Sailing Cambio

Category: Sailing

  • There was no way to return to the dock without leaving, circling and coming back.  In the middle of the big circle, while dodging the kayakers, small boats and bigger party boats

    There was no way to return to the dock without leaving, circling and coming back.  In the middle of the big circle, while dodging the kayakers, small boats and bigger party boats

    Saturday June 4, 2022  Toronto Harbour to Port Dalhousie

    What buffoonery (more to come) xx

    Canon Road Trip was a bust.  Not only were they not prepared when it started, but they had the address wrong and I burned out my back walking an extra kilometer distance.  That’s not a lot for most, but until my back heals, it made me arrive angry and sore after planning the Uber and the ‘no walking’ strategy.   The Canon staff were great however and the R3 was superb in a way that I’d never learn what all of them do and never use most of them.   Give me the same quality in a simpler camera and I might like it more.

    So we get back to the boat and the marina girl wants us to shove off asap at 11:30. So we fired up the engine and Rob started releasing the dock lines, with help from the girl.   The wind was coming over the port bow and we were docked on the starboard side.   For some reason the bow started pushing out and my stern ground into the dock and I had no choice but to “engage number 1 ahead”.   The boat moved slowly ahead and I did a head check on Rob and the marina girl. 

    The worst sound I heard was the slow grinding as my life ring caught on the electrical podium and it bent over.  After it had removed the life ring from the boat, the MOM overboard device caught the now falling podium.   The podium ripped half off and finished bending it to the ground.   There was no way to return to the dock without leaving, circling and coming back.  In the middle of the big circle, while dodging the kayakers, small boats and bigger party boats, I asked Rob where the marina girl was.  He said she went into her office, about 20 meters away.  

    So I called her.   Something like:

    ME: “Hey this is Cambio, sorry about that.  We’ll come back and work things out.”

    HER: “Oh that’s ok.  The dock is under repair and we shouldn’t have put you there.  Next time move up to the bigger dock.   Do you want your life ring back?”

    ME: “That’s ok, it is best we do not try to dock there again.  Are you sure we’re square?”

    HER: “Yes, it was going to be replaced anyway.”

    So Cambio motored away towards the Eastern Gap with a clear conscience and a ton of anxiety.   The life ring was left, amazingly, hanging on the hook on the dock that didn’t have a ring on it. 

    About 2 hours later I receive a phone call from a different worker at Marina Four.  “Are you going to come back and get your life ring?”.    “Yes, next week, if that’s ok.”.  “Yea fine.”   

    No damage to Cambio except for losing the life ring ($200), and some incidental repairs to the MOM harness.

    And we were off, out the Eastern Gap and into a beautiful sail across.  Wind was a steady SW and we hit 8 knots in a 12 knot breeze a few times, close hauled and letting the adrenalin bake away in the wind and sun. 

    The tack took us almost to Olcott and then a few short tacks took us to Port Dalhousie. 

    On a more serious note, I was sitting there casting my eye down the backstay and was suddenly shocked to see that there was no cotter pin holding the shackle attachment together.  If the shackle pin were to slip out, I’d lose the mast, probably.  It took me about 3 minutes to slip my keys off a ring and insert the ring in the cotter pin hole.  Now my challenge is to find a stainless-steel cotter ring or pin.

     

  • The squall hit about 3:30

    The squall hit about 3:30

    Friday June 3, 2022  Port Dalhousie –> Toronto

    The squall hit about 3:30. More later.  😊

    Left the dock at about 11 with Rob.   I didn’t account for the light wind and especially the prop walk to the right when reversing and  leaving the dock was a clusterfuck with squealing fenders and bouncy boat.  

    But the light wind became darned near no wind and for a couple of hours we drifted at about 1 knot from port Dalhousie. Finally we fired up the engine and started towards Toronto.  The wind picked up and we got to 5 knots under sail alone and this felt great.    Two squalls sitting under thunderclouds were off to the Northeast and it looked like we were going to miss them both.  This is good.  

    We were wrong.  The small one hit quickly and it was moving fast so when it hit we let our sails out to flog and rounded up under control of sorts and rode out the squall.  I guess that it brought winds of about 30 knots but we could only watch the instruments after the worst had died down and the instrument said 22.5 knots of wind.  As soon as the wind died down Rob brought in the genoa and we let the main drive the boat the last few miles into Toronto Harbour.  This was the first time in the harbour with this boat and was rather intimidating. 

