MiniCup 2004

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Date

Location

Crew

Weather

June 19,2004

Connestoga Lake Conservation Authority

Trueman

Overcast - 16° - Winds very strong - 30km/hr - gusts to 40km/hr

This is the most wind that I've ever been out in. This trip was planned to meet up with Bob Burgess who is also with the BYYB association. He brought along his son Eric and his very nice Weekender Dreamcast902 as well as his digital camera. The pictures below are thanks to him. Both the MiniCup and Bob's Weekender performed well in this wind although the double-reef on the Weekender and my 100kg on the side if the MiniCup helped a lot I'm sure <g>.
We ended up only being out on the water for about 1/2 hour due to it being a rather cold and wet voyage, especially for Trueman.

Trying to remember which line goes where	Attaching Rudder You can also see my home-made wind indicator at the end of the gaff.
The Brave Adventurers Bob's son Evan (left) and my son Trueman (right)	Trueman's starting to look less sure that this is a good idea
Preparing to set sail	Missing is the picture of me having one foot on the boat and one on the dock as the two slowly spread apart
The adventure begins	Lots of wind here
Wheeeee	Trueman about to get nailed in the face (again) with a wave

These pictures were taken of Bob's boat Dreamcast902

Evan at the dock (are you sure about this Dad?)	Not quite so sure about this being a good idea
View looking forward	Why does the land look like it's going up and down?
A shot of Bob's spreaders a pretty common modification although he says he has problems with them rubbing on his sails	An alternate method of running halyards

July 2,2004

Balmy Beach - Toronto, Ontario

Solo

Very light

After work, I drove down to the Balmy Beach Canoe Club in the East Beaches area of Toronto. I was very fortunate to find a parking spot and was able to manouver the boat through a park to the beach.
Winds were practically non-existant for most of the voyage and I was even able to drop my sail to fix a problem with one of the seams. Farther out past the second set of markers for Ashbridges Bay, there was a bit more wind, but it was still light.
Even with the light wind, I had a good time - the sun was shining and flight after flight of cormorants went by just inches off the water and within just a few feet of me.
I discovered a new way of piloting the boat albeit one that didn't allow me to keep a good lookout. Sitting on the cockpit sole with my feet over the aft deck allowed me to steer and I could just lightly hold the mainsheet. I didn't get anywhere fast, but I was certainly comfortable.
On retrieval, one of the wheels on the dolly jammed due to a locking nut losing it's cotter pin - which I didn't realize until later. For the BYYB regatta, I rebuilt and stiffened the back axle anyway.

July 23,2004

Long Point State Park - Maryland - BYYB Messabout

Trueman

Moderate - strong winds - patchy rain.

After much planning, the entire family embarked on our journey to the "BYYB Mess-About". After much packing, we drove from 4:00 am, arriving at 9:00pm to set up camp in the rain after 1156km of driving. The rain relented for part of the next day (July 23rd) and we did manage to get some sailing in. In addition to visiting with other builders which I always enjoy, there was a presentation from North Sails and an opportunity to visit with the boat's designer - Peter Stevenson, his son Mike, and their associate Mike Dormer. They presented each builder with a "Captain Ply" plaque to commemorate the event.
Sadly on Friday night, the wind picked up and it began to rain heavily. Part of our camp-site blew away and the tent the kids were in collapsed. After discussing things over breakfast at a local diner and listening to weather reports, we decided to head back home. Thanks to the help of others, we got packed up and drove back over two days.


Maps of the campsite courtesy of we were located on the north shore of Lake Connoy out on the end of the point.

Packed and ready to head out.

By Buffalo, the roof rack was swaying dangerously and two of the gussets had bent, so we stopped for repairs.	The weary travellers

The camp mosquito. I call it that because the mosquitos quite at home there. In other weather conditions, it would probably have been a great site although the fine gravel on it tracked everywhere and was difficult to put a tent peg into. After it rained a lot, the gravel turned to mush and wouldn't hold a tent peg.

The boats at the dock.	David Ruedel and Idyler (love that boom crutch)

Angie Wilson's "Fat Chance"	The mighty hunters Bob and Evan Burgess capture a (probably quite tasty) crab.

Fat Chance on the left, Bob Burgess' "DreamCast 902" in centre	Jack Coyne's "Wild Goose" and some wild birds off their port bow.

Wild Goose under weigh	Richard Norman's "Our Dot Calm" and Scott Widmier's "Suits Us"

OOOO - Birds ....	Jim Stumpf's Vacationer RUDUNYET with a scurvy crew including my daughter Emma and Jim's daughter Megan

View of the camp from the water.

Skippers and Builders along with Mike Dormer and Peter and Mike Stevenson	Mike Stevenson and I (with my Cap'n Ply plaque)

The weary travellers on the way home in Bedford PA	A stop to see Niagara - the Maid of the Mist

Down the Niagara gorge	Unpacking and drying out