August 3 – Friday
Sitting here on the hook watching the trees move back and forth out the hatch. Interesting day today, it started with a beautiful sunrise coming up over the water. We hiked to town and had breakfast with a few locals outside a coffee shop. There was a small craft advisory in effect for this afternoon in the North Channel (where we were headed). It was calm and we only had 21 miles to sail, much of it in the narrow Detour Channel. Se we figured if the intensity picked up we would duck in behind one of the numerous small Islands. I was about to write about the state of total relaxation achieved by sailing, but today changed all of that. We started sailing with a reefed main and full Genoa soon we decided it was time to reduce the Genoa. We kept reducing the Genoa until it was all the way in. The gusts were extreme and we were at times suddenly heeling to the stanchion bases with only a reefed main. Bringing in the flogging main was mass confusion with the 25 knot winds. We got it in, no harm done. Then we sailed only with a partial Genoa. We were tossed about as were our belonging below. Clear blue sky, but rain gear for the waves. The intensity continued to grow and we decided on Plan B and tucked behind a small Island on a Lee shore. So here we sit in this nice little cove, back to the relaxing, and just finished a good meal. Life is good. The winds are still howling, so goes it on the Great Lakes. Hopefully tomorrow we can make the 7 mile North Channel crossing. The winds are from the west, and there is considerable fetch from the west.. Technically we are illegal. We are anchored in Canada and have not checked in.
Your questions. The swing keel is either up or down, no adjusting. We have a line in the cockpit that lets it down or pulls it up. Our draft with the fixed keel is 2 feet; swing keel makes the draft 5 feet. Albion is light, displacement around 2500 pounds.
A whisper pole is used on a run to hold out the Genoa, as in the log yesterday. Yes, we have a boom vang on the main. We have one reef point on the main, and the Genoa can be furled partly. We need more reef points on the main, today was one of those days…
How do I like writing this log?. Well it is not as much of a pain as I thought it might be. What rules do we have on board? None really, more a matter of communicating consequences. The biggest cause of death with sailing, falling over board and becoming detached from the boat. So think about keeping attached at all times with 3 points or you could fall off…An interesting note, peeing over board is a top cause of falling overboard. Used to do that, no more.
I met a guy this morning that just came from Lake Superior. We need to study that Lake before next year. Sounds like a long distance between ports…
Lots of Islands today, monarchs flying south. Amazing those little guys can find their way to Mexico…Wow…They catch the up drafts off the lake. Want to go see them in Mexico some winter.
It you don’t like heeling today wasn’t your day. We got all that manure washed off..Needed it. Plus, we were just way too relaxed…
Tonight we have mystery noises about on the boat. The winds and waves cause rattles and shakes…Not too worry, sure hope the hook holds out there….Good night!!
