4 - The sailboat race

Kingston to Picton Ontario – The sailboat Race
We left Kingston at 8:30, right after the morning ritual of “God Save the Queen” on the bagpipes. There was not a breath of wind so we motored west through the North Channel. Even though we had left early, it was getting awfully hot again. The heat was really starting to get to Brenda.

We stopped in Bath Ontario, Loyalist Cove Marina, for fuel, ice, a pump out, and a bit of a stay in some AC to cool down. As we came back out we discovered a wonderful breeze had come up while we were in the marina. Oh, to sail again! The majesty of a boat moving under nothing but the power of the wind is beautiful to behold! We unfurled the sails and off we went! Yeehaa!

We were coiling the dock lines and getting in the fenders when we noticed the smoke stacks we had been using as land marks no longer had bases. The bottom ½ was obscured by fog and that is the direction we were heading. We didn’t know how large the fog was or how dense. We saw several boats come out of the fog so we decided to stay on course. This happened between Amhurst Island and Indian point which is the boundary between the North Channel and the Adolphus Reach. As we got past the boundary we came out of the fog. When looked back the fog was dissipating and the smoke stack was nearly clear of fog. It turns out it was a weather anomaly we think caused by the sudden wind change.

The Adolphus Reach is a long narrow body of water rather like one of the Finger Lakes. As we came around one of the points two other sailboats came close to us. We were all headed in the same direction, all about the same size, and about the same speed. Cruising sailors like to use their boats to explore new places and rather shun the idea of racing with the boat, however some times we just can’t help ourselves. We started the race behind the other boats but upwind (which is sometimes an advantage). We quickly passed the Catalina 30 and got quite close to the C&C 33. We stayed neck and neck with the C&C for a long time, sometimes getting right up along side sometimes falling back a few boat lengths. Then the wind started to fade and our large sails gave us the advantage and we pulled ahead. By the time we turned south into Picton Harbor we were a good mile ahead. She’s a good old boat by golly!

As we came into Picton Harbor we could easily believe we were in New England. The town and harbor are very picturesque. We tidied up the boat, inhaled a Mike’s Lemonade, and walked into town to get some supper. While we were in the restaurant we overheard the conversation at a table on the other side of the restaurant was all about sailing so I went over and introduced myself. It turns out these were the sailors we had been “racing” earlier! It turns out they are from Toronto Yacht Club and are out on the Club’s annual three week cruise. Brenda said to the C&C owner “We thought you had dropped back to let us lead into the harbor. He said ‘No … but let’s go with that!” They were very nice and we enjoyed a glass of wine with them after dinner.

Next day we enjoyed a relaxing morning then spent the afternoon acquainting ourselves with downtown Picton. A lovely little village that actually has an old time main street! We found a fish and chips restaurant and had some of the best clam chowder we have had this side of Massachusetts. Charlie would be so proud of us!

Given the weather forecast it is back to Kingston next. Wayne thinks it is a good idea to be in a safe harbor by early afternoon, so we are setting the alarm for 5AM. Ugh! At least it will be cool at that hour and hey, it’s a ½ hour later than our normal alarm clock so guess we still are “sleeping in!”

Wayne and Brenda aboard the sailing vessel Wander’n By
N 44º 00.90
W 77º 07.94