Hugh Kennedy race with Scarlet and Maud

On Friday afternoon, I biked to Addison and Abra to pick up a new NTC temperature probe to fix the BELLUM fridge thermostat. It worked.

Jason and Mike had gone sailing.  When they came back, we headed to BELLUM and polished off a fine bottle, along with all my chips and pork rinds.  Chris joined us.

Saturday was damp and windy.  Scarlet, Maud, and I changed the headsail from 155 to North 135.  We headed out, and Scarlet and Maud shared the helm.  We were unable to get the boat to perform. We had a bad start, about one minute late.  We never caught up.  We made good progress on the runs with our whisker pole, but we were still dead last.  As might be expected from the competition we had.

The docking was haphazard.  The pick-up line snapped.  But the dinghy saved us.  Scarlet did an excellent docking with very minimal coaching.  I took over once the line snapped.

After the race, we had some drinks aboard BELLUM, and I attended the RS-feva fundraising event and then spent the night aboard BELLUM.

Sunday, I was planning to go to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, but decided to help Alison take photos of the open house. I turned down an opportunity to sail the GNS Fall series with Espresso-X.

I witnessed the departure of Esmerlda for her voyage to the Bahamas.

Afterwards, I came back home and updated the Raymarine Axiom charts before my subscription expired.  Fibe 3GB was great for that.

Thursday with Scarlett, Louise and Phil

We met Louise at the AQVA dinner.  We invited her to race, and she came with Phil.  Scarlett was there too.

We had a close incident where we cut Expresso II off.  She had to veer off to avoid us.

Phil was a strong man.  He was way too strong on the lines.  I wish he would watch out for what he was doing rather than pulling fast.

9 out of 12

Aground !

I picked up Lynda to go sailing.  We had lunch at A&W and set sail around 2 PM.  Francoise was invited, but she was not doing well.

We motored for half a mile before the gut, and unfurled the headsail.  We sailed past the gut very slowly, and I was not paying attention.  BELLUM ended up on the north shoal past the gut.  Water levels were very low, about two feet above datum.

I couldn't get her off, and had to call the Quebec Coast Guard.  They sent the SVPM.  Officer Brulotte came with two other officers to help us.  They tried to use the two sails to heel us.  That did not work.  Then they tied the gib halyard to heel the boat, and that took a lot of work to get us off the shoal to the west.  I would have preferred to be towed south back out the way I came in.  Police Report NO 05-250814-016

We sailed down to Beaconsfield and decided to return to the club at 7 and do a Costco run.

About 20 years ago, Lynda was stuck on the rocks in a powerboat. COINCIDENCE?

Last time I sailed with Lynda was July 10, 2005 and July 30, 2006

https://cygnussailing.blogspot.com/2005/07/july-10-2005-motor-boat-ride-with.html

https://cygnussailing.blogspot.com/2006/07/sunday-july-30-lynda-from-2pm-to-630.html

Bellum drive system

Bellum strut has been bent by catching a dinghy line.  She was hauled out Aug 12 and Shipwright has agreed to change the strut for a new one from Alquoquin 

The shaft looks scoured in spots. Investigation a new one.

JC observed the strut is obviously bent.

At least the week has been cold and wet.  

I miss you Bellum

Nautical Meet UP

I packed up the dinghy and towed her to Valois Bay for a meet-up.

Dingy worked okay.  Torqeedo was fine.

After anchoring, I tested its holding, the dinghy painter got caught in the propeller shaft.  I was able to unwrap it and safe the rope.  The shaft does not seem as "light" to turn by hand as previously.

Meet Up was not so interesting.  

I returned to the club to leave the dinghy behind.  The dinghy got swapped - floor board broke.  Some more tabs became undone.

I hung around the club, chatting with Sylvie and Denise and picked up the Dingy Tow from Nick and Heather.  They refused to accept the 80 for their help.

FFR pursuit race cancelled - no winds. Anchor issue

The Duggan Cup has been cancelled due to in-climate weather. Scheduled for next weekend

Rachel, Ming, Chiheb and Scarlett join Bellum for the FFR pursuit race and raft up.  The afternoon was windy but I had to wait for the crew. 

We motored to the start line and the wind died.  We waited for half an hour and the race was cancelled.  I came back anchored and rafted up with Trieze, Slow Dancer, Esmarlada, and Shark 6.

The newly rebuilt BBQ worked okay, but not as well as the old Kettle.  BBQ roasted vegetables and pork tenderloin.  

When it came time to weigh anchor, the anchor got wrapped around the keel again, like last July 19.  But after over an hour of work, we got the anchor back and headed back to the club arriving at 23:45 to find the club doors were locked and my car did not work.  Not what was promised to me.  Crew needed the bathrooms.  Ernie was there to open the door for us.

I came back to the boat, had a shot of 12 YO, did the dishes and went to bed.  The next morning, I washed the bugs off the boat, did YOGA and came home after doing some groceries at BinMart.

Shakedown sail with Maud and Chiheb - Yanmar failed

Chiheb, Maud and I went out for a shakedown sail on Saturday.  Winds were forecasted to be 12 knots 18-degrees C.

Winds were approximately 18 to 20 knots from the South.  The wind instrument and dept sounder were intermittent. 

I biked to the club.  We departed about 2 PM, had a nice sail to Beaconsfield and tacked and gybed around.

About 4ish, on the way back, we furled the sail, started the engine, and put away the main. As we were heading into the harbour, the engine started to lose power.  It was too windy to try to dock with sails.  I dropped the anchor and called the club for help.

