A stop at Sandy Point

So picture this, the perfect morning to depart Port Hawksberry. The weather was clear and the sun was shinning.  When we departed the marina we thought that we would have the boat home is less than two days of sailing.  So there we were motoring down the Straits of Canso towards the Atlantic ocean.
An hour and a half later we found out that Sandy Point was not so sandy after all.  That's right we ended up hard aground on Sandy Point. Which is at the very end of the Straits of Canso.  So there we are stuck on the point.  But as luck would have it there was a fishing boat behind us which came to our assistance.  So at this point our boat seems to be fine, no water coming into the boat after a quick inspection.  The only problem is that we are stuck. As I was saying there is this nice couple on the fishing boat who offered to pull off of the point.  So they passed us a line and I attached it too our boat.  But when they pulled with their boat it caused our boat to rotated and we think that at this point the rudder came hard up again the point and bent the shaft of the rudder.
The fishing boat did manage to extract us from the point but now our rudder is hard over to port and the wheel will not move.  So the fishing boat towed us about 1/2 mile to Eddy's cove where there is a public wharf.
I went for a quick swim and I was able to see that the keel was marked up.  But the biggest problem was the fact that the rudder was all the way over to the port side and was pushed up again the bottom of the hull.  So we were unable to steer the boat.
Since we were on the outside face of the wharf in an unprotected part we didn't feel it would be safe there until we could get the boat looked at.  So we found a lobster fishermen who we paid to use his boat to tow us back to Port Hawksberry marina. This is were things went from bad to worst.  Because of the damage to the rudder the boat would not take a tow from the front.  So when the boat came along side of us to tow us from the side he came in to fast and punched a hole through the hull on the Starboard side.  The good news is that it is on a small hole, better news it was above the waterline.  Best news is that we made it back to the yacht club where we were able to secure the boat at a mooring.

So there we were stranded in Port Hawksberry.  Thanks to my best friend Piet who offered to come and get us bring us home.  So the boat was left at the mooring in Port Hawksberry for 11 days until we could have it haul to confirm the damage.

After talking with the insurance company and having a marine survey done on the boat it was decide to have the boat moved by land to Baddeck to have the repairs done. This is were she is sitting now on the hard.  The rudder has been removed and shipped to Quebec to have a new one made.  I now know that you can't straighten a bent one.  The whole in the side has already been repaired and the keel is being painted this week.  Hopefully the boat will be back in the water by middle of Sept.

So what I learned from this accident.
1. Check and double check all hazards and tracks;
2. After an accident stop for a moment before any actions are taken.  (things are never as bad as they could have been);
3. Electronic are great but they do fail. (mostly when they are needed the most);
4. Communications with a tow vessel must be very clear and understood.   

So now we wait until she goes back into the water so we can complete our sail home.  Good thing we have many friends with boats that have support us through this mess and that have taken us sailing to help us from not getting to sail this summer.

Booth Bay, Maine

Well since our boat is laid up in Bedeck we decide to take a trip down to Booth Bay, Maine to visit Andy and Judy on their boat and spend a few days visiting with them on their boat.
We drove down to the states from Halifax and it took us 10 hours to get there.  Andy and Dave were waiting for us when we arrived at the dock.  They wisp us away in there dingy's to their boat and we had a few drink and they told us all about their trip down from Nova Scotia to Maine.  So far everything is going as planned. 
We spend two days exploring the area and visiting with Andy, Judy, Zoie, Dave, Libby and Corrine. The their two boats were anchored in the habour outside on of the three marina's that were in the habour.  It was a great spot with lots of things to see within walking distance of the dock.   Andy and Judy are settling into the sailing life very well and enjoying themselves ever much.

What a way to start a day!

Dave and Libby

RaeAnn, Judy and Andy

Booth Bay

At Last at anchor

Booth Bay

Eisenhower Lock Video

A real time video of our transit through Eisenhower lock.

Situated along the St. Lawrence River and the border between the United States and Canada, Massena, New York is the gateway to “America’s Fourth Coast.” Eisenhower and Snell Locks in Massena, the only American-owned shipping locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway, were built in the late 1950's and are a vital link to the uppermost portion of the St. Lawrence River and the five Great Lakes which create the “Fourth Coast.” Each year, thousands of visitors climb to the observation deck at Eisenhower Lock to enjoy the view as ships pass by and to extend friendly greetings to crews from nations around the world.                
 

Just a mile away, the incredible force of the St. Lawrence River spins the giant turbines that generate millions of kilowatts of cheap and clean hydroelectricity each year at the New York Power Authority’s St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project. Built at the same time as the Seaway, the Power Authority facilities also house a large visitors center with displays on the history and development of region and the giant hydro facilities. Massena is also home to major manufacturing plants at Alcoa, Reynolds Metals and General Motors Power Train. Friendly and accommodating merchants offer a large variety of shopping opportunities at the St. Lawrence Centre Mall, an adjoining strip mall, Wal-Mart and BJ’s Wholesale Club, the nearby Harte-Haven shopping plaza and a host of specialty shops throughout Massena’s downtown business district. 

 

http://www.megapixeltravel.com/2012/07/st-lawrence-seaway-eisenhower-lock-massena-ny/

 

Week Two on STV Tuna

Week two started slow.  All the cadets went to CFS last night so they ate breakfast late today.   So we go a slow start this morning.  The weather is foggy and no wind.  But we anchored off a waterfall in the Bay of Fundy for lunch so life is good.

Day two was a great day on the water.  We had a good wind all day.  We even had the spinnaker up for a good down wind run.

Day three was canceled because there so much foggy that all we could do with the cadets is jetty approaches all morning.

Day four was a great day in the water with the cadets.  That night we took part in the Weds night racing at the Digby yacht club.  We had a good start but after 2 hours the winds died so the race was called.

Day 5 was the last day for training for the cadets and Tuna.  We had alright winds and it was sunny so who can complain to much.  

Friday we stored the boat and departed Digby at 9:44 am.  We passed through Digby neck before the tides changed.  Bay of Funny reports 44 feet of tides in some places.   We motored sailed all night and arrived in Shelburne around 1 pm.   We took on fuel 66 liters and also enjoyed a nice hot shower and some good food.   We will leave here tomorrow early in the am for Chester. 

We motored into the wind from 5:30 am till 8:30 pm at which time we arrived in back habour of Chester.   It was a great day to finish off the trip.  The Tuna will be staying in Chester for a week to compeat in Chester race week.