Sea Sprite

Sailing 2018

Well no boat show again this year. Life is just a bit busy.

Tough decisions were made this year. Due to family health issues and our sons impending Wedding we made the decision to leave Sea Sprite on the hard for the season.

This of course doesn't mean we didn't get on any boats.

HMS Belfast

Cutty Sark

Thames River cruise

As you can probably tell from these pictures we made a trip to London England. Anita won the trip from the Ingersoll Rotary Club. ( http://www.ingersollrotary.com/ ) So many things to see.

We had a wonderful but busy time.

And later in the year we found even more boats.

Cruise ships hiding from Hurricane Florence

Royal Canadian Navy

SY NGONI was also hiding from the hurricane. This boat was just amazing. Check out this youtube link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YgYy-ZAbPM

These boats were all found in Halifax harbour after our sons wedding.

Steve and Joslyn

With the wedding over and health issues improved we look forward to putting Sea Sprite back in the Bay next year.

SAILING 2016

Kind of a quiet year as far as sailing went.

We skipped the boat show as it was beginning to feel rather redundant. Seems we look at the same thing each year. I know we will go back though as it is a nice winter break.

SPRING WORK

The kitchen is not the best sail loft but would have to do for inspection and some repair to both the main and genoa.

As you can see our telltales have become a little worn so replacement was needed.

New ones look a lot cleaner and crisper. Should help with sail trim?
(Only if I look at them.)

Anita and Gertie also restitched the genoa subrella cover with Gertie's powerful sewing machine.

I redid most of the exterior wood with Cetol teak light. I really like this stuff for both appearance and durability.

Anita and I did a lot of cleaning as well and then of course bottom paint. (VC 17)

SPRING LAUNCH

As usual we used Dad's trusty truck to tow Sea Sprite.

SUCCESS.

The trip and launch went as planned. After all the usual cussing and griping over putting the mast up.

It was actually a fairly uneventful launch we had her a the dock in four hours.

As you can see many launched before us. We did not get in until May 26. This is the latest we have been in a long time.

Lots of company at the dock early in the season.

On one of are early season sails we met up with Scott and Winnie who snapped this picture as we sailed side and side.

We snapped a few shots of them as well.

Sunset in one of our favorite anchorages.
No green flash seen.

At last we installed a bimini. We both love it. Should have done this years ago. Unlike our sunshade we can now sail with both sails and still have shade.

Long Point drone?

Always lots of wildlife around.

In July my Father passed away. Sadly missed but fondly remembered.

I bought his trusty truck so Sea Sprite and it remain together.

Long Point evening wear. Very formal on the boat. (Just ignore that small fish.)

A few shots of other boats we see around the Bay.

Very pretty Tug.

MacGregor 25

Watchful eye

CS 22

Gertie joined us for a sail in the fall. (early September)

We enjoyed a fun sail to St. Williams and back to the Old Cut. Of course we stopped in the weeds for refreshments.

Mid September Time to bring her home.

Preparing to drop the mast. All went fairly well and we were soon on our way home.

And as Gerry says " It's about the adventure."

Just outside of Tillsonburg the front tire looses air rapidly. The sidewall blew out.

This is why we almost always tow with a chase vehicle. The spare was also very flat. I had to quickly run to Tillsonburg with the flat to find a new tire. Only place open as it was late Saturday afternoon, was Canadian Tire and surprise they actually had a tire.

New tire mounted and still time to get home before dark.

We sailed a total of 196 nm and slept over 6 nights

More adventure next season I'm sure.

Sailing 2015

Okay to start I am not the best blogger. I do not update very often and have been even slower this time. I really have been putting this off.

I broke one of the first rules of computers. Back up everything.

I failed to do so and my hard drive failed taking most of my 2015 pics with it. LESSON LEARNED.

BOAT SHOW

We made our annual trip to the Toronto Boat Show. We went alone this year as we could not seem to set a date with the others.

It was the SAME good show. We bought a few things but found ourselves looking at all the SAME things again. SAME vendors SAME boats.

Perhaps we need to take a couple of years off.

TILLEY TALE

First Mate gave me my Tilley for my first Father's Day.

Anyone who has sailed or fished with me over the last 27 years or so has seen my Tilley. It has been a true friend for a long time. (Gord and Lorne know what I mean.)

As you can see after much use on Wildwood Lake, Long Point Bay, Florida Bay, Penobscot Bay and other rivers, ponds and lakes it has become a little worn.

So as a surprise First Mate/Admiral had Tilley replace my hat with a new one under warranty for my birthday. (Seems like a way to cheap out of a gift.)

The new hat is clean but has no character. I plan to add some character in the near future.

I hope to have Tilley replace this one 27 years from now.

NO MORE CORK

With advice from Gord, Les and Gerry and some parts from Gord as well, the First Mate (someone had to crawl under the boat) and I managed to repair the thru hull.

Thanks again guys.

LAUNCH-Old Cut Marina
Long Point Bay

As you can see above we moved across the Bay this year to try a new Marina. We are very happy here. George runs a great place and has the cleanest washroom on the Bay. Wifi and security cameras are also great to have. The docks are tighter but we just had to improve our skills a wee bit.

We launched on May 7th. Always a challenge but things went smoothly and we had her at the dock after 2 1/2 hours work.
We were both quite happy the sea cock (thru hull) did not leak.

Sea Sprite at her new dock. Looking a bit lonely as we were one of the first in.

FIRST SAIL of the Season

Anita the First Mate / CoCaptain / Better Half, keeps a log of our sails and below is her description of our sail Mothers Day weekend.

As you can see the weather was great and this is a record early season night on the boat.

However the rest of May was not quite as good. Of course the long weekend was cool as usual. We only sailed 44 nm in May.

With the poor weather and family health issues we missed most of June.

Heading out the well marked channel.

In July we got back to sailing. Many good sails and some overnights.

We anchored out near Rowan Bluffs on Canada day and watched fireworks all around the bay.

By the end of July our mileage was up to 186 nm.

AUGUST

Okay. Your right this is not Sea Sprite.

The Admiral celebrated a significant birthday this year and she chose to celebrate in Manhattan.

We sailed New York harbour aboard the tall ship Clipper City.

We also did Broadway shows, Times Square, Central Park. Empire State Building, Grand Central, etc, etc.

Very busy week. We had a great time.

We did not sail that much in August but ended the month with a total of 220 nm.

We did manage to visit the Sailing Club for a dinner and a poker run at the end of August. Had a great sail with the gang and ran into many old friends. Alway fun at the Club.

SEPTEMBER

Bayfest weekend (Labour day) The Marina had a pork BBQ. We met many boaters (even some sailors) while enjoying the meal.

We anchored out for the night and watched great fireworks from Port Rowan.

Chris and Les also came down for a sail and swim. Gerry and Sophia met us at the dock to check out the marina.

Good food, good friends fireworks makes a great weekend.

The next week Paul Carter came down for a visit and a sail. He seemed to enjoy the Bay and the Marina. (Wildwood sailors don't seem to show up until their boats are put away.)

Later in the month our good friend Cathy joined us for a sail, BBQ
and a swim.

We always enjoy the company of friends and the opportunity to explain and share our passion for sailing with them.

We ended September with a total of 330 nm.

OCTOBER

We got in a few somewhat cooler sails this month. We even sailed on Thanksgiving Day.

Pulled her out October 19th. A new late season record for us.

We ended the year with a total of 346 nm sailed.