Finish of the Lake Ontario 300

Taken from the second spreader by Will French

We finished the LO300 Monday night at 11:57PM North American EST time. Just 3 min. before Tuesday, so we can claim we came in on Monday. ; ) Thats 2 days 12 hours 57 minutes. Almost a day earlier than last year. We are happy with our results, as a beginner crew, still learning the boat, we found out in this race that the rig is not tuned properly for performance sailing and we ripped our spinnaker. Thanks to Will French and Andrew McAllister for many strategy and tactical lessons which we will focus on more next year. This leaves lots of room for improvement. Hope to be back next year and do  just a little better again.

We tacked in shore, and started sailing the rhumb line to the Niagara mark. We should have done that the whole time on this leg, would have placed much better. Once we rounded the mark, the wind shifted, and it was a spinnaker leg to the finish. We lost lots of time on this leg, at least 3 hours. The wind then died completely, and the last 6 miles took us another 3 hours or more.

We encounter some heavy winds….15 to 22 knots. Our top speed was 10.5 knots, cruising steady at 8 to 9.5 knots on the first leg, Sailing the asym spinnaker at about 110 to 130 degrees to the wind. Then on the 2nd leg, Main Duck to Ford Shoal, we sailed through 6 to 8 foot seas, in about 13 to 17 knots of wind. Our average speed here was 7 to 8 knots, sailing 40 to 60 degrees to the wind. We put 2 miles between us and the boats behind us in this leg. We passed 3 boats and caught up to the fleet ahead of us. After this race, I think our PHRF rating of 87 is pretty fair. I think we have so many areas we can improve on as sailors that in the next many years we will do much better.

For those that followed the Mackinac yacht race this week-end on Lake Huron, you’ll know that the conditions on Lake Ontario were much better. They had very light winds through most of the race. Average boat speeds were around 3 knots.

Everyone jumped off the boat and went home for a good nights sleep. I too slept 6 hours last night, then the family showed up at 8:30am to drop Thomas off at Sailing School. We are now spending the day just cleaning up the boat.

Feel free to e-mail me if you wish, or post comments. ed@sailboatcruise.ca

Day 3, Lake Ontario 300

We went out into the lake last night, might have been a bad move. The inshore guys made time on us. Scotch Rocks passed us. But our forecast called for more wind offshore, plus we wanted to postiion our boat for a close haul instead of a spinakker run, since we ripped it. This morning we are heading well inshore. The afternoon forecast calls for winds inshore, so we will ride the in shore to the Niagara mark.

We are h0peing to pull up to Folichon, and borrow a spinnaker for the Niagara to PCYC leg. It will be way too small for our boat, but better than nothing. We will run will 3 sails flying, Main, Jib and Spin if we can borrow it.

Hello to all the folks back home, Ed, Skipper, Owner and Galley Chef, I don’t trust anyone making a mess in the kitchen, Will and Andrew competing for strategy and tactics, Martin, Cez and Kate as trimmers. The way the shifts go, is 3 on, and 3 off, We have separate sleeping accomodations for all 3 that are off at a time.

Will is going up the mast to have a look for wind, and  losen up a tell tale.

After Noon Day 2, Lake Ontario 300

We are holding are own in our fleet. We are happy with the results. Much better than last year. We did not expect to come near the top 5 of this division. Last year we only beat one boat in our division, if we do better than that, and arrive before Tuesday at 7PM, I am will be very happy with that. Not sure we will be able to without our spinnaker. We are now rounding the land that jets out around Rochester. The wind will completely die by this evening, and think we will try to stay close to shore, and try to play the thermals. The wind is 15 knots from the North West.

Kate helped helm the boat for a few hours, and is a great crew member. Kate says hi to her mom & dad in Ottawa, and Ryan too! Martin did not have to use the foul weather gear his wife bought him yet. It truly is a great adventure.

Saturday 3 Hours into the Lake Ontario 300 Race

We found our way, and are catching the fleet. My guess is we are about mid fleet. but still behind our division. We are cruising at 8 to 9 knots, and hit a top sailing speed of 10.5 knots. The FIS tracking has not send a signal for over 2 hours, and is showing we have not rounded the first mark. However we are well off the Toronto Beaches, almost to the scarborough bluffs.

Some of the crew is having a cat nap on the rail, had our first drinks and really enjoying this perfect sailing weather. God has been good to us with this wind. 15 to 23 knots, right on a broad reach to a beam reach, which is what this boat loves, and we are sailing directly the rhum line to Main Duck Island. The GPS is saying we will arrive in 12 hours at this speed. But I know that won’t happen the wind will die down and shift tonight. But lets enjoy it while we can

Lake Ontario 300 Start

We hare off, close to 170 boats. We were in the 9th start, at 11:05am. We were over the line 5 mins. early, mis-read the start, and gybed back around. Had a little trouble raising the spinnaker. Then took us a little to get the boat going. We are coming up the back of the fleet. We are a few minutes from the Toronto Island Gabraltor mark. We are doing about 7.5 to 8 knots now and slowly catching up to the fleet. Once we round the marks we are pulling out a few drinks, and listening to Michael Jackson’s greatest hits. Thomas’ favorite CD, wishing all the best to the folks back home, Roxane, Thomas & Alexander, and the crew sends their wishes to their friends and family.

Black Diamond at Charleston Race Week 2009

  The new Charleston Bridge is becoming an icon and symbol of the city. – (c) Copyright 2009

Ed posing in the Regatta Village, Charleston Harbor Marina & Resort.

Charleston Race Week Black Diamond Crew, Ivan, Chris, Ed, Dubie, Derek and Craig. - (c) Copyright 2009

The Black Diamond Team has arrived in Charleston. Ed Radonic, Craig Russell, Derek Pressmen all of PCYC, along with Ivan Vulicevic of Bronte and Charleston Native, Chris Bonner and Dubie & Will due to arrive from North Carolina and Atlanta.

Competitors leaving early at about 7AM for the race course offshore in Charleston - (c) Copyright 2009

Charleston Light House - (c) Copyright 2009

Other PCYC competitors at Charleston include Sandy & Rob Butler (Formerly a Thayer) racing their Melges 24, Eager Beaver. We even have a PCYC and Canadian Celebrity in our midst, Mike Wolfs a Canadian Olympic Silver Medallist in our sport of Sailing. Mike is sailing a brand new Melges 20, along with Phil Sustronk and Tom Cumming. Mike will be promoting the Melges 20 in Canada this year.

Shot from the bow, flying an Asym spinnaker. - (c) Copyright 2009

Flying the Solid Black Spinnaker. - (c) Copyright 2009

The Black Diamond crew is here to have fun! We will do our best to be competitive among the accomplished crews. We are a novice and amateur crew, with a heavy ladened boat from cruising for the past few months in the Bahamas and the Floridian coast. But that won’t stop us form giving the other boats a run for their money, and having the times of our lives.

Very Competitive racing at Charleston. - (c) Copyright 2009

Ed helming from the leeward side. - (c) Copyright 2009

The Crew relaxing after hours. - (c) Copyright 2009

Black Diamond has had a tremendously busy cruising calendar. Immediately after the Regatta, we are heading up the coast, offshore non-stop, next port of call, New York City! On Route to Toronto for a busy Summer cruising and racing circuit in our home town. 

Another view of the crew shirts. - (c) Copyright 2009

SAILORS and SPECTATORS DESCEND ON CHARLESTON
Waterfront abuzz with activity as racers get ready for Charleston Race Week

CHARLESTON, SC (April 15, 2008) – The activity has begun in earnest at all of Charleston’s marinas, boatyards, and yacht clubs as 174 racing sailboats and more than 1,000 sailors from as far away as Norway and Canada prepare for Charleston’s biggest regatta of the year, which starts Friday.  Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. summed up the City’s feelings well:  ”We’ve been so pleased to see Charleston Race Week develop over the past decade into one of the most important sailing events in the entire Southeast” said the Mayor.  “Charleston Harbor is the city’s life blood, and we’re delighted to share this great waterway and the unequalled beauty and warm hospitality of our unique city with so many accomplished sailors from around the globe.”

The cool, sunny weather has been a boon for the racers, who typically take a day in parking lots or boatyards to reassemble their racing boats after the long trip to Charleston.  “We heard that it could be terribly hot here, but thankfully that’s not been the case as we rig the boat,” was the buz from the sailors in Charleston.

Above was a clipping from the Charleston Race Week Web site. 

Racing among many container ships. - (c) Copyright 2009

Our Second day we saw the calmest conditions, so we took a break for a beer (not illegal to drink underway in Charleston, SC) - (c) Copyright 2009

We are actually ahead of all these boats. - (c) Copyright 2009

Black Diamond Passing a boat with Ivan in the pit manning the main sail. - (c) Copyright 2009

Monday Night Yacht Races at PCYC

 

Black Diamond Beating to the race mark. Photo by Bob Thayer

PCYC is one of Lake Ontario’s premier yacht racing clubs. Monday night races are for those relatively new to the sport, Wednesday is for the more seasoned, and Thursday night for the hardcore J24 racers. It’s one of the few clubs on the lake that races 3 times per week. This does not include the many other race events held at PCYC on the weekends.

PCYC boasts many famous sailors such as Derek Hatfield of Spirit of Canada who is currently racing around the world single handed in the Vendee Globe. Rossi Milev of Clean Air, North American J24 Champion for 2008, Olympic Silver Medalist Mike Wolfs and Paul & Sheryl Shard of Distant Shores.

 

Roxane and Ed Radonic on the awards night.

 

Black Diamond regularly participates in the Port Credit Yacht Club’s Monday night yacht races. This year Black Diamond was entered in the Monday night racer/cruiser series, division A & B. We were fortunate enough to take home first place in both A & B series. We also received 3rd place for the early spring ICE Breaker Regatta. I would like to thank our regular crew Cezary Makowski, Andrew McAllister, Kate Thomas and Stephen Bye.

Below are a few more photos of Black Diamond racing on Monday night.

 

After Mir has his sights on Black Diamond. Photo by Bob Thayer.

 

Ghosting along to the mark in a low wind night. Photo Bob Thayer.

Another beautiful race night at PCYC. Photo by Bob Thayer.

This is what excessive heel looks like, 45 degrees! Photo by Bob Thayer.

Day 1 – PCYC, Toronto to the Oswego Canal

August 21st, 2008 – Port Credit Yacht Club to Oswego across Lake Ontario.

Dear Friends and Family,

Our friends and family have expressed an interest in our trip and asked that we keep some sort of a blog to keep in touch. We thought that we would send periodical e-mails about our whereabouts, and the whereabouts of Black Diamond, because the two won’t always be the same.

I spent the last week and a half putting the final details on Black Diamond for the trip, while Roxane on the other hand, was trying to figure out what to pack. Normally we would pack for a week or so, to a certain location. With this trip we had to think ahead and stock the boat for our future trip to Bahamas as well.

 

Taking care of a few things up the mast!

 

Black Diamond was at the Angus dealership’s port during this time, I must say they have treated her well, and have taken care of all the details. She had the last few warranty items and installs taken care of, plus an oil change and all systems checked. We can not sail all the way to New York City due the many low bridges, therefore, we had Angus take the mast down with a crane. It was then mounted on a cradle that was designed and built by Angus.  Once we clear the last low bridge, around Catskill New York on the Hudson river, we are scheduled to meet Uncle Paul Thornton. He will help us raise the mast, and ensure all the electronics are re-connected properly. Uncle Paul just happens to be in Catskill working on his own boat, which is enroute from the Bahamas to Lake Ontario. His final destination is Port Credit Yacht Club, where he is now a new member.

Lord willing our trip will go something like this….

August 20th Port Credit Yacht Club to New York City by Sept 1st.
October 27th to November 8th (Ed and crew) New York to Florida (off-shore)
December 1st to January 15th Cruising the Bahamas Islands with the family.
March Break working our way home north along the US east coast.
April to NYC
May to Lake Ontario and home.

Yesterday, we started our first leg of the trip from the Port Credit Yacht Club at 10PM in the evening. After a nice dinner and a swim in the pool with the kids, we packed the final items in the boat. The boat is loaded down, the water tanks are full 400 liters, the fuel is topped up 130 liters, and the head is pumped out! The storage room is loaded with Sails, a new Dinghy and Electric Motor, Scuba Diving gear, Tools and Safety gear. The Bilge is loaded with 100 bottles of water and drinks, and all the other storage compartments are loaded with clothes and linens. Amazingly, the boat does not feel crowded at all, there is a spot for everything! Not the same as a week-end on the MacGregor, a lil’ R&R.

Ready to set off across Lake Ontario.

 

Last night the lake was calm. 4-5 knots of wind on the nose, but no worries since we are motoring. We averaged 6 knots at 2100 RPM. The trip to the Oswego Canal will take a total of 22 hours non-stop. By 9 AM this morning we covered 1/2 the distance with out complications. We only used an 1/8 of a tank of fuel. We encountered no containerships or traffic until about 7AM, at which time Roxane spotted three. The auto pilot did an amazing job, while we watched David Letterman in the salon, mind you, we did poked our heads out to have a look around every 10 minutes. Roxane went to bed at about 1AM, while I stood watch in the cockpit until 5AM. Then we switched positions, while I got some shut eye until about 8:30AM.

Enjoying Lunch in the middle of the lake.

 

The remainder of the day we did not see a single boat until we were about 1 hour from Oswego. There we encountered 40 recreational fishing boats, dodging trolling boats into the harbour. At exactly 8PM and 22 hours later, we radioed the Oswego Yacht Club, and we were guided to the visitors dock. We met the friendliest husband and wife, they invited us into the clubhouse to sign in, very informal. With our PCYC membership we are allowed free docking at the Oswego Yacht Club for the night. After some refreshments, they offered to drive us to the Customs Check-in. We never would have found it otherwise. After the video phone check-in with customs, we were dropped off at the local ice cream shop, then walked along the main street along the river back to the club. Oswego is a really cute and happening town.

 

The rig sailing away from the sunset.

22 hours, 136 knotical miles which is about 250 kms, the boat is getting about the same gas economy as my car. Actually it would have cost us more to drive around the lake, and not as much fun.