WHITECAP's

SAILING

EXCURSION

Midland, ON to South Baymouth, Manitoulin Island

October 16th - October 22nd, 1999

1. Day 27 - Oct 16, 99 - Arose at 07:30 to a cool, clear day. Mike (worker) showed up at 08:00 and started right away; hopefully things are looking up today; haven't talked to him yet. Dick and Bill drove downtown for breakfast and unfortunately missed Marg Mansell who dropped by to say hello to Dick; Marg & Jack (and their 36 ft frigate LA MANCHE) have been friends of Dick's since Super Cruise 1973 (Toronto to PEI - The place to be in 73). Day progressed beautifully, as the temperature hit the low 20s. WHITECAP shed her skirt at about 11:00, repairs looked good; we then adjusted our prop from this to this and WHITECAP tip toed back to the water at 16:30 and got her bottom wet - no leaks. Janet and Dana MacDonald (Bill's sister in law and her husband) showed up at about 13:00; they had driven over from Goderich for a visit, so we all went out to dinner after we got WHITECAP settled for the evening. You can't hide one Islander from another; when Frank McEwen, who grew up on McEwen Road, found out there was an Island boat in, he had to drop by and say hello, not realizing the boat was from Glover's Shore Road just down from his old home. As always, everyone is welcome to visit WHITECAP on her excursion.
2. Day 28 - Oct 17, 99 - Woke early and put the masts up; then rigged and put the sails on. WHITECAP is ready to travel again - except - one more saga in the ongoing chronicles (right Bob? - Bob Snider is a pontoon houseboat owner that traveled through the Trent-Severn System with us for several days - thanks for the e-mail and best wishes Bob) - we must have slipped a cog on the prop adjustment, because WHITECAP refuses to raise her engine revs above 500 RPM; stubborn old gal when you don't adjust her PROPerly. So we have to haul out again in the morning to do it correctly. We were pushed a bit for time as the travel lift was waiting for us before they knocked off for the day (haste makes waste - yup). However, by doing it correctly, we'll save in fuel what it costs to haul again - if it weren't for bad luck, we wouldn't have any luck at all (right Frank?). So here we continue to sit in Bay Port Marina in Midland, ON. MAYBE TOMORROW. Turned in early again.
3. Day 29 - Oct 18, 99 - Up real early this morning; Dick went to check at the office and we had WHITECAP back out of the water by 08:10. Confirmed suspicions; the cog had slipped a tooth - miss by an inch - miss by a mile / in this case, miss by a tooth - miss by 12 degrees. Had to wait for the staff to put a couple of other boats to bed for the winter, then WHITECAP was back in the water at 10:35. Her engine started without a hitch and she jumped ahead yearning to be off; a little smile from Dick and a thumbs up and it was obvious that WHITECAP was ready to behave herself. Unfortunately, back pain had taken its toll on the crew (Bill), so when Dick stopped to settle up with Ken in the office, Bill bid both WHITECAP and Dick farewell, threw all his gear ashore and had 15 minutes to make the Toronto bound bus in Midland. Dick and WHITECAP made their way to the fuel dock to top up with diesel and then were on their way up across Georgion Bay. WHITECAP, having been able to shake her sails out again, sailed all day and arrived at Lions Head on the Bruce Peninsula for the night.
4. Day 30 - Oct 19, 99 - WHITECAP departed Lions Head early and sailed up along the Bruce Peninsula, passed Cabot Head and out into Lake Huron by Fitzwilliam Island making her way to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island for the night.
5. Day 31 - Oct 20, 99 - Awoke to winds blowing 25-30 knots, small craft warning on northern Lake Huron, rain and hail. Not the weather WHITECAP wants to venture out in, so we'll just relax here in South Baymouth until the weather changes again.
6. Day 32 - Oct 21, 99 - Winds still blowing 30+ knots, right on the nose as usual. WHITECAP is content to remain secured in this, but things starting to drag again.
7. Day 33 - Oct 22, 99 - NO CHANGE; WHITECAP still tied up in South Baymouth due to the weather; will remain again today - hope it relents soon. Skipper (Dick) doing a road trip to Little Current today to fill the time.