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| Date |
Location |
Crew |
Weather |
| June 19,2004 |
Connestoga Lake Conservation Authority |
Trueman |
Overcast - 16° - Winds very strong - 30km/hr - gusts
to 40km/hr |
This is the most wind that I've ever been out in. This
trip was planned to meet up with Bob Burgess who is also with the BYYB association. He brought along
his son Eric and his very nice Weekender Dreamcast902 as well as his digital
camera. The pictures below are thanks to him. Both the MiniCup and Bob's
Weekender performed well in this wind although the double-reef on the Weekender and my
100kg on the side if the MiniCup helped a lot I'm sure <g>.
We ended up only being out on the water for about 1/2 hour due to it being a rather cold
and wet voyage, especially for Trueman.
These pictures were taken of Bob's boat Dreamcast902
|
| July 2,2004 |
Balmy Beach - Toronto, Ontario |
Solo |
Very light |
After work, I drove down to the Balmy Beach Canoe Club in the East Beaches
area of Toronto. I was very fortunate to find a parking spot and was able to
manouver the boat through a park to the beach.
Winds were practically non-existant for most of the voyage and I was even able to drop my
sail to fix a problem with one of the seams. Farther out past the second set of
markers for Ashbridges Bay, there was a bit more wind, but it was still light.
Even with the light wind, I had a good time - the sun was shining and flight after flight
of cormorants went by just inches off the water and within just a few feet of me.
I discovered a new way of piloting the boat albeit one that didn't allow me to keep a good
lookout. Sitting on the cockpit sole with my feet over the aft deck allowed me to
steer and I could just lightly hold the mainsheet. I didn't get anywhere fast, but I
was certainly comfortable.
On retrieval, one of the wheels on the dolly jammed due to a locking nut losing it's
cotter pin - which I didn't realize until later. For the BYYB regatta, I rebuilt and
stiffened the back axle anyway. |
| July 23,2004 |
Long Point State
Park - Maryland - BYYB Messabout |
Trueman |
Moderate - strong winds - patchy rain. |
After much planning, the entire family embarked on our journey to the
"BYYB Mess-About". After much packing, we drove from 4:00 am, arriving at
9:00pm to set up camp in the rain after 1156km of driving. The rain relented for
part of the next day (July 23rd) and we did manage to get some sailing in. In
addition to visiting with other builders which I always enjoy, there was a presentation
from North Sails and an opportunity to visit with the boat's designer - Peter Stevenson,
his son Mike, and their associate Mike Dormer. They presented each builder with a
"Captain Ply" plaque to commemorate the event.
Sadly on Friday night, the wind picked up and it began to rain heavily. Part of our
camp-site blew away and the tent the kids were in collapsed. After discussing things
over breakfast at a local diner and listening to weather reports, we decided to head back
home. Thanks to the help of others, we got packed up and drove back over two days.
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Maps of the campsite courtesy of  we were located
on the north shore of Lake Connoy out on the end of the point. |
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| Packed and ready to head out. |
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| By Buffalo, the roof rack was swaying
dangerously and two of the gussets had bent, so we stopped for repairs. |
The weary travellers |
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| The camp mosquito. I call it that because the
mosquitos quite at home there. In other weather conditions, it would probably have been a
great site although the fine gravel on it tracked everywhere and was difficult to put a
tent peg into. After it rained a lot, the gravel turned to mush and wouldn't hold a tent
peg. |
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| The boats at the dock. |
David Ruedel and Idyler (love that boom
crutch) |
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| Angie Wilson's "Fat Chance" |
The mighty hunters Bob and Evan Burgess
capture a (probably quite tasty) crab. |
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| Fat Chance on the left, Bob Burgess'
"DreamCast 902" in centre |
Jack Coyne's "Wild Goose" and some
wild birds off their port bow. |
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| Wild Goose under weigh |
Richard Norman's "Our Dot Calm" and
Scott Widmier's "Suits Us" |
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| OOOO - Birds .... |
Jim Stumpf's Vacationer RUDUNYET with a scurvy
crew including my daughter Emma and Jim's daughter Megan |
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| View of the camp from the water. |
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| Skippers and Builders along with Mike Dormer
and Peter and Mike Stevenson |
Mike Stevenson and I (with my Cap'n Ply
plaque) |
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| The weary travellers on the way home in
Bedford PA |
A stop to see Niagara - the Maid of the Mist |
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| Down the Niagara gorge |
Unpacking and drying out |
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