Last week we managed to get away for our first cruise overnight to Blackhall Gut, way down in Merigomish Harbour. A favourite place for us to go when we only have a couple of days, it is about a three hour sail from our home port of Pictou. One big advantage of both of us being off work now is that even though the weather on the weekend was horrible, the forecast for Monday and Tuesday was good, so we just went sailing then instead!
We spent Monday night on the Pictou Yacht Club mooring in Blackhall Gut, along with our friends Al and Alta on their boat Deliverance. Being the first boats of the season there meant taking the stick off the mooring ball and replacing it with the floating ball and pickup float, but I think that is all part of the fun for Dave and Al. Although we did sail part of the way over on Monday, Al had an issue with his engine overheating, so we ended up towing him into the harbour just to be on the safe side. After the obligatory inaugaral cocktail hour, Dave and Al had a look at the engine to see if they could find the problem. A few ideas, but nothing definitive, so the plan was for us to stay close to them on the way back in case the engine acted up again.
Tuesday morning we headed back to Pictou just behind Deliverance, but when we caught up to them they were sailing and everything was good, so we put up our sails and had a really great trip back. It was a good wind direction and comfortable (i.e. virtually no) seas. We decided to anchor just off Sandy Cove, outside Pictou Harbour and have some lunch and a walk before heading back 'home' to our mooring. A very good first cruise of 2013
On Saturday we repeated the trip, as a few other boats from Pictou were planning to go, and it is always nice to have the company. Although the timing of the thunderstorm wasn't good (it rained buckets just as we were rafting up to Deliverance so both crews got soaked), the rain soon passed and it turned into a beautiful evening. We had a good time hanging out with the crews of Deliverance, Kahlua and Aria, and even had a visit from our grandson Sebastian (and his parents Nicki and Mike).
Sunday we were looking forward to a nice sail back with some extra crew, but when Nicki, Mike, Sebastian and Hugh came aboard for a Father's Day cruise there was no wind, so we ended up motoring to Sinclair's Island to drop them off before heading back to Pictou.
Dave made lots of progress on little jobs while we were aboard, and all of our cupboard doors are back on and the lazy jacks and radar reflector are up. There are always a few things that don't quite go according to plan, and after three times up the mast we still have some issues with our spreader lights, but I am sure he will figure it out.
This week is a 'working week' rather than a 'sailing week'. Dave is back at work to help out at the mill on shutdown and I am continuing with the seemingly never ending varnishing and other boat jobs. By my next post I might even have my lists finished, and some things crossed off!
We spent Monday night on the Pictou Yacht Club mooring in Blackhall Gut, along with our friends Al and Alta on their boat Deliverance. Being the first boats of the season there meant taking the stick off the mooring ball and replacing it with the floating ball and pickup float, but I think that is all part of the fun for Dave and Al. Although we did sail part of the way over on Monday, Al had an issue with his engine overheating, so we ended up towing him into the harbour just to be on the safe side. After the obligatory inaugaral cocktail hour, Dave and Al had a look at the engine to see if they could find the problem. A few ideas, but nothing definitive, so the plan was for us to stay close to them on the way back in case the engine acted up again.
Tuesday morning we headed back to Pictou just behind Deliverance, but when we caught up to them they were sailing and everything was good, so we put up our sails and had a really great trip back. It was a good wind direction and comfortable (i.e. virtually no) seas. We decided to anchor just off Sandy Cove, outside Pictou Harbour and have some lunch and a walk before heading back 'home' to our mooring. A very good first cruise of 2013
On Saturday we repeated the trip, as a few other boats from Pictou were planning to go, and it is always nice to have the company. Although the timing of the thunderstorm wasn't good (it rained buckets just as we were rafting up to Deliverance so both crews got soaked), the rain soon passed and it turned into a beautiful evening. We had a good time hanging out with the crews of Deliverance, Kahlua and Aria, and even had a visit from our grandson Sebastian (and his parents Nicki and Mike).
Sunday we were looking forward to a nice sail back with some extra crew, but when Nicki, Mike, Sebastian and Hugh came aboard for a Father's Day cruise there was no wind, so we ended up motoring to Sinclair's Island to drop them off before heading back to Pictou.
Dave made lots of progress on little jobs while we were aboard, and all of our cupboard doors are back on and the lazy jacks and radar reflector are up. There are always a few things that don't quite go according to plan, and after three times up the mast we still have some issues with our spreader lights, but I am sure he will figure it out.
This week is a 'working week' rather than a 'sailing week'. Dave is back at work to help out at the mill on shutdown and I am continuing with the seemingly never ending varnishing and other boat jobs. By my next post I might even have my lists finished, and some things crossed off!