Cape Vincent

Using tires for fenders

About 3am the winds finally died and I took off one of the tires to minimize the marking of the hull

We had bacon and eggs with pea-meal bacon. It was rainy and gloomy but the heavy rain forecast did not materialize.  We stayed for two night because we were tired and there was no winds.

Ready for the rain that never came

We spent much of the day updating our blogs and did a couple of walks through his very sleepy town on a Friday afternoon that seemed like a Sunday. Lots of houses for sale, but did not look at prices.

Cape Vincent is also the transfer point for Lake and Seaway pilots on the big ships

Department of Fisheries

Best Coffee in whole trip

  

Long day - crossing Lake Ontario

At 8 am we took off from Picton after a pump out at the municipal dock and tacked eastward through Adolphus Reach then south side of Amherst Island. The winds had shifted against us.  The sky opened and rained on us until we reached Pryner's Cove  .... The south side of Amherst Island looked baron with a few modest houses.

http://www.cruising.ca/guide/docs/gd-adoloph.html

Rain falling on us at Adolphus Reach

Passed Amherst Island on the south shore.




Wind and waves in Lake Ontario were intense.

Safron was given a course of 110 Magnetic.  Not depending on GPS or ground reference, I did regular position checks on the GPS and she kept us right on course in choppy waters for several hours.  I am impressed.

We passed Pigeon Island@4:20 pm. We had problems keeping our course closed haul under sail to avoide Pigeon Island.  We tried to tack around it but the winds were too strong and the main alone did not head up enough. 

Engine on and motor sailed the rest of the way to Cape Vincent. It was rough and we were bouncing and the engine was overheating.

Lake Ontario heading for Pigeon Island

Upon arrival in Cape Vincent, we tried docking at village docks, but they were full.

Cleared US customs using I-68 in 3 minutes once we were able to establish a cell connection.

We docked at DEC wildlife and fishery dock with lots of external help. Water was low and the docks were haphazard due to low waters and NE winds. I ended up using tires for fenders cos dock was so rough. This ended up with some black marks on rub rail.

We sailed over 30 miles from Picton to Cape Vincent.

11 1/2 hours of great and exhausting sailing and it is going to be a rough nite. Supper was carrots humus and a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bay of Quinte and Picton

Winds were very calm at Prinyers Cove until about 11 when we took off for Ram Island. Robert was driving from Montreal to TO so we planned to meet him at Picton.

The forecast for Friday was for 50+ mm of rain, so we would have to start heading east tomorrow.

We sailed most of the way to Picton, motoring for the last mile and checked in at Prince Edward Yacht Club.

Seems to be a lot of tacking but hopefully the winds do not change so we could got out sans tack.

Robert met us with Swartz's smoked meat and then drove us to the Picton Sobey for provisions.

Afterwards we went for a walk through town stopping at the Acoustic Bar and Grill for burgers and poutine.

Came back to docks.

Prinyers Cove

Panoramic of Prinyers Cove

Got up at 7 and departed at eight with full water and full batteries. Battery no 2 was very low despite an hour of motoring yesterday.


Took off west past Kingston tacking north side of Amherst Island arriving at Prinyers Cove about 2:30. Very nice sail, no it was awesome and amazing sailing.

Tacking in 100 to 200 feet of water and maybe a meter of waves with the 130 head sail .







Met Al on Drumroll at prinyerscovemarina.com/ He strongly recommended visiting the Bay of Quinte. At least until Ram Island.  It was supposed to be very nice sailing and good anchorages.

Safron and I discussed the remainder of our trip. She was eager to see Benoit's concert.

And today I finally got to use the dinghy which towed very well without the transom drain. Motor worked well too.



Supper of Italian ribs and sausages and a bottle of Ontario Sandbank wine. Not our best wine on the trip.

Monday - Sail to Kingston

Day started with dishes from last night and Safron dropping the bag of expensive tea in the dish water.

Ducks at Kingston dock

We depart Lindsay island about 10, sailed to Kingston arriving about 4. Winds were 2 to 8 knots until 3 pm when winds came up to 18 knots. We took off the sails at 16 knots and motored to Kingston. We had full sails.

No space at Kingston. We got ice,water, and disposed of garbage.

We waited at Kingston YC for winds to subside before leaving. In the end, they let us stay at the dock that we arrived upon as long as we agreed to leave by 8am.

We charged boat batteries and noted that battery no 2 was low.  Kept an eye on her for the rest of the trip.


Supper at a mediocre Cambodian Thai restaurant. No comments, just never again.

Talked to Allan about navigation and rendez-vous at Prinyers Cove.  Basically traveling north of Amherst Island.

Stormy Sunday at Lindsay Island

A storm was coming in. Baton down the hatches !

We were well anchored at Lindsay Island.

I washed the waterline again, for the third time this trip. The water lined picked up a lot of slim and black spots.  The same black spots appeared on the dinghy too.

A sailboat came in with the jib flapping very noisily. 
The boat was sailed by three women.Two man came out with dinghies to rescue them.  It was exciting to watch.

We beated the boat carpets, it is amazing how much dirt we humans leave behind.

Drinking started at 3:20 pm.

Second storm starts at 4:17pm.

Waiting out the storm