Cruise to Hamilton - July 2-4 2010

We were on the club cruise to the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club this past weekend. Weather was terrific through the whole weekend. The sail to Hamilton was uneventful. We filled the boat with diesel before leaving and had the wind on our bow most of the way so we motored a fair bit. It was our first trip to Hamilton by boat and going under the Burlington lift bridge was interesting. The bridge is raised every half hour and on the hour for pleasure boats to pass through. We missed the 2:30pm lift by 10 mins or so and had to hang around the channel waiting for the next lift at 3pm. At 3pm you hear some sirens and the traffic stops on the bridge. The bridge then raises slowly high enough for sailboats to pass under. It deceaving as it looks awfully close from down below. We stayed in Hamilton two nights and headed back to PCYC on Sunday. We met our friends Peter and Donna Howells on Cassis at the bridge and sailed through the channel together. It was a nice trip and we enjoyed the facilities of the club. The trip back was uneventful; We motored out into the lake a few miles to get a better angle for sail, put the sails up and tacked back to PCYC making 6-7kts. The wind was a steady 12kts and we saw gusts of over 20kts. A nice weekend.

Shakedown Sail - June 20, 2010

Things have been a bit slow starting this year. After a fabulous April, the weather in May and the early June has been cooler with a few weekends of rain. So this was our first real sail of the season and it was a good one. Conditions were perfect. 15kts wind from the northwest gusting to 20kts and flat water. Barbara, Sara, Chance and me. We sailed about 23nms in not quite 4 hours past Hanlans Point on Toronto Island and back to the club. Had the boat pushing 8kts SOG in the gusts. Great way to start the season.

Sailpast - June 12, 2010

The weather for sailpast this year wasn't great. Cool, showers and a strong east wind making for pretty lumpy conditions on the lake. In consideration of the weather, a decision was made early in the day that instead of asking members to sail their boats past the Commodore and Club Flag Officers on the lake, that the Commodore would ride through the harbour on one of the club boats and members would acknowledge him by dipping their ensigns. Despite a light rain shower, the Commodore Peter Howells made his way through the harbour greeting all of the members accordingly. As per tradition, skippers acknowledged by dipping their boat ensigns and offering Peter various refreshments. It was a nice day despite the weather enjoyed by all.