    I’ve been in Toronto Harbour many times after crossing with the Shark but this boat is a whole other navigation hazard.

    First I violated Department of Transport rules by motoring inside the (one) buoy that marks Billy Bishop safety zones.  I knew the safety buoys were there and did my best not to go inside them but sure enough there was one lone buoy on my Port that I had missed.   I got out of there PDQ.  

    The ferry in the Western Gap was good enough to not cross while I was passing through into the chaos of the harbour. 

    We got into the harbour and I called the Marina Four number to arrange dockage. The west wind meant I should dock on the wall with the bow facing west and with fenders on the starboard side.  “Rob, could you please put the fenders on the starboard side?”   He did.  We went in to the dock and the hull scraped against the dock.  My horror was complete when I realized that he had tied the fenders too high for the dock.  The dockmaster was valiant by pushing the boat off the dock but there is a long scar there on the hull that will require significant buffing.

    We were both exhausted and settled down in the cockpit processing what had happened this day.

    Should I have specified dock level fenders?  Ultimately the captain is responsible for ‘it all’ so yes.  Rob had only been sailing 5 times and had done well all the other times. So I have to take responsibility and am quite certain that he’ll remember that incident and be fantastic with the fenders in future.    

    Another thing I plan to do with the fenders is to create a quick release and quick attach system because it leaves deck hands puffed out to untie and retrieve the fenders and then to tie them on again after a great sail.  This will take some thought. 

    During the squall, the main sail flogged and worked the topping lift shackle pin out and the shackle went overboard.  This is the second time and I had fixed it once with a smaller shackle but didn’t have seizing wire to secure the pin.  I even had the heavy duty pins on board and had planned to replace it on Monday.    We’ll fix it tomorrow before we leave, but without seizing wire I’ll use pliers to keep it tight.

    I’m very tired.  Lots of esoteric things to mull over about the responsibilities of captain and crew as well as a fantastic sail, 90% quiet enjoyment and 10% stress and terror.

    Tomorrow the weather back to Port Dalhousie forecasts 15-25 km/h from the West so it should be a lively and fun beam reach to Niagara.   No squalls are forecast. 

  • Brilliant sail down to Niagara on the Lake

    Brilliant sail down to Niagara on the Lake

    Sunday May 29, 2022,  Port Dalhousie to NOLSC and return

    Sailed out at noon with Matt Nelson.  It was sunny and the wind was light and was supposed to be from the ESE.  It was from the East, with no S in it.  However, brilliant sail down to Niagara on the Lake, up the river, and back, arriving home at 8.   The reefing lines are still making trouble so I need a day with them to sort them out.

    A boat box was tied to the deck just forward of the mast. It seems like a fabulous place to sit and reflect or just sit.  Unfortunately, it does two things.  It blocks the helmsman’s view and it keeps fouling the genoa sheet when tacking.   So it must go.  Too bad. I liked it.

    Jeff’s system worked great today although we didn’t use it much.  The music was great.  AIS worked.  And I learned more on the mainframe router by pushing all the buttons. 

  • It was a Catastrophe

    It was a Catastrophe

    Friday May 27, 2022 Port Dalhousie

    This morning we sourced the lights to fix the compass lights.  That’s completed thanks to Jeff. 

    Sushi with Pierre and Jeff was awesome.  We all waddled out of the all you can eat restaurant with the beginnings of food coma. 

    Went for a wonderful evening sail with Jeff. It was sunny, glassy water and got the boat up to 7.4 knots for the first time. Jeff steered most of the way. He also did foredeck and most of the other sailing tasks really well.  It was my job to direct the new order of putting the spring lines on.  It was a catastrophe even docking in light air.   My turn in the barrel it seems. 

  • Now that we’ve sailed the boat a few times we have the shared vocabulary

    Now that we’ve sailed the boat a few times we have the shared vocabulary

    Thursday May 26, At the Dock (what am I chicken with 20 knots of wind?)

    Now that we’ve sailed the boat a few times we have the shared vocabulary, (not necessarily right, but mutually understandable) we declined to go out in 20 knots even though the boat can easily handle it.  I’m still sore from my solo performance at the mast and we have other things to do.   Like try to find the connecting wire for the Seatalk cable.   If anyone reads this it is just a female to female seatalk wire that we need.  That took up a half a day (with breakfast at Rozies). 