Anchored outside the harbour

Jim and Jacque L were at the T-dock to help us stop the boat at the dock.  They suggested trying to sail it, but I felt the motor could get us in if they could stop us.  It was a pretty good docking but popped an old fender and a minor scuff of the hull.

Blown Fender on docking

I opened the primary fuel filter and it was somewhat dirty.  It started to rain and I decided to take the bus and train home and work on it another day.

October weekend - Warm week - del Sol Harvest Moon - Pas-de-deux, first Frostbite - SPI

Have not been on the boat since Monday.

After Yoga on Friday I picked up the DELSOL to drive Anna to the club.  Met with Katie at the club who drove her parents to the airport.  At 3:30, we took off to PCYC, chasing / following Redline. Winds were very light  Cloudy for full moon, but clearing for the sunset.

PIcked up Dine and Lucie at PCYC at 5:30 and set off sailing west into the sunset.  In the dark we rafted up with Redline at Dowkers South.

Dropped off PAX at PCYC and spent the night at the PCYC dock.- complicated but it all worked.

Saturday morning, Maud joioned me for the Pas-de-Deux which started about two hours late due to lack of wind.  

Good race.  I helmed, first time in a while.  We had a good start at 9m 09s.  Natually the Echelle and AdLib passed us.  We were competing with the Kelt and Friendship / Enemy Ship for the second half of the race, beating Friendship when he went for the wrong finish line.

I dropped Maud off at PCYC, sailed around, but could not get west, so I stayed at the sandbar with a great Haravest moon apres.  Winds were ten knots, which was more than expected.  The winds were whisling on the rigging.

Sunday at 7, I pulled anchor and sailed to PCYC to pick up crew - Norm, PAT, NAT.  Winds were light and we agreed to fly the SPI.  First race, we headed to the wrong mark. SPI was poorly raised on both downwind run.  Second race was cancelled - RC decided there was not enough wind.  

me bad - did not scroll down to last page of SI

We sailed, trying to to get upwind so we could fly the SPI, but we were just wearing a North South track in front of BYC.  We did get the SPI up again but winds shifted bringing us to shore.  But we did dry the SPI.

Major screw ups, but we were doing the SPI

We motored back to PCYC (Not BYC) and I hit a rock at about 4 knots, but it was hard.

Dropped off the crew and I went back to the Royal, tighted the throttle cable, changed the oil, packed the dinghy and drove Vero home, dropped off the dingy 

Tuesday race Maud and Scarlett

The weather forecast was wet for Tuesday but it cleared up for the evening so Maud and Scarlett came out to race. 

I had baggage for out Boy’s trip to Thousand Islands so I asked Rod for a lift to the club. 

We had an excellent start with the 155.  After the start, Scarlett helmed with some intervention.  

We were heading for the windward mark on starboard when Tocade on port tack refused to give way and we had to gybe to avoid collision.  I protested, I did not see Tocade do a penalty turn.  I did not persue the issue.  

We finished the race, sailed back to the club and I boarded Redline for a night time sail to Soulange on out trip to thousand islands. 

Anchor recovery - Single Handed.

The old Bruce

On Wedneday morning, I installed the new anchor and rode before Adult Sailing.  Removed the Bruce and install the new Vulcan and sailed with the Adults.  We had good winds and a good sail trying to get to PCYC for pizza.  I was hasitant on going because of timing and issues about docking at PCYC without a motor.  I decided we did not have time to get there.

After returning from Adult Sailing lesson, Sailing Coordinator told me that they found my anchor.  It seems the buoy I put out there was small and was pushed underwater and they put a bigger buoy on the rode.  

I was thinking of going downtown to visit a musuem, but it heavy rain dampered that.  When the rain stopped, it was calm.  I was going back to the boat to to do some work.  

But seeing how calm it was, I made a decison to go and "try" recover the anchor.  I removed the new Vulcan, rigged the Bruce as a spare, put the motor on the dinghy.  I motored to the are and quickly found the buoys, anchored up steam to the buoys with the bruce.  Motored to the buoys, pulled them into the dingy, brought them back to Bellum and used the windlass to hull in the old Vulcan.  It worked peferctly and came back to the harbour and celelbrated with a 15 year old Scotch. 

Sat with the dingy sailors and a couple AS teacher and Felix and company and explained my anchor recovery.  

I reinstalled the old Rocna on Thursday morning.  

Decision what to do with the new anchor and rode.

Brand New Rocna Vulcan 12 KG,  Chain 5/16" X 50’ G4 + 5/8 X 150’ Brait rope

Tout nouveau Rocna Vulcan 12 KG, chaîne 5/16" X 50' G4 + 5/8 X 150' corde Brait

An expensive night out - lost Rocna Vulcan

After dropping off Darla, I decided to spend the night at Anchor.  At 8, I motored out to Dorval Island and winds picked up so I sailed towards the lake and ended up in the bay beside the club.  I dropped the anchor and not paying attention, I let out all the rode.  The keel wrapped around the rode and I could not overcome the current.  

I called Milan and he came out with a crash boat. The boat was not maneuverable enough to pull the stern into the current.  

I eventually cut the anchor rode.

I motored back to the dock.

Tuesday Race

Maud and Scarlett came out racing on Tuesday Series 1 GNS

Maud helmed.  We had a good start, but again we fell behind to be last.  

On the way back to the club we hit the rock near PCYC and had to be towed out by the crash boat.

We motored out and sailed the rest of the way back to the harbour.  Scarlett gave me a lift home,