Sea Sprite: 2011

It was a long winter again................ The only break in the cold was a trip to the Toronto boat show with several of our friends from the club.

Winter work consisted of refinishing the tiller and rudder again. My father-in-law also built new companionway doors. (solid mahogany) Great improvement over the plywood ones. All finished with cetol.

First mate designed and stitched a custom table cloth for Sea Sprite.

Launched in early May. This year Anita and I managed to launch on our own using a mast raising system I built. Prototype needs improvement but we were successful.

We spent all our vacation (5 weeks) as well as weekends on or around the boat and club this year. This made for a very relaxing and rewarding summer.

We did lots of sailing and some racing, We finished 3rd in the June race, DNF in the July race, (we bailed when the thunder and lightning became too much) and finished 8th in the August race. (still not good in light winds) We may have to hire a tactician. (Lorne????)

.

There were a bunch of raft ups and many barbecues with friends.

I even made some time for some early morning fishing. Managed to catch a few Bass, Pike, Perch and Rock bass.

Several great guests visited.

George and Kelly joined us on a couple of occasions. It was wonderful to share our passion for sailing with them.

Dwight looks like an old salt at the helm.

Dave and Leslie and friends joined us as well.

We even had time for some swimming. Okay a lot of swimming. I even got in the water a few times.

I was presented with this prize one day by my dock mate Gord. She came with a cold beer and a stern warning from Marlene (Gord's First Mate) not to return her. She sailed with us for a while and made a great figurehead but has since been passed along (with a cold beer) to another club member. She is actually a beer can handle.

Six flags proudly displayed for Canada Day. More flags next year?

Wildwood Sea Monster? No just Gord.

Once again Gord came up with a great idea. He donned his favorite rubber suit and scrubbed the bottom of both our boats just before haul out. Sea Sprite never came out of the lake this clean before. Thanks again Gord.