Weekend at the club and a race actually 3 races - Frostbite

It was an interesting week at the club. Came down on Friday to help Sylvie if she needed to haul out Tara II.  Had supper with the gang.

Saturday, we demasted the sharks. Lunch with Allan Rheaume and saving the mast of Elixar, who had a broken forestay.

On Sunday, Maud, Scarlett and I raced the last Frostbite.  Caroline had a bad back and could not make it.  The wind was 5 knots when we departed and forecasted to increase to over 20 by the end of the previous race.  That was in the forecast, so I decided to keep the 155 on, aiming for at least two good races and taking a chance on the third in stronger winds.  

Even though we did badly, we came out 6th in the series because we raced every race.

https://gnsracing.com/results/2025/2025-FROSTBITErs.html

We did terribly, but most of the other boats were hardcore racers. Came back to the club and Flirtation had a difficult time docking in 20-knot winds.

Put away Bellum and Frostbite

Friday was fabulous, and I procrastinated going to the boat.  

On Saturday, around noon, I took the car to the boat, making a stop at Akavan to start clearing things out for winter.  I checked the oil levels after the oil change, removed the bimini and solar panels, and winterized the Johnson with Norm. At 5:40, the winds shifted to the east, and I headed out to the sandbar to spend the night.  BBQ some marinated chicken legs.

The next morning was relatively cold at 8 °C and 15 knots of wind at 7AM.  I pushed myself (and BELLUM) to PCYC to pick up Scarlett and Maud.  The visitor dock was still occupied by Capricorn.  I tried to head for the sheer legs, but it was too shallow and I got stuck.  I managed to back up and took an empty short dock near Breakaway and Pollywog.  I felt BELLUM touch bottom, but managed to make it in single-handedly and tie up the boat to the short dock.

BELLUM at short PCYC dock

I had texted the crew to come earlier to change the headsail.  The forecasted winds were supposed to decline.  The dock was too small to bring down the sail and fold it, so we decided to head out with the 155, reefed on the main and genoa.  

After the first race, the winds declined, and we shook out the reefs for the second race.

The first race I screwed up the approach and we started 2 minutes 20 seconds late.

We performed better in the second and third races, where we utilized the whisker pole.

Scarlett helmed the first two races, and Maud helmed the third race, where we beat Matthew on the First 32 - le Fou Du Bassan

fitique

After the race, we sailed around the lake until 5, when we returned to PCYC to drop off the crew and then I returned to the Royal under power.

I loaded up the car with a bunch of stuff and came home about 7PM.

Comment from Bob Perry on Facebook

 

Fabious October weekend plus race - NOT

The forecast for the weekend was 28 degrees.  It hit 29!

On Friday, the power failed at home at about 13:29, so I departed for the club and sailed around the lighthouse, then to the gut, tacking to outside Grand Anse where I anchored for the evening.  No motor.

Saturday morning, I determined there was not enough wind for Rachel to come out, so we cancelled. I set sail at noon and landed in PCYC for Oktoberfest.  I hit a new rock on the way into the harbour.

Darla cancelled, so I spent the Oktoberfest alone.

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On Sunday morning, Natalie, Scarlett and Caroline came to race the second Frostbite.  We changed from 135 to 155 and started at 10 AM. It was postponed and eventually cancelled at 11:45.

Winds picked up at noon

We sailed around until 2:30, when we returned to PCYC.  The visitor dock was blocked by Carpricon, so we took AdLib's dock, which went out to St. Anne.

I lost my Tilley hat overboard, and we successfully recovered it.

BELLUM at AdLib dock

We dropped off Scarlett. Natalie and Caroline stayed for a beer. I chatted with Bruce and 

The weather looked nice for the rest of the evening, so I sailed to Grand Anse, passing Fugu anchored outside Dowkers South.  I anchored zero-carbon and spent the night there with an almost full moon.

The next morning, there was no wind, so I took off at 8, returning to the dock at 9:40, and did an oil change for the engine and transmission.

I biked to the MUHC for a blood test, but they wouldn't take me because my doctor was not affiliated with that hospital.

Night near Dowkers

After the Frostbite, I left PCYC and sailed single-handed west, ending up just east of Dowkers and Grand Anse.  Zero carbon anchoring with lots of scope, 80 feet in 10 feet of water.  Made sausages and corn.  

Had a bad night's sleep.  The boat was calm.  I've got to stop mixing scotch, wine and Sambucca!

I got up at 7:00 AM, hauled anchor at 7:40 without the engine, sailed back to the club, and started the engine to enter the harbour and dock.

Biked back home to move the car that was parked on the street.  They are cleaning the street at 12:30.  I should have moved the car before the weekend.

Frostbite Series 1

I left the sandbars at 7 and docked without touching bottom at PCYC.  Told Norm and Andrey to meet me at PCYC.  Had a complimentary coffee and shower.

We changed the head sail to accommodate the 12-15 knots of wind expected. 

Actual winds

Norm helmed.  Andrey was a little rusty, but kept up.

The first race was great.

Race 1

The second race was a mess at the RC.  We were clear and late.  The jib sheet whipping failed on the first windward leg.  Fixed it with a knot.  I thought we would have been abandoned, but we didn't, and we ended up second to last.  Not bad.

Race 2

The third race was better.

Race 3

First Frostbite Series summary

After the race, we sailed around in great winds, returning to PCYC about 2:45 PM.  

Andrey fell off the boat onto the dock.  He said he was okay.  It looked rough.

Norm and I hung around, then I joined Bill for a rag chew.  At 18:10, I departed the club, ending up night sailing to the area between Dowkers and Grand Anse.