    The rest of the day was spent inspecting the boat and brainstorming the things that we should be doing.   In no particular order this is the high lights of the work that we should complete before August 1 (my imposed deadline)

    • Raise dodger above the companionway (This is a priority.  I’m too tall)
    • Fix the mainsheet cheekblock on cabintop.  Consider a double cheekblock to bring more function to the cockpit for short handed sailing
    • Latch to keep forward box /seat cover closed
    • Fix 1st reef line clew inside front of boom
    • SSB radio to fix
    • Clean and sort davit lines and motor lift.
    • Change the topping lift shackle
    • Varnish gunnels
    • Apply teak deck caulking
    • Fix compass light
    • High frequency antenna for weatherfax
    • Check sink drainage.  It’s substantially plugged likely with coffee grounds
    • T Install seatalk to NMEA2000 cable
    • VHF splitter for the AIS
    • Dinghy/Outboard, pickup and send serial #s to insurance
    • New cockpit cushions
    • Fix seat cushion on forward box seat
    • Apply for MMSI (VHF, Epirb)
    • Register the boat federally
    • Check Windlass and test methods for dropping both anchors
    • Install line for pennant on starboard side of mast
    • Wash solar panel
    • Fix Sail Cover
    • Adjust permanent dock lines. 
    • Obtain temporary dock lines for visiting ports.
    • Fix leaks in Port Aft deck hatch in the salon
    • Shine 2 mast winches
    • Wipe clean stations and safety rails
    • Tighten Allen screws in cockpit cover.  Get plastic washers 3/8 hole
    • Exercise all hands on anchor raising and test the process
    • Clean under the cockpit sole
    • Find and test emergency tiller post
    • Add and connect eye hooks to floor boards
    • Create MOB lift harness
    • Install seizing wire to relevant blocks
    • Install cotter rings where necessary
    • Wash fenders
    • Organize mast ropes with fresh elastic knobs

    That’s a lot but we have time and this is guide of stuff to do.  Do I have 30 minutes to do one task or 2 days to do another? 

    Took apart the compass to find out why the compass light was not working and we now understand.  This will be a 20 minute fix if we get the right bulbs and machine screw.  GAK! 

    Tomorrow, they forecast rain so we’ll shop for small stuff in the morning and then join Pierre for an all you can eat sushi afternoon.  Jeff goes back home on Saturday and I go back to being a single boat owner.  Jeff has been an incredible help in logic, knowledge, and effort.

  • Seatalk isn’t my friend

    Seatalk isn’t my friend

    Wednesday May 25, At the Dock

    I don’t know how the weather channel can say that the wind is 12km and Predictwind says it is 13 knots.  It was blowing and we took the time to fix the reef lines and untangle the main halyard.  

    Jeff worked on one of the last pieces of the backup electronics system.  It’s the one where his system connects to the Raymarine system to give it AIS and the Raymarine connects back to his system to feed  it depth, wind direction and speed.   He ordered the Seatalk cable and it turns out that the cable he got needed yet another cable to interconnect between the two systems.  The lesson I take from this is that Seatalk isn’t my friend as every day we are delayed having to order another connector or wire.  

    The entertainment system is fully operational.  We can play movies off the hard drive and music off the existing sound system from the same hard drive.    But we only watched Captain Ron a few days ago and mostly because Jeff had not seen it and the line “If something is going wrong it will go wrong out there.” is a good lesson.

  • Jeff and I went for lively and vigorous sail in 12 knot winds

    Tuesday May 24, 2022, sailing off Port Dalhousie

    So I’ve let my old Shark crew manage the foredeck the last few sails. They survived because Cambio has, basically, the typical sloop rig and all they had to do is to figure out where the main halyard, the Genoa sheets and Mainsheets are.  There were no reef points on a Shark so we haven’t got reef points down perfectly yet.  

    Today Jeff and I went for a lively and vigorous sail in 12 knot winds.  I did everything forward of the steering station.  After all if I’m single handing like I often did on the Shark, I’d better be experienced at managing the foredeck and the pit.  Now, after the sail, I can say I’ve not been this tired in a long time.   And it is a completely different perspective than being the fat boy on the wheel while the others manage the foredeck.  

