Saturday, October 11, 2025

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.







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.




Friday, October 3, 2025

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.



.

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.




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 Akava...