnia, 3 freighters we upbound and lots of boats sailing up the shore. We entered the outer harbour and there must have been 15 power boats anchor and backed into shore. After a $3.50 pump out we tied up in our assigned slip. The Valiant that is normally tied up here has left for the sunny south.
I stop by Queen's Ransom to say hello to Marty. Ken from Mary Rose also welcomed us. Its Happy Hour. Sorry no photos as the internet connection here is slow.
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