    No other sailboats went out today.  When we got in around 4:30 and started putting away the sails and fixing the reef lines which were hopelessly twisted, a number of people walked along the docks and complimented the boat’s appearance and introduced themselves.    I haven’t had time to have a hand in earning the compliments so I’ve got to pass those comments on to Al, the previous owner. Still, it’s nice to hear them.   He and Linda also deserve kudos for working this boat as a duo.    

    So what I learned today is that I have to get into better shape and I have to rearrange a bit of the running rigging.   And to stow the rum better so that when we heel 20 degrees it doesn’t jump out of the shelving and roll across the floor to our shock.     

  • It was a good sail

    It was a good sail

    Monday May 23, 2022, sailing off Port Dalhousie

    Went for a sail with Jeff, Rob, another Rob, and Pierre for about 4 hours with less than 2 knots wind.  Sometimes none.  It was interesting to see 4 guys that I’ve known for over 30 years and who have mainly never met before get to know each other.  It was a good sail.

  • Remarkable Things

    Remarkable Things

    Saturday May 21, 2022 Port Dalhousie

    Today Jeff finished a number of remarkable things on the boat while I did the parts shopping and did laundry.  This was the first day we had both shore power and hot water for showers on the boat, which we did not have.   

    The Pi chart plotter is complete and it has 12 volt and 5 volt conversions.  This powers the Pi computer, the USB hub which connects the GPS, AIS and an HDD which serves up movies and music.  This works from Android phones, tablets, Apple products and who knows what else.  It also is the base for charging the rechargeables like phones, tablets, batteries etc.

    Quite a remarkable achievement by Jeff.   By comparison, I shopped for wood glue.

    We didn’t leave the dock today because of heavy thunderstorms but we can’t sail every day due to weather and working on the boat.  The next weather window is Monday and Tuesday and I can’t wait to sail again.  

    I have to learn how to single hand this boat.  It will be strenuous but in principle it is mechanically the same as the Shark I’ve sailed for 30 years.   Main, Genoa, etc.  The reefing lines will take me a bit of time to work with.  The Shark didn’t have them.  I’ve still got a lot to learn on a lot of blue water cruising topics.  Actually I have tons to learn and I’m looking forward to it.

  • The usual trinity of Canadian Tire, JT electronics, and my house

    The usual trinity of Canadian Tire, JT electronics, and my house

    Friday May 20, Port Dalhousie

    Today rained in the morning and was glorious in the afternoon, except for 20 Km winds from the SSW.  

    We spent the morning visiting the usual trinity of Canadian Tire, JT electronics, and my house and returned the 30 amp extension cord to Amazon (at Purolator) 

    After the shopping trip the rain stopped and it became that glorious day.   Like we planned it.

    Jeff crawled under the galley sink and put a new hose clamp on the problem hose and tightened up all the hose clamps within reach.  

    I had no trouble getting out of the dock, but the Port Dalhousie Yacht Club gas dock made things difficult to dock.  But we got her done.   We filled with water, mostly lost during yesterday’s ‘problem’.   We also thought it was a good idea to fill with diesel as the tanks were half full (thanks Al).   It took almost $400 but I plan on it lasting until August or longer.  Nice kid named Cameron runs the gas dock.   It was a challenge getting off the gas dock because of gusts but we did it with his help.  

    Coming into my dock was a nightmare.  Jeff was in 3 places at once trying to tame this 23,000 lb beast and after a while we got the beast back in her lair.

    Jeff had a great set of successes today.  He managed to install components of the Pi system he built.  The AIS registered a ping in the Welland Canal. The pitch, yaw and roll sensor works well.  The chart plotter shows us right where we are supposed to be, and the rest of the land mass and lake are right where they are supposed to be.   This system is supposed to be redundant to the Raymarine system but it will be handy to have in the navigation station.   The GPS works fine but we’ll put it on the radar mast for better line of sight signal acquisition.

    Al, the previous owner, worked hard to eliminate propane from the boat.   He also worked hard to make it electrical systems 12 volt.   Jeff has taken that a bit further by adding 5 volt USB charging stations in the boat, which is a little more redundancy with rechargeables.  Navionics will work on phone, and laptop which are charged by 5w.   

    Jeff also wired up the music server that Pi serves from a hard drive.  We had Jimmy Buffett and Elton John with dinner tonight.