SHIP'S LOG
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Date:

October 31, 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

Boston, MA

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

The voyage is complete. For the entire log or for sections of it email dicklathrop@prodigy.net

Or phone me at (617)536-1343

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Date:

October 9, 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

York Harbor to Boston

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

Southwest

Speed:

6 knots

WindSpeed:

0-20

WindDirection:

West

Weather:

Beautiful!

Update

The day dawned calm and clear with Easy Wind on her final passage of a 5-month voyage that had covered over 2000 nautical miles.

The Isles of Shoals peaked over the horizon at us, so did the coast of New Hampshire. We were headed for Cape Ann. We planned to make the Annisquam River passage inside the cape. While we didn’t really need the protection today, I wanted to learn the approach to this passage in case I should need it in the future.

The sea was flat and beautiful that morning. There were plenty of birds—some flying south in formation—and a seal or two to check us out. There were few boats on the sea at that hour.

We had raised the mainsail, but it wasn’t doing much. The engine was getting us home.

The Annisquam River passage went well, but we had to lower our main for the two drawbridges. After an 8-minute wait at the last bridge, it opened letting us out into the bay south of Cape Ann.

There a beautiful sight greeted us—the Boston skyline. John Hancock, John F. Kennedy, Prudential, all standing tall awaiting our arrival. We raised all sail and beat for Boston.

The breeze had freshened and we were close hauled. We had to tack a couple of times and once, when the wind got light, we motored for a while; but when we passed Deer Island at 1600 hours we knew we’d be home before dark.

Our destination was Piers Park Sailing Center in East Boston. We reached up the main channel and arrived at their dock just as they were closing up. Mark London greeted us and helped us get squared away.

We found a more permanent berth at Boston Boat Works and secured Easy Wind. Then we jumped on the Blue Line and rode the tunnel into Bean Town. We were home!

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Date:

October 8, 1999 Happy Birthday, Jeffrey

Time:

 

Latitude:

Portland to York Harbor

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

Southwest

Speed:

7 knots

WindSpeed:

30 knots and gusting

WindDirection:

Northwest

Weather:

clear,cool, windy

Update

The breeze had not diminished much when Tony Lathrop and I left Portland this morning. But we were fortunate to have it from the right direction: northwest.

With double reefed mainsail and half-rolled-up jib we made our way along the coast from point to point. The land gave us some shelter when it was close at hand, but between peninsulas the land receded miles to the right while we went straight. These miles of fetch affected the wind speed—the further offshore we were, the stronger it blew.

We did get to see the Queen Elizabeth in Portland Harbor—even got some pictures of her. I could send these by email to anyone interested—not sure they’ll print in the log.

One great benefit of the strong breeze was the kind of time we were making. A tentative waypoint had been Isle of Shoals, but there is no shelter from the northwest at that anchorage, so we hoped to reach York Harbor instead. It was getting dark early now, so we knew it would be a stretch. But I had sailed into York Harbor many times before and I was not too concerned about getting there in the dark.

As the day waned the breeze also diminished. At Nubble Light we still had about 45 minutes till sunset. We had unrolled the full jib and now we started the engine.

It was getting dark fast now and we were at the harbor entrance to York. Tony, on the bow with the flashlight picked our reflectors from the channel markers. I found the flashing yellow light at Stage Neck and we made our way into the shelter of York Harbor. There we found a vacant mooring that would hold us till dawn.

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Date:

October 7, 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

Monhegan Island to Portland

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

Southwest by West

Speed:

6 knots

WindSpeed:

0-35

WindDirection:

Southwest

Weather:

sunny and blustery

Update

Left Monhegan early headed for Portland. At about noon the breeze began gusting over 30 knots so I sought refuge behind one of the many islands that inhabit Casco Bay. In a sheltered spot I picked up a vacant mooring while I lowered and furled my mainsail and had lunch.

While the islands offered shelter if you could get behind one of them, between the islands the wind was still fierce—stronger than it was out at sea—because the islands tend to funnel the wind through these passages. I motored to Portland with the wind on the nose and tied up at DiMillo’s. Here they have a nice Marina and a floating restaurant as well. I caught the bus for Rockland to fetch back the car.

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Date:

October 6, 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

Rockland to Monhegan

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

Southwest

Speed:

6 knots

WindSpeed:

20-25 knots

WindDirection:

West

Weather:

cool and clear

Update

On this raw and blustery day I left Rockland headed for Portland. I didn’t expect to reach my destination before dark, but thought I’d see what conditions were like along the coast and choose a harbor when the day began to draw to a close.

Reaching with jib alone, I threaded my way along the coast, past Tenants Harbor and Mosquito Island. I was now in waters I had sailed in earlier years and the characteristics of the coast began to look familiar.

Monhegan Island offered itself to my horizon and I took the offer. Reaching Monhegan about 3 in the afternoon, I took an empty mooring while the ferry was running, then tied up to the town dock for the night. The Harbor Master asked me to stay with the boat in case an emergency on the island required a Coast Guard vessel to land where I was parked. No problem.

Even midweek and out of season, there seemed to be lots of visitors staying on Monhegan. I didn’t really get much of a chance to explore the island because I had to stay close to the boat. Maybe we can have more involvement with Monhegan Islanders on next year’s voyage.

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Date:

September 28

Time:

morning

Latitude:

Bucks Harbor to Rockland

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

light

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

clear

Update

Left Bucks Harbor at about 0800 hours headed for Rockland. My path led me through a collection of small islands. I had never sailed these waters before, but my Maptech Chart Book and GPS got me through.

Found Rockland breakwater at around 1300 hours and was soon at Journeys End Marina.

Again I filled the gas tank and Stacey found me a berth for a couple of days.

Rockland is the home of many sea-related programs and businesses. Spoke with The Island Institute about my project. Also met with Atlantic Challenge director Cate Cronin. I hope to visit Matinicus Island next year.

National Car Rental set up a car for me in Portland--a couple of hours on the bus and I had wheels--the very best wheels in car rental land.

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Date:

September 27, 1999

Time:

afternoon

Latitude:

Center Harbor to Bucks Harbor

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

300 magnetic

Speed:

7 knots

WindSpeed:

15 to 20

WindDirection:

South

Weather:

nights are cold now

Update

Frank at Brooklin Boatyard had my steering cable replaced by 1300 hours. I had enjoyed a warm visit in the town of Brooklin and the fine hospitality of Charles McLean.

The cable had loosened and popped off a pulley. Then it had frayed and finally broken. Remedy: check it periodically for tension.

Eggemoggin Reach offers excellent sailing, that day it was, in fact reaching, in a northwesterly direction until it joins Penobscot Bay. That afternoon I shared the reach with a windjammer schooner. We both holed up for the night in Bucks Harbor. I tied up to the Yacht Club dock. It’s now out of season and there is little activity at the club. Their fleet of dinghies is on the front lawn, covered with tarps.

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Date:

September 26 (Sunday)

Time:

dawn to 1300 hours

Latitude:

Bass Harbor to Center Harbor

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

light

WindDirection:

South

Weather:

excellent

Update

Ghosted out of Bass Harbor with the tide at first light, still headed for Brooklin. Lobstermen were already out in the bays hauling pots. The air was still but at about 1000 hours it piped up from the South.

I was near Egg Rock headed for the southeast end of Eggemoggin Reach when I noticed a lobster pot buoy coming a little too close. I steered abruptly to port, kicking the stern and propeller away from the buoy. Easy Wind turned, but when the wheel returned to center the boat did not respond. I had lost my steering.

Good boat designs allow for this type of failure. Ericson is such a design. On the floor of the cockpit lives a brass fitting which receives the aft end of a spare tiller—the tiller was down below, stored in the quarter berth. I killed the engine and furled the sails while installing the tiller. It was better to drift than to power into another stray lobster pot.

Ten minutes later I had the tiller bolted in place and I was under way again. Easy Wind’s helm responded to the tiller—although it was much harder than steering with the wheel.

I motored straight to Center Harbor and tied up at Brooklin Boat Yard’s dock. The yard was not open on Sunday, but a guy who had stopped by the shop told me of a vacant mooring. They also loaned me the working skiff for a tender. Once I had secured the boat I phoned Charles McLean. He picked me up at the boatyard and gave me a tour of the area. It included a landing at the end of Brooklin’s peninsula where fishing boats have been landing for 300 years.

Charles is very knowledgeable about the history of Maine and the origins of nautical charts. His books on the Maine islands hold a wealth of information about these outposts and the people who inhabit them. We made some plans to visit these islands together on next year’s voyage.

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Date:

September 25

Time:

afternoon

Latitude:

Bar Harbor to Bass Harbor

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

Southwest

Speed:

6 knots

WindSpeed:

15 knots

WindDirection:

South

Weather:

Partly cloudy, occasional showers

Update

9/25 Today, Saturday, I left College of the Atlantic for the passage to Brooklin, Maine, where I expect to meet Charles McLean, co-author of several volumes about the Maine islands.

I stopped at downtown Bar Harbor’s marina and public wharf to pick up a full tank of fuel and a narrative guide to the Maine coast ports. It was after noon when I set out for Brooklin. Isolated thunderstorms were mentioned in the weather forecast.

The passage was easy enough in clear and breezy weather. The aids to navigation were abundant. Maine’s coast is dotted with islands and punctuated with peninsulas. There are many shortcuts one can find with good charts and good visibility. I had both.

Late in the afternoon the sky darkened and I could hear thunder and see lightning off in the distance. I was about to cross a large open bay, but, in light of the hour and the weather, I set a course for the nearest anchorage—Bass Harbor. There I found a mooring and let the storm pass by. It turned out to be only a drenching rain, but I was glad to be out of it.

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Date:

Sept. 22 - 24, 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

 

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

growing colder

Update

These days were spent at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor. I learned about their sailing classes and their natural history museum. I met with student interns at Allied Whale—a whale research organization which is housed on the campus. I spoke with the director of summer programs.

In addition, I sailed with the sailing class students and an Allied Whale intern. I learned what sea education has meant to them. And I spoke in a public assembly about Virtual Voyages, Inc. and plans for the year 2000.

Andrew Peterson runs Indigo; COA’s research vessel. He also manages the waterfront. I helped Andrew recover a piece of floating dock from a nearby beach. Andrew is a skillful captain, sailor and teacher. Andrew knows Maine. He would be an excellent candidate for the role of “pilot” as shown in the Virtual Voyages brochure.

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Date:

September 20, 21, 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

 

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

270 magnetic

Speed:

5-8.5 knots

WindSpeed:

15-20knots

WindDirection:

Southeast

Weather:

Clear

Update

Nutmeg had radar and Drew, her skipper and Jay, her crew, had made the passage between Maine and Nova Scotia several times before so we were happy to follow them.

A dense fog had settled in Shelbourne Harbor and there was no wind at 0730 when we headed out. We had our GPS and we could follow Nutmeg, so we didn’t mind setting out in these conditions. After clearing the harbor the fog lifted and a southeasterly breeze sprang up—a perfect direction for us. There were huge swells, thanks in part to Floyd, but due, to some extent to the next tropical storm which was building off Bermuda.

An early waypoint was Brazil Rock off the southeastern corner of Nova Scotia. We had to reach it by 1000hours to be on schedule. We were fine at Brazil Rock and at each other waypoint.

Drew had set a mizzen staysail (a jib rigged on his mizzen—the mast that made Nutmeg a yawl) and we talked to him on the radio about setting spinnakers. Ours had not been out of the bag since our passage around Gaspe. Conditions were great for flying spinnakers, however and we decided to go for it.

When we set the spinnaker it twisted badly. It took a while to sort it out, and by the time we had it up and drawing, Nutmeg was far ahead of us. We ran the engine to catch up, but this took over an hour because Nutmeg was going so fast under sail alone. Shortly after catching Drew we killed the engine and just enjoyed the sun, the breeze and the swells. But in one particularly strong gust, our spinnaker halyard broke at the top of the mast and our billowy red, orange and yellow sail settled itself gently on the surface of the sea.

We hauled it aboard and unfurled the jib watching Nutmeg sail off into the sunset.

Be radio with Drew we made the decision to head for Bar Harbor. He was headed for Rockland. We would remain in radio contact in case of emergency.

It was a starlit night, but the swells were huge. Jeffrey found our position with the GPS and marked it on the chart. He then drew a line between that point and Bar Harbor, Maine. Every hour or so we would find our position again and mark it on the chart. In this way we could be sure we were more or less on course.

We set a buoy off of the entrance to Bar Harbor as a waypoint. The GPS provided us a picture of a road with that buoy at the end of it. As long as we steered down the road we would eventually get to the buoy. We knew it would be sometime the next morning.

We set up a watch schedule. Jeffrey would go below and try to sleep between 2100 hours and 2400 hours (9pm to midnight). I would do the same between 2400 hours and 0300 hours. Then it would be Jeff’s turn again between 0300 hours and 0600 hours.

It was difficult to sleep because of the swells. We kept falling out of bed.

That night we could see only stars and the sea around us. Occasionally the lights of another boat would appear in the distance. Near dawn we saw the regular flashes of a white light on the northwestern horizon. Timing them we discovered that it was the lighthouse at Petit Manan Island. Eventually the lights of Maine came over the horizon. We got to our waypoint and into Bar Harbor. We had made the passage in 26 hours—4 hours less than our estimate.

The College of the Atlantic let us use one of their moorings and a rowboat to get back and forth to their dock. After breakfast we both slept for a good three hours. This time we really slept well.

QUESTIONS:

THE DISTANCE TRAVELLED WAS ABOUT 180 NAUTICAL MILES. WHAT WAS THE SPEED USED IN OUR ESTIMATE OF 30 HOURS? WHAT WAS OUR AVERAGE SPEED FOR THE 26-HOUR PASSAGE?

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Date:

September 17, 18, & 19, 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

43d 40.90m

Longitude:

65d 20.01m

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

Waited out Floyd Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Moved the boat back to the town landing on Sunday and planned the crossing to Maine.

Nutmeg, a beautiful wooden yawl owned by Drew from Rockland would accompany us. We estimated it would take 30 hours under way and I wanted to be out at sea in the dark and near the coast in the daylight.

One major factor in the passage from Nova Scotia to Maine is current—a very strong current-- in the Bay of Fundy and around Cape Sable. We had a book which showed the direction and strength of the current each hour, but it was based on high and low tide in St. John, New Brunswick. We had to make several calculations to figure out just when we should leave Shelbourne. To make the passage against the current would take forever. A strong favorable current during the time we would be rounding Cape Sable (the southwestern end of Nova Scotia) is what we needed.

We had dinner with Drew and Jay and went over our charts, tables and calculations. We agreed to leave Shelbourne Harbor at 0730 next morning for our passage to Maine.

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Date:

September 16

Time:

 

Latitude:

43d 40.90m North

Longitude:

65d 70.01m West

Bearing:

270 magnetic

Speed:

6 knots

WindSpeed:

light

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

dense fog

Update

This passage offered dense, dense fog and extremely light air. The fog only lifted when we were about a mile into Shelbourne Harbor.

We knew Floyd (Hurricane Floyd, that is) was headed our way so we stopped at the town dock to inquire about a safe place to hole up. A helpful sailor told us to tie up in the shelter of the fishing wharf—which was where he happened to be heading. We took his advice.

When we reached the wharf we had a little Floyd-related adventure. In an effort to spread the boats out evenly along the stem of the T-shaped wharf, our helpful local sailor had ventured too close to shore and was hard aground. Two aluminum rowboats with outboards were buzzing around him trying to pull him off. There was plenty of shouting, but no progress. The tide was ebbing and the fateful hour when Floyd would strike was growing steadily closer.

The skipper of the grounded boat hailed us and held up the end of his main halyard, which he had taken off the peak of his furled main sail. We approached him carefully and accepted the halyard. The idea was to tip his boat to one side. This would lift his keel off the bottom and he could back into deeper water. Twice we pulled to no avail, but we were pulling backwards. We had just nosed in to pick up the halyard.

We carefully turned Easy Wind around. Extending the halyard with a piece of line we pulled—full speed ahead. The grounded sailboat’s mast leaned toward the water. The skipper backed hard with his engine. In a few moments she was floating free in deep water.

We rafted both boats to others tied to the stem of the T-shaped wharf and ran our anchor line out to a mid-point of the section of the top of the T that sheltered us from the South. Three 40-foot fishing boats were rafted inside of us. We battened down the hatches.

Floyd struck with gale force winds that night, first from the East (where our anchor line held us off) then clocking to Southeast, South, Southwest, and West through the early hours and into the next day. By the time the wind had clocked around to North, Floyd wasn’t even a gale anymore. Just a blowy nuisance.

Another sailboat, on a mooring in Shelbourne Harbor, parted her mooring and motored to the fishing wharf for refuge. All were safe, but we had had some luck on our side. (good thing none of the boats had 13-lettered names)

CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN WHY FLOYD’S WIND CHANGED DIRECTION?

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Date:

September 15, 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

 

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

9/15 This morning in Lunenburg we witnessed the launching of a Bluenose Schooner (5 feet long)—a popular demonstration at the museum. We learned of the many superstitions surrounding such an event. For instance, a fishing boat never has a 13-letter name.

VOYAGERS, PLEASE SURVEY FISHING BOAT NAMES IN YOUR HOMEPORTS TO SEE IF THIS SUPERSTITION IS STILL IN EFFECT. MAIL ME ANY BOAT NAMES YOU FIND WITH TEN, ELEVEN, TWELVE, THIRTEEN, FOURTEEN, FIFTEEN, OR SIXTEEN LETTERS. WE WILL POST THE RESULTS ON OURWEB PAGE.

Before leaving town we purchased $300 worth of safety harnesses and jack lines in preparation for the passage to Maine. These allow us always be tethered to the boat while on deck. An added precaution when sailing at night or in the open ocean. We then set sail for Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, which is near Liverpool.

Jeffrey has connected our hand-held GPS to our central battery and mounted it on the wall with the other instruments—a great improvement over running it on AA cell batteries and keeping it in my pocket. Thanks, Jeff.

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Date:

Sept. 14, 1999

Time:

1500hours

Latitude:

44d 22.01m North

Longitude:

64d 17.00m West

Bearing:

265 magnetec

Speed:

5-8 knots

WindSpeed:

15 knots

WindDirection:

South

Weather:

sunny

Update

Jeffrey Lathrop arrived yesterday from York City to help with the passage to Maine. We left at first light to sail to Lunenburg. Dawn broke as we cleared Halifax Harbor.

The breeze freshened and soon we were able to kill the engine and reach. The current was fair. We reached Lunenburg in record time. Jim Tupper, director of the Fisheries Museum give us a berth next to the classic fishing schooner Bluenose which now sails tours from his museum.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE STORY OF THE ORIGINAL BLUENOSE TO PLACE ON OUR WEB PAGE. COULD SOMEONEWRITE ONE FOR US?

At dusk the crew of the Bluenose are still aloft checking the rigging. It sure looks like fun.

HOW DO YOU GET A BERTH AS CREW ON THIS SCHOONER?

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Date:

September 9-13

Time:

 

Latitude:

see "Halifax Challenge"

Longitude:

see "Halifax Challenge"

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

Spent 5 days in Halifax waiting for crew. While there I visited the Museum of the Atlantic and other impressive exhibits in downtown Halifax. I met with a number of energetic and creative people who thought of many ways Virtual Voyages, Inc. and Halifax could work together to produce educational adventure opportunities in future voyages.

I also met with Mr. Figg’s French classes at Fairview Junior High (Brian Bright, Principal) and told them about my project. I left them with a challenge. Here it is. Please email me your answer (dicklathrop@prodigy.net)

BELOW IS A LIST OF POINTS TAKEN FROM EASY WIND’S LOG. LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE IDENTIFY THEM.

KEEPING IN MIND THAT EASY WIND’S VOYAGE FROM BOSTON TO HALIFAX TOOK A CLOCKWISE COURSE AROUND NEW ENGLAND, NEW YORK CITY AND PART OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC, PUT THESE POINTS IN ORDER WITH BOSTON #1 AND HALIFAX #12. (THE OTHER POINTS, AS GIVEN, ARE NOT IN THE RIGHT ORDER)

FOR EXTRA CREDIT AND A YEARS FREE ACCESS TO OUR WEB PAGE, BE THE FIRST TO CORRECTLY IDENTIFY EACH POINT FROM 2 TO 11.

GOOD LUCK, VOYAGERS.

Point City Latitude Longitude

1 Boston 42d 21.36m N 71d 04.43m W

46d 48.8m 71d 13.75m

41d 38.85m 73d 45.58m

41d 18.11m 72d 33.35m

48d 28.00m 64d 18.00m

46d 55.00m 64d 18.00m

48d 30.5m 68d 31.10m

40d 42.0m 74d 01.00m

44d 53.0m 73d 23.00m

44d 12.00m 73d 22.00m

43d 31.00m 73d 23.5m

12 Halifax 44d 38.75m 63d 37.13m

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Date:

September 8, 1998

Time:

all day

Latitude:

44d 37.26m North

Longitude:

63d 43.90m West

Bearing:

from West to South to Northwest

Speed:

2 to 8 knots

WindSpeed:

0-25 knots

WindDirection:

South

Weather:

hazy, sunny, foggy, clear (in that order)

Update

Departed under sail at first light hoping to make it all the way to Halifax without using the engine. The world in Owl’s Head harbor was very still and I didn’t want to wake anyone up—so Easy Wind slid silently away.

My chosen course to Halifax skirted the shoreline, but plenty of buoys were in place to guide me around the hazardous rocks and shoals.

I had been out about an hour when my plans changed. A dense fog set in again. I cranked up the engine and steered due south away from the coast. I then began to follow the outer buoys westward until I reached the closest approach to Halifax.

When I reached the harbor entrance the fog lifted and the wind built to about 18 knots allowing me to enjoy a breezy reach up Halifax Harbor with excellent visibility.

A magnificent schooner sailed out and tacked about half-a-mile ahead of me. She then bore off and led me back toward Halifax. Could I catch up to her? I unrolled my full jib and trimmed both sails. When you are racing you sail your very best. The schooner was a longer boat than Easy Wind and she was under full sail, but I was gaining steadily. When I caught her I saw that she was a tour boat out of Halifax with many passengers on board. They were enjoying the scenery while I was imagining myself headed for the finish line in the final race of the America’ Cup. They all waved as I rolled by.

I found the docks of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron and gassed up the boat. They had recently hosted to fleet of the Marblehead to Halifax race, which had finished a real race in Halifax Harbor. To help Virtual Voyages, Inc., they found me a free mooring for 5 days’ layover. THANK YOU RNSYS!

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Date:

September 7... continued.....

Time:

 

Latitude:

 

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

. Once past the headland the fog lifted. I found a fishing wharf. On shore a kid on a bike came by and helped me find a phone to make a call.

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Date:

September 7

Time:

1400 hours

Latitude:

44d 43.25m North

Longitude:

62d 48.00m West

Bearing:

 

Speed:

steerage way

WindSpeed:

0-8knots

WindDirection:

west

Weather:

dense fog

Update

At about 1400 hours the fog closed in leaving me with a radius of visibility of about two boat-lengths. I decided to find a port of refuge. On the chart, Owl’s Head looked promising—a straight path between waypoints I could find with Mr. GPS. Found the harbor entrance buoy all right, the next way point was on land—a huge rock marking the actual headland called “Owl’s Head”. Suddenly the shoreline loomed up close ahead. I was on course, but startled when the rocks appeared through the fog. Once past the headland the fog lifted

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Date:

September 7

Time:

 

Latitude:

 

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

light

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

sunny early

Update

Left Little Liscomb at first light headed for Halifax. I followed the same path I had taken yesterday—five miles offshore. Passed through a region where seals were abundant—scores of them—gazing at Easy Wind from every point on the compass. Seals really look at you as if to ask: “what are you doing out here?”

I was motoring for lack of wind, and I rigged a line and a bungee on the wheel so I could steer from the companionway. This made single-handed navigation easier. My chart could be spread out below in the cabin while I looked out every couple of minutes to make sure we were still on course (and tip my hat to the nearest seal).

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Date:

September 6

Time:

 

Latitude:

44d 59.15m North

Longitude:

061d 57.95m West

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

20 to 30 knots

WindDirection:

west/southwest

Weather:

sunny

Update

Cast off from Liscombe Lodge’s dock about noon hoping to reach Sheet Harbor. The breeze was gusting from the southwest as I made my way down river on a partially unrolled jib. Sailed out to the MoA buoy, which is about 5 miles off shore, clear of the reefs that lurk beneath the surface of coastal waters. I then headed West.

With over 20 knots of wind, almost directly “on the nose” my speed dropped to 3 knots. I asked G.P.S. “how long will it take me to get to Sheet Harbor?”

GPS answered: “5 hours”

This would bring me into an unknown harbor after dark and alone. (GPS refuses to steer or handle sails.)

Reluctantly, I sailed back the 5 miles to the shelter of Little Liscomb Harbor’s public wharf where I tied up the boat for the night.

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Date:

next day

Time:

 

Latitude:

 

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

Cast off from Liscombe Lodge’s dock about noon hoping to reach Sheet Harbor. The breeze was gusting from the southwest as I made my way down river on a partially unrolled jib. Sailed out to the MoA buoy, which is about 5 miles off shore, clear of the reefs that lurk beneath the surface of coastal waters. I then headed West.

With over 20 knots of wind, almost directly “on the nose” my speed dropped to 3 knots. I asked G.P.S. “how long will it take me to get to Sheet Harbor?”

GPS answered: “5 hours”

This would bring me into an unknown harbor after dark and alone. (GPS refuses to steer or handle sails.)

Reluctantly, I sailed back the 5 miles to the shelter of Little Liscomb Harbor’s public wharf where I tied up the boat for the night.

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Date:

Sunday, September 5, 1999

Time:

all day

Latitude:

45degrees 00 minutes

Longitude:

62degrees 06.6minutes

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

15 knots

WindDirection:

Northwest

Weather:

sunny with breeze

Update

I made the long passage from Canso to Liscomb Mills single-handed with main and jib. When I got to the long river passage up to Liscomb Mills I furled the jib. Reached Liscombe Lodge at dusk and tied up to their float for the night.

I have now crossed the 45th parallel (45 degrees North Latitude) headed south. This line also marks the boundary between Vermont and Canada. The last time I crossed it was on Lake Champlain in July, headed north.

THANK YOU CHESTER RUDOLPH of Liscombe Lodge for free docking and assistance to Virtual Voyages, Inc. You run a great business there and I hope to see you next year

---

Date:

September 4, 1999

Time:

all day

Latitude:

45degrees 20.33minutes

Longitude:

60degrees 59.20minutes

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

20+knots

WindDirection:

West

Weather:

clear, then foggy

Update

After buying more charts for the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia, I left Port Hawkesbury bound for Canso.

Leo MacDougall P.O. box 1027 Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia B0E 2VO Canada

(“Mac” runs his business from the basement of his tidy home. He took a genuine interest in my voyage and helped me select the necessary charts. At $22 Canadian per chart, I had do be selective. My bank account is at low tide.)

The passage to Canso brought me out of the east end of the strait and into a large bay. Across the bay was Canso, but the bay contained a dense fog, and it was raining. This is the sort of weather I had been warned about.

Mac’s charts and the GPS got me to my destination. Sailing alone under reefed jib, I found the harbor entrance, the channel and, at last, the fishing dock where I tied up next to a 40’ fishing boat and climbed ashore. The captain of Genuine Risk brought me to a gas station in his pickup so I could tank up. He told me he was setting crab pots—huge circular nets that rest on the bottom. They are about 7 feet in diameter.

Later I heard “Genuine Risk” on the radio’s messages to mariners. Warnings are listed for obstructions far out at sea. He had posted the locations of the floating markers that are placed at each end of his line of pots.

---

Date:

Friday, September 3, 1999

Time:

1200 hours Atlantic Daylight Savings Time

Latitude:

45d 45.76m N

Longitude:

061d 41.37mW

Bearing:

130 degrees M.

Speed:

6 knots

WindSpeed:

0

WindDirection:

n/a

Weather:

sunny, warm and dead calm

Update

Crew: Dick Lathrop, Captain; Greg Macgillivary, Navigator; Peter, Cameraman

Peter joined the voyage today to document on film the journey to Port Hawkesbury from Ballantynes Cove. Marie stayed ashore. She'll drive to Port Hawkesbury to meet the boat this evening. Peter and Greg will return to Antigonish with Marie.

Ballantyne's Cove is a fishing port near the very tip of Cape George on the East side. Lobster season is over in Nova Scotia so most of the boats remain in port. A few, however, were out tuna fishing.

Tuna weighing up to 800 pounds are sold at auction. The price can get bid up as high as $55/pound.

Who can tell me the story of these rich fish? Who knows the story of a fisherman who may have caught one?

Today the price has fallen so low that few are even bothering to fish for them. Rumor on the docks says they hope the auction fetches $10/pound today. This would be a recovery.

Question: How much does a can of "Chicken of the Sea" cost (per pound)?

Most of the passage if flat calm. The sea is beautiful. Peter and Greg have seldom seen it this flat. They both live on the coast.

I tell of Easy Wind's passage down the East River into New York City. Peter is very interested in the images I describe. He arrived in New York as a child on a boat from Ireland. He will join the year 2000 voyage and document the East River passage on film! Greg will come to help with the web page posting. This is really exciting.

We approach the Western end of the Strait of Canso which passes between mainland Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. A causeway has been built across this strait.

WOULD SOMEONE OUT THERE WRITE THE STORY OF THIS CAUSEWAY FOR OUR WEB PAGE?

Peter takes the helm. The wind picks up. We kill the engine and sail into the Strait of Canso. Later we drop our sail to pass through the lock at the North end of the causeway. This is the very last lock of this voyage.

It's still daylight when we pull into Port Hawkesbury and tie up at the yacht club. Marie meets us there.

---

Date:

September 2, 1999

Time:

1200 hours

Latitude:

45d 45.46m

Longitude:

062d 27.03m West

Bearing:

92degrees Magnetic

Speed:

7.0 knots

WindSpeed:

light (0-3)

WindDirection:

variable

Weather:

Sunny

Update

Pictou Harbor to Ballantyne's Cove

Boat's Crew: Dick Lathrop, Captain Greg Macgillivary, Navigator Marie Macgillivary, Helmsperson

Greg and Marie joined the crew in Pictou. Bill Timmons, their colleague in Antigonish, NS drive them to meet me. All are friends of Pat Timmons (Bill's brother) who I first met in Quebec City and who welcomed me to Rimouski.

Spotted two pilot whales to port. They crossed astern of Easy Wind. Greg identified them as "Pilot Whales" because of their size--relatively small--and their jet-black color. Fisherman call them "blackfish".

---

Date:

8/17/99 (continued)

Time:

 

Latitude:

45d 41.5mNorth

Longitude:

62d 40.0m West

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

West

Weather:

High clouds

Update

Left Victoria early (tide high) for Pictou, Nova Scotia. Passed our friendly lobster men at the mouth of the harbor in Victoria. They were earlier than we were!

Long fast reach to Pictou. The ferry to PEI crosses close to here and we could see it going back and forth as we progressed East in Northumberland Strait. We had some confusion on entering the harbor because the ferry channel is well marked and the entry to Pictou is not as well marked. I ended up in the ferry channel while Dan insisted that we sail a few miles further down the strait. We settled in by consulting our trusty GPS. Dan was right.

We were greeted in Pictou by bagpipes in the hands of school kids dressed in kilts. Docked near The Hector--a full sized replica of the ship that carried the first Scottish colonists to Pictou two centuries ago. The Hector is under construction, to be launched next year.

Left the boat in Pictou for ten days. Dan left for an on-land journey to Cape Breton Island. I got a car (THANK YOU NATIONAL CAR RENTAL!) and returned to U.S. for son Tony's wedding. Goodby PEI-- Hello Nova Scotia

---

Date:

8/17/99

Time:

 

Latitude:

46d 10.55m North

Longitude:

63d 28.05m West

Bearing:

 

Speed:

6.5 knots

WindSpeed:

15 knots

WindDirection:

West

Weather:

High Clouds

Update

Left Summerside about noon yesterday and got as far as Victoria, PEI. The high point (in more ways than one) was sailing under Confederation Bridge which links PEI to New Brunswick. It crosses Northumberland Strait at its most narrow point.

I hope to drive across this bridge some day. It is very long and very high --spaning the water with the roadway held on multiple tall columns. We could have passed under it anywhere, but we chose the middle where the channel was indicated.

What amazed me most about this bridge is its delicate appearance. For all the millions of tons of steel and concrete that must have gone into it, it still looks light--almost lacey--in the vastness of the gap it crosses.

One reason, I think, for this light appearance, is a curve designed into the structure as it crosses the water. It doesn't go straight across the strait. I wish someone would do some research on this bridge and post it on our site.

The low point (literally!) of today's passage was running aground in mid channel as we approached the dock in Victoria. It was dead low tide and we were on the range, but nevertheless, we were stuck fast. And it was getting dark.

Our radio call to the harbormaster was answered with the news that a lobster boat was due in. She would pull us off--and she did!

All ended happily when we met the crew of the boat on shore later. Great guys who took an interest in our voyage and told of many fishing industry resources in New Brunswick that we should contact.

---

Date:

8/14, 15, 16/99

Time:

 

Latitude:

46degrees, 23.30minutes North

Longitude:

63degrees, 47.29minutes West

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

sunshine, rain, windy and calm

Update

Arrived in Summerside late this afternoon and stayed here over the weekend. We had a chance to meet Mayor Basil Stewart on the weekend and he sent me to a member of his staff who sent me to see school officials.

Summerside is a beartiful city and harbor with both commercial, fishing and recreational uses. We docked at The Silver Fox Yacht and Curling Club, very close to the center of town. Here we met sailors from as far away as Michigan and others from Nova Scotia. Summerside has built large public areas along the waterfron for arts, shopping, and recreation. Old railroad beds have been converted to hiking trails and Main Street sports a wonderful mural of the way it used to look 100 years ago.

---

Date:

August 13, 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

46degrees, 37.15minutes North

Longitude:

64degrees 22.3 minutes West

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

Light

WindDirection:

south

Weather:

warm, Sunny

Update

This morning we visited the Lighthouse Museum at West Point--one of the first such museums on P.E.I. I learned that Northumberland Strait used to freeze solid and that before World War II, the light was closed down for the winter.

We could see New Brunswick from the top of the lighthouse tower.

After tanking up on fuel, we set off for Summerside. Motor sailed most of the way

---

Date:

12 August 1999

Time:

 

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Update

Miminegash to West Point, Prince Edward Island

The fishing port of Miminegash was filled with boats - some of them rafted 3 abreast. It was dead low tide when we pulled in and, after briefly running aground in mid-cove, we were offered a spot next to a lobster boat on the right hand side.

After learning that they would be leaving the dock at 0500 hours, we moved to a moss raker's boat - a boat that harvested sea weed - which would not be working...at least not at 0500 hours! We needed the sleep.

At the general store, we picked up supplies - including a pound of the "best bologna in Canada" - then returned to the boat accompanied by Ken who seemed willing and eager to fill us in on the local history.

We learned that this was the second day of lobster season and that the fishermen were getting $5.00/pound for their catch at the dock. We also learned about raking moss and raising silver foxes - a Prince Edward Island industry which has been in decline since wearing fur has become politically incorrect.

When we awoke in the morning, the cove was nearly empty of boats. All but the moss rakers were pulling in lobsters. We got gas and two fresh makerel (thrown into the bargain) and started out for Summerside. But the weather turned wet and very windy and we were lucky to reach West Point by about 1630 hours. We stopped for the night.

West Point is another fishing port but we received a warm welcome there. We used the showers at a nearby state park and borrowed a cooking pot big enough for the makerel and a dozen large clams a fisherman had given us. Then another off-duty lobsterman offered us a ride to the store and gave us some special products of the sea from his own food supply. We visited with folks from the fishing boats and wholesale lobster market for several hours that evening and feasted on fresh caught clams and makerel.

Next morning, we visit the lighthouse museum.

---

Date:

11 August 1999

Time:

 

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Update

L'anse Beaufils to Prince Edward Island

The latitude of L'anse Beaufils is 46 Degrees, 28 Minutes N, the longitude is 64 Degrees, 18 Minutes W. Our destination on Prince Edward Island was due south and the distance was over 90 miles away.

A minute of latitude is a nautical mile on the Earth's surface so we ended up the day at about 47 Degrees N (actually, a tad less than 47 Degrees) and at about the same longitude as we began.

Awaking at 4AM, we pulled out of the cove at 4:20 in the morning twilight. A bright red horizon to the east greeted us and we enjoyed looking back to Mount St. Anne and Perce as we headed out to sea. Our course would bypass New Brunswick and land us near the tip of Prince Edward Island - if we did our navigation right and could depend on our trusty G.P.S. for the range (distance) and bearing (course) to our destination.

Again, the wind soon proved to be more than we had bargained for. Sailing now under reefed mainsail and partially rolled up jib, we fought our way through troubled waters. The waves seemed to come from every direction. we had to luff the mainsail to keep control of the boat. The jib was rolled up until only a handkerchief remained but our speed clocked in at 8.5 knots.

The last land we saw that morning was the summit of Mount Saint Anne. When she dropped below the horizon we were totally alone on the sea, plunging steadily south where we hoped Prince Edward Island would appear.

By 1400 hours, the wind had dropped and we shook out all reefs. Our speed was now down to 4.5 knots. We knew we would have to start the engine in order to get to our sheltered cove by nightfall. But sailing was quiet and very pleasant now so we put off motoring for another hour. Still no prince.

Dan had taken a nap between 1400 and 1500 hours and now, with the engine going, it was my turn. Before crashing (as in sleeping), I took one more long look at the horizon where we expected land to appear. Sea and sky was all I saw...even with binoculars.

An hour later, I emerged from the cabin. I could tell by the smile on Dan's face that land had come into sight. The long, low tip of Prince Edward Island - North Point, complete with lighthouse - now met my gaze.

We reached port - a port full of fishing boats - just as the sun fell below the horizon. The fishermen all spoke English. We stepped ashore on Prince Edward Island.

---

Date:

10 August 1999

Time:

 

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Update

Gaspe to L'anse-a-Beaufils

The weather station said the gale was over but, as soon as we cleared marina cove, we found that we had much more wind than we needed. We made the entire passage under jib alone.

At the mouth of the Bay of Gaspe, we found Isle de Platte - a flat island, hard to see from a distance. There we turned right and headed for Perce, a spectacular point jutting out into the ocean in the form of a gigantic rock formation which is flat on top with its own vegetation. This rock alone is impressive enough, but two additional features make Perce and unforgettable place.

First, a huge mountain with several different summits rises on the land to the north. This lone mountain is considered sacred by the Micmac Indians. Infants were brought to the peak and held high to be bathed in the first rays of sunlight. This was thought to bestow a good life upon the young Micmac. Christians were likewise impressed by the singular beauty of this mountain and erected a statue of St. Anne on the summit.

The second feature is part of the rock itself...a hole! A round half circle at the water's surface. A hole which pierces the rock and gives Perce its name, which is French for pierced. When first seen by Europeans, there were three such holes. One remains. It is a beautiful sight.

---

Date:

08 August to 09 August 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

48 Degrees, 49.68 Minutes

Longitude:

64 Degrees, 28.71 Minutes

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

Harvre Gaspe

Pulled in to this Marina last night (Saturday) at dusk. One green bouy we were looking for in the channel was finally found on the clubhouse lawn!

Gales were predicted on the radio weather report so we waited here until the forcast improved. We met people who ran the local Maritime Museum and visited the exhibits. One of them told of the commercial uses for sea weed, which is harvested extensively in many countries of the world.

Also in Gaspe is a sailing school with several fleets of boats: optomists - a Canadian variation of the 420 - and Lasers. The school also has a cruising sized boat about 28 feet long. The director of Ecole de voile "Le Cormorau", Gaspe is Jean-Marc Rioux. He seemed quite interested in coordinating his program with next year's Virtual Voyage. One of their boats may even join us for part of the journey.

Gaspe is a beautiful city situated nicely on hillsides sloping to the water on two sides. The people of Gaspe who we met were all very friendly and generous to us.

---

Date:

07 August 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

 

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Speed:

 

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Update

Fox River to Gaspe

This was a spectacular passage sailing around the very tip of the Gaspe Peninsula and into the Bay of Gaspe. We saw whales and seals and many sea birds new to us. The tip of the peninsula marks the end of the Appalachian Mountain chain.

---

Date:

06 August 1999

Time:

 

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Update

L'anse Valleau to Fox River.

Just a short sail in the afternoon.

---

Date:

05 August 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

49 Degrees, 04.99 Minutes N

Longitude:

64 Degrees, 31.96 Minutes W

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

L'Anse Valleau

On Wednesday night, we reached the port of Cloridorme where we tied up next to a fishing boat. The Harbor Master welcomed us and collected $11.80 for docking. We were the only sailboat in port.

Cloridorme is distinguished by a tall Celtic cross on a high bank at the water's edge and a flashing green light at the end of the breakwater.

Cloridorme's latitude is 49 Degrees, 11.25 Minutes N with a longitude of 64 Degrees, 50.9 Minutes W.

This morning, we left Cloridorme for Fox River (Reviere au Renard). The weather turned wet and the visibility got worse. When we reached L'Anse Valleau, it was still early in the day but we decided to stop and wait to see what the weather was going to do. About an hour later, the visibility had improved but when we tried to move, our starter failed. It took a full 30 hours to get it fixed.

---

Date:

04 August 1999

Time:

1620 Hours

Latitude:

49 Degrees, 16.09 Minutes N

Longitude:

65 Degrees, 29.75 Minutes W

Bearing:

120 Degrees

Speed:

6.7 Knots

WindSpeed:

Less than 5 Knots

WindDirection:

135 Degrees (southeast)

Weather:

 

Update

South shore of St. Lawrence River lies about a half mile to our right. It features rounded, tree-covered hills dropping off in steep, heavily corrugated cliffs at the river's edge. There are numerous head lands and coves. These head lands are named "Caps" in French. A cove is called an "anse".

---

Date:

04 August 1999

Time:

1000 Hours

Latitude:

49 Degrees, 10.46 Minutes N

Longitude:

66 Degrees, 29.36 Minutes W

Bearing:

83 Degrees

Speed:

8 Knots

WindSpeed:

20 Knots

WindDirection:

280 Degrees

Weather:

 

Update

At 1100 hours we noticed a change in water color running in a north-south line from dark blue in the west to light green in the east.

1145 hours: Dark blue line again visible on eastern horizon running southwest to northeast.

---

Date:

03 August 1999

Time:

 

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Update

'Easy Wind' makes the passage from Rimuski to Les Mechins. We had hoped to reach St. Anne's but were getting low on fuel. There were no pumps at the dock in Les Mechins. Our quest for gas led us to the vice president of Verrault Navigation - a huge dry dock and shipyard where "Lakers" - a freight carrying vessel used on the Great Lakes - are repaired. They provided us with 10 gallons of free fuel.

---

Date:

31 July to 03 August 1999

Time:

 

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Update

Rimuski, Quebec, Canada

Mr. Pat Timmons of Rimuski, who I met in Quebec, has introduced me to several leading citizens of this city and toured me through a Maritime Museum and a Marine Biology Research Center. We had lunch with the Mayor who told me of his efforts to develop the city's maritime activities.

Also in Rimuski, Dan Tyson - a graduate student at New York University who I met in Manhattan where he joined an evening sail on 'Easy Wind' - came aboard for a two week stay. Pat and I met Dan at the bus station.

---

Date:

30 July 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

48 Degrees, 28.78 Minutes

Longitude:

68 Degrees, 30.74 Minutes

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

It is hazy this morning as I leave Tadussac but the current and the wind both favor my journey. Rimuski, according to the G.P.S., is 50 nautical miles away.

I know I will encounter fog - I can see the fog banks out there - but the river is wide here, the current is not strong and I trust my G.P.S. to tell me where I am and where I have to go.

My biggest concern is that I reach my destination before dark. There are not too many ports deep enough to float 'Easy Wind' at low tide between here and Rimuski. I calculate that if I average 5 knots, I will need 10 hours to go 50 nautical miles. I can just about make it in the remaining daylight.

With both sails up and drawing, my speed increases. The G.P.S. gives my E.T.A. (estimated time of arrival) at 1730 hours - a big improvement over my estimates. Thank you Mr. Current, thank you Ms. Wind! I shut down the engine. I am sailing due East with a 10-14 knot wind at my back.

The easiest way to maintain my course is to wing the jib to the right and leave the mainsail on the left. I then steer dead down wind to keep the jib full.

I am all alone in the middle of an enormous river, further north and probably further East than I have ever been. I race silently toward a place...toward Rimuski. This is fun!

At about 1400 hours, an English voice on the radio says something about thunder squalls. North and West of me the sky is darkening. The wind has dropped. I start the engine. The squalls are coming down the Saguney River. I am ahead of them and I want to STAY ahead of them. It starts to rain.

There are seals out here, swimming like gigantic dogs with their heads above the water.

I see a village on the shore. It must be Rimuski, but where is the harbor entrance bouy? The chart says I'll find one. Out comes my G.P.S. (I had it shut off to conserve batteries). It tells me Rimuski is still 6 nautical miles away.

The sea is now flat calm. Another hour under power brings me into port. It is about 1800 hours.

---

Date:

29 July 1999

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Update

Today the fog lifted enough for me to begin the leg of the voyage from Cap a L'aigle to Tadussac. The wind was calm and remained so for most of the trip but the current was very strong - mostly in my favor.

I left at about 0900 hours headed northeast. I was practicing using the G.P.S. which I bought in Quebec. I knew I would need it soon.

On my left, mountains met the sea. They were wild, uninhabited mountains and at each point - "cap" which I would translate as "headland" - an area had been carved out of the rock and forest for a lighthouse.

On my right, low flat islands and, in the farthest distance, the 'south shore' of St. Lawrence was barely visible through the mist.

About an hour out, I spotted a white mound in the water which quickly disappeared. Could it be? It was! Beluga whales - a pod of them - cruising down the river beside me. These whales are as white as Moby Dick but nowhere near as large or as sinister. They spurted water out of their blowholes just as they surfaced and they would immediately dive again, swimming as porpoises and dolphins swim.

As I approached my destination, the fog came back. This was also white, big and sinister. Cold, blinding fog. Out came my trusty G.P.S.. It gave me the bearing and distance to my next way point.

The current, by now, had turned against me and I had to fight it under full power. I was only going 2 or 3 knots. Out of the fog loomed my way point. A red bell bouy just where my G.P.S. said it would be! It looked huge in the fog but it was a very welcome sight.

Saw a seal and a great black whale (didn't know what kind) as the fog lifted and I motored into Tadussac.

---

Date:

28 July 1999

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Update

Fog bound at Cap a L'aigle. Started out but got socked in fast. George from New Foundland - set up with radar - also turned back. "Couldn't see the bow of my boat!" he exclaimed.

Learned lots about what's ahead from George and got a tour of the area from Rolly.

---

Date:

27 July 1999

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Update

Propeller shaft installed! Sailed from Isle-aux-Coudres to Cap a L'aigle (Eagle Point) - about 4 hours with the current.

---

Date:

26 July 1999

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Update

Waiting for propeller shaft at Isle-aux-Coudres.

---

Date:

24-25 July 1999

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Update

It has rained both days and everything is damp. This depressing state of affairs helps me deal with the fact of being stuck here awaiting a new propeller shaft. Because of the weather, I would not get far anyway.

At the laundromat, I meet Monsieur Marteau, a visitor from France. He gives me a ride to the local restaurant. He is visiting with his wife, his teenage daughter and her friend. I offer his family the chance to accompany me north in 'Easy Wind' but they are headed south to Quebec tomorrow. He visits me later at the marina with his wife, daughter and friend and we compare our impressions of Quebec. He thinks it's very "English". I think it's very "French". Madam marteau is a school teacher, their daughter is in high school. Her friend is headed to college to study Psychology. They find North America very vast. They have visited Niagara Falls and are on their way to Quebec City - their final stop before flying back to Paris.

The miserable weather has kept me pretty close to the marina. I would welcome a chance to explore this island but, so far, no opportunity has opened up.

---

Date:

23 July 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

47 Degrees, 25.18 Minutes N

Longitude:

70 Degrees, 23.56 Minutes W

Bearing:

 

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Update

Today I made two short voyages. Both began and ended at the latitude and longitude given above. First, I took the ferry boat across to the North Shore of the St. Lawrence and the village of Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive. From the ferry slip, I walked to Exposition Maritime (Marine Museum) and met with Madam Pierette Tremblay Desgagnes, the Director of Development.

She received my brochure and some newspaper clippings about this project with great interest and discussed with me ways that her organization might become involved. She then admitted me to the grounds of the museum, which border on the river, where I was free to browse the exhibits.

In addition to the historical ships and old anchors and the story of St. Joseph-de-la-Rive's past, I met two groups of people who were building boats. Jen-Jen told me of the plans for a great sailing craft she and her associates are constructing of wood. This ship will become a sailing school shich will also be "on line" similar to Virtual Voyages.

The second group consisted of two teachers and a group of high school students building a boat about 15 feet long. This was a replica of craft used on the river during the last century (1800's) to cross between St. Joseph-de-la-Rive and Isle-aux-Coudres. It is powered by both oar and sail.

The two teachers were extremely interested in Virtual Voyages and told me of organizations in Montreal or Quebec - "Les Blanchons" - and in France - "Les Glenans" - which do similar work. I would welcome someone's help making contact with these organizations on the web.

Before I left Exposition Maritime, Madam Pierrette Tremblay Desgagnes introduced me to the President of the organization, M. Yuan Desgagnes. He was equally enthusiastic about our project and reinforced the notion of mutual involvement. He emphasized the benefits that could be gained from an international collaboration.

The second voyage, at high tide, was on 'Easy Wind'. We got lowered to a slip at a marina where we await a new propeller shaft.

---

Date:

22 July 1999

Time:

 

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Update

Isle-aux-Coudres

When I arrived at the marina at Point au Pic, I discovered that I had no reverse. Once I attempted reverse, I had no forward gear either. With the wind's help and a long line to throw, I got to the dock and secured 'Easy Wind' for the night.

By dawn's early light, I was able to see that the propeller shaft no longer turned with the engine going. Although I could shift through forward, neutral and reverse and observe the changes at the transmission (inside the boat), the propeller remained still. Looking down from the dock through the clear, cold water of the St. Lawrence, I could also see that 'Easy Wind's' propeller had also moved back about an inch from the cutlass bearing. In fact, the shaft had broken and was trying to back itself out of the boat - bad news.

Another dockmaster - bilingual, helpful, and professional - helped me find the nearest repair possibility...a boat yard on the Isle-aux-Coudres. This required a tow and coordination with the tides since the only way to haul the boat in this location is to tie her tight to a pier at high tide with her keel just touching bottom and letting the tide drop beneath her.

We arrived back at Isle-aux-Coudres at 2300 hours with the tide in nearly full flood.

Faces from the dock high above peered down at me and shouted back and forth to the tow boat. All the shouting, of course, was incomprehensible to me since it was in French. I did know enough to throw up a docking line at the appropriate moment and to ask for a fender board to place against the corrugated steel wall to which we were tightly secured.

A distinctively high-pitched voice shouted "leen-lek-treek, leen-lek-treek" at me with what seemed to be an ever increasing urgency. I could not respond. Finally, a calmer voice boomed down, "Would you please throw up your electric power cord?" Ah, yes! "Line electric" was the request. Up it went.

Mr Marcell Mailoux descended a ladder to the deck and thence into 'Easy Wind's' bilge to ascertain that the problem described on the phone was, in fact, the problem on board. It was. The docking party dispersed and a small crew remained to strap the boat to the wall at the very highest tide. Mr. Mailoux directed the operation which used two chain falls and a strap around the mast.

At 0200 hours, he said, "Good night," gave me his phone number for any emergency and told me his plan to arrive back at 0700 hours when the low tide would allow removal of the broken propeller shaft.

I then got 4 hours of sleep as 'Easy Wind's' keel snuggled into the mud and her mast strained against the strap which Mr. Mailoux and his men had placed to keep her upright.

---

Date:

22 July 1999

Time:

 

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Update

---

Date:

21 July 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

47 Degrees, 37.4 Minutes N

Longitude:

70 Degrees, 08.41 Minutes W

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

Today we make the passage between Quebec City and Point Au Pic, a distance of about 70 nautical miles. The trip must take advantage of the strongest current flowing downriver while keeping time spent in upriver currents to a minimum. The current flows downriver for about 8 hours. There is an hour of slack water at each change of current. It flows upstream for 5.

Departing Quebec City at 1130 hours, we buck the current for two hours to gain the advantage of a stronger, more favorable flow further down the river. Better to oppose the current now than in the places we will have to pass downstream.

The wind is behind us at about 15-20 knots at first, although it gets light late in the afternoon. 'Easy Wind' is under full sail but I still run the newly repaired engine to keep her speed through the water reading between 7 and 8 knots. This is necessary to complete such a long passage before nightfall.

Early in the trip the G.P.S. (Global Positioning System) reads 3 or 4 knots even though our speedometer says 7+. Later, we see speeds of 10 and 11 on the G.P.S. while our speedometer is giving us 7 or 8.

We take the south channel past Isle d'Orleans even though there is less current in the north channel. Here we have more wind and a wider pathway.

The route is well marked and the way points slip past quickly in the section of mid-river islands, but the distance ahead is great. Will we arrive before dark?

Suddenly, the river ahead opens to a vast expanse with the right hand shore barely visible. At the same time, channel markers ahead disappear. The correct course is no longer obvious. Is the river going north here or is it more toward the East? I get out the charts and power up the G.P.S.. Where should we point our bow?

On the horizon, a red and white spot appears to grow larger. The binoculars help confirm that it is a container ship coming upstream. I have found the channel. I steer for the ship.

After a threat of thunder storms, the wind has grown light. I must get past Isle-aux-Choad before the current changes. Daylight is fading fast...tune in tomorrow.

---

Date:

20 July 1999

Time:

1900 Hours

Latitude:

45 Degrees, 30.96 Minutes N

Longitude:

73 Degrees, 33.57 Minutes W

Bearing:

300 Degrees Magnetic

Speed:

17.1 Knots

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

On the bus at Montreal, headed for Quebec.

Thank you National Car Rental for the use of your excellent white Chevrolet. Today, I left it off in Burlington. From here until I get to a more populated area, I will not have a car.

---

Date:

12-20 July 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

46 Degrees, 48.8 Minutes N

Longitude:

71 Degrees, 13.75 Minutes W

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

Looking on the bright side, if you have to be delayed for over one week at a port city, Quebec City would be a top choice.

It has a castle, complete with a wall, gates, and even parts of a moat. It has narrow, winding streets built before cars were invented, and stone houses rising two stories high from the sidewalk's edge.

This is festival week in Quebec City. The streets are crowded with visitors. Couples of every age and description walk hand-in-hand through the parks. There is a magician giving a free performance as the crowd gathers in the street to watch. There is a Punch and Judy puppet show playing to an audience of children in the park.

'Easy Wind's' engine is stalling intermittently for no apparent reason. Each day we come up with a new cure but, when we start down the river, she fails again. The process has resulted in a new fuel filter, clean carburetor, new fuel pump, even a new fuel tank. Quebecers are warm, helpful and encouraging.

---

Date:

11 July 1999

Time:

 

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Update

'Easy Wind's' mast is now up again and she is ready for the voyage down the St. Lawrence. It is over 100 miles to Quebec City. At first light, we are on the river. The current flows very fast and grows faster as we progress down stream. It reaches 8 knots in certain narrow places. This ebbing current pushes 'Easy Wind' toward Quebec, increasing our speed by the speed of the current.

After passing under the bridge at Three Rivers, a "Current Atlas" maps the speed and direction of the flow for every hour of the day. It ebbs for 8 hours and floats for 5.

Motor sailing with just the jib, my speed increases as the wind builds. At certain points, I read speeds through the water of over 8 knots on the meter! In the distance I see a bridge across the river. Could this be Quebec City? Yes! It must be! Quebec is the only bridge below Three Rivers. We have covered over 100 miles in one day!

---

Date:

08 July 1999

Time:

 

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Update

'Easy Wind' is now on the St. Lawrence River at Sorel. Philippe, age 19, is on duty at the Marina. Philippe calls a friend who will drive me back to my car in the morning. We get the car and I head for Boston to get my computer fixed.

---

Date:

07 July 1999

Time:

 

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Update

At dawn, 'Easy Wind' started north along the canal. Soon we reached a series of locks. Each lock included a small house, flower beds and two young lock tenders dressed in uniforms. At least half of the lock tenders were women.

Michelle, one such lock tender, came aboard to help hold lines as we descended toward Lake Chambly. Michelle is from New Brunswick. This is her summer between high school and college. On the back of her shirt, "Young Canada Works" was printed in two languages. Michelle speaks French and English.

After crossing Lake Chambly, the river continues through farm lands and villages. Most of the houses are simple, tidy structures, freshly painted. Many use two contrasting colors which create a special effect. White, for example, would be the predominant color for the sides of the house but it would have bright red trim around every window and door. Also, the trim on the eaves, the gables and even, perhaps, the corner boards would be painted red.

At several villages, ferries crossed the river. They ran back and forth on a cable anchored on each bank. An engine on the ferry turned a cylinder (like a winch) around which this cable wound. A big sign with arrows said, "Watch out for the cable". Luckily for sailboats, the cable rests on the bottom after the ferry passes.

---

Date:

06 July 1999

Time:

 

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Update

Today, at about 0400 hours, we started up the river toward St. John's, the first lock on the Richelieu River. There were very few channel markers visible but in the distance we spotted a "range" - one bright light on shore with a second light above it and beyond it. When these two lights line up as sighted from your boat, you are in the channel marked by this "range".

Unfortunately for us, we followed the range too far. 'Easy Wind' ran aground. We tried full speed reverse. No luck. Our keel stuck firmly in the mud. Just then a strong rain squall came by. We went down in the cabin to stay dry.

When the rain ended, Captain Lathrop took a swim. He carried the anchor as far as the line would reach out toward the deeper section of the river. This is known as "kedging" - setting as anchor and pulling the boat up to it. When we pulled, we only managed to pull the anchor in...loaded with weeds.

We called the Canadian Coast Guard. They called a Marina. A man came out with a powerful boat and pulled us out of the mud. He charged us $25.00 and said, "Stay in the middle."

We did not see another channel marker until we reached the lock at St. Jean-sur-Richelieu.

When we reached Ile Ste. Therese, we tied up along the side of the canal for the night.

---

Date:

05 July 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

45 Degrees, 10 Minutes

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

Yesterday afternoon we crossed the border into Canada. The line that separates the two nations is the 45th parallel (45 Degrees of latitude). We are truly in "The North" now! For the first time 'Easy Wind' is closer to the North Pole than she is to the Equator. We motored to the dock of Canadian customs, but we didn't even have to tie up. The customs officer shouted some questions about where we were from and where we were going, then sent us on our way down the Richelieu River - which flows north to the St. Lawrence. About 10 miles up the river we reach Fort Lennox, an island fortress in mid-river and the town St. Paul-de-la-Isle aux Noix. We pull in to Marina Gagnon and lower the mast.

MARINA GAGNON
    Here everyone speaks French but also understands English.  In general, folks are warm, friendly and eager to help visitors. 
    This morning at 0300 a violent thunder storm lit up the skies.  I removed the top weather board and looked out at the trees and a flagpole bowed by the force of the wind.  Good thing the mast is down and the boat sheltered.

---

Date:

04 July 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

44 Degrees, 53 Minutes N

Longitude:

73 Degrees, 23 Minutes W

Bearing:

3 Knots

Speed:

320 Degrees Magnetic

WindSpeed:

5-8 Knots

WindDirection:

South

Weather:

 

Update

Today we are determined to sail and to use our engine as little as possible. A couple of other boats going our way are also sailing. Our destination, Rouses Point, is directly downwind. But we try "tacking" downwind to take advantage of the greater speed of a broad reach (wind from an angle off the stern)as compared to a run (wind directly astern).

Today is Independence Day in the U.S.. What important event happened on this day?

I am learning much about the role this region played in the war for independence (The Revolutionary War). This lake and the forts which surrounded it and the war ships that floated on it were all keys that helped America become a nation.

Deep Bay is a New York State park on the west shore of Lake Champlain at Long Point. There is a small dock there, but you are expected to use a mooring - about 100 of them are provided by New York and they charge you $10 per night. It is a totally natural area - woods on three sides, the lake on the other side. Deep Bay was full of boats - Canadian boats! Most of the boaters speak French! We are beginning to see what Canada will be like.

---

Date:

03 July 1999

Time:

1400 Hours

Latitude:

44 Degrees, 31 Minutes N

Longitude:

73 Degrees, 20 Minutes W

Bearing:

08 Degrees Magnetic

Speed:

6 Knots

WindSpeed:

Less than 8

WindDirection:

West

Weather:

 

Update

DESTINATION:  Deep Bay on the west shore of Lake Champlain.

---

Date:

02 July 1999

Time:

1500 Hours

Latitude:

 

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

Gusting up to 30 Knots

WindDirection:

Westerly

Weather:

 

Update

A strong westerly wind has piped up, gusting up to 30 knots and we are reaching toward Burlington under reefed jib. What a change!

---

Date:

02 July 1999

Time:

1400 Hours

Latitude:

44 Degrees, 23 Minutes

Longitude:

73 Degrees, 17 Minutes

Bearing:

360 Degrees True

Speed:

6 Knots

WindSpeed:

0

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

Still, no wind.

Update

'Easy Wind' is steaming toward Burlington, VT under full power. There is not a breath of air.

---

Date:

01 July 1999

Time:

 

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Update

'Easy Wind' rested on her mooring today, courtesy of the Champlain Maritime Museum and the Basin Harbor Yacht Club.

On shore, the Maritime Museum was a beehive of activity. The source of all the buzzing was a dozen (or so) electric sanders. The "bees" were a dozen (or so) high-school-aged builders each crafting his or her own sea kayak in a large shed with open sides. Surrounding this buzzing hub of activity were other exhibits and projects, all helping to build and/or preserve boats and to bring to life that heritage which boats represent.

There is no better example of this mission than the replica of THE PHILADELPHIA. A Revolutionary War vessel built by the colonists and used in a "sea" battle on Lake Champlain. This ship was reconstructed from scratch, using all the original methods and materials available in the region in 1775. It is not a fancy boat. Although it does have a mast and sails, it also has about a dozen oars to be used when winds were not favorable.

The revolutionary colonists lost the battle and the British sank the original Philadelphia near Valcor Island. The story of this battle would be a welcome addition to this web site.

QUESTION: How did the Champlain Museum know what THE PHILADELPHIA looked like, how big she was, and how she was constructed?

HINT: The fresh, deep, cold water of Lake Champlain is remarkably good for preserving wood.

---

Date:

30 June 1999

Time:

1430 Hours

Latitude:

44 Degrees, 12 Minutes N

Longitude:

73 Degrees, 22 Minutes W

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

'Easy Wind' has reached the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum at Basin Harbor in Vergennes, VT. She has covered 50 nautical miles today.

---

Date:

30 June 1999

Time:

0600 Hours

Latitude:

43 Degrees, 31 Minutes N

Longitude:

73 Degrees, 23.5 Minutes W

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

0

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

Ran aground at "the elbow" - a bend in the river where a stream enters from the east. This stream created a sand bar which 'Easy Wind' found with her keel. Ray came out in his motor boat and dragged us off. He warned about other sand bars and how to avoid them.

---

Date:

29 June 1999

Time:

 

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Update

Stepped mast after clearing Lock 12. Good help from Ray at Lock 12 Marina.

---

Date:

28 June 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

 

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

Rain all day

Update

Stayed tied up in Whitehall. Fetched car with help from Richard A.

---

Date:

27 June 1999

Time:

 

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Update

Mechanicsville to Whitehall. 51 miles in 8.5 hours. 'Easy Wind' reached her highest altitude at lock 5. Arrived in Whitehall at dusk.

---

Date:

26 June 1999

Time:

 

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Weather:

 

Update

Castleton to Mechanicsville. 'Easy Wind's' mast is on deck. Passed through 3 locks today.

---

Date:

25 June 1999

Time:

0930 Hours

Latitude:

 

Longitude:

 

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Speed:

 

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Weather:

 

Update

Left Catskill. Tightened fan belt in New Baltimore. Lowered Mast in Castleton.

Crew of sailing vessel 'Steelaway' helped with the mast lowering. They were returning to Toronto, Canada from Bermuda using the Erie Canal. 'Steelaway' is a 40 foot sailboat made of steel!

---

Date:

24 June 1999

Time:

1230 Hours

Latitude:

 

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

18-25 Knots - Sailed the whole way (jib only)

WindDirection:

South

Weather:

 

Update

Passage from Kingston to Catskill.

---

Date:

23 June 1999

Time:

1600 Hours to 1900 Hours

Latitude:

 

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

Passage to Kingston, NY. Now at Hudson River Maritime Museum dock.

---

Date:

21 June 1999

Time:

 

Latitude:

 

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Speed:

 

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WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

Repaired transmission control linkage. No progress up river.

---

Date:

20 June 1999

Time:

1400 Hours

Latitude:

41 Degrees, 43 Minutes North

Longitude:

73 Degrees, 56 Minutes West

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

Docked under the Mid Hudson Bridge - east bank.

---

Date:

20 June 1999

Time:

1000 Hours

Latitude:

41 Degrees, 25 Minutes North

Longitude:

73 Degrees, 50 Minutes West

Bearing:

01 Degrees Magnetic

Speed:

7 Knots (under power)

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

Question from a 5-year old voyager as 'Easy Wind' passed West Point: "Is that a real castle?" Would someone like to provide an answer?

---

Date:

19 June 1999

Time:

1400 Hours

Latitude:

41 Degrees, 11 Minutes

Longitude:

73 Degrees, 54 Minutes

Bearing:

 

Speed:

 

WindSpeed:

 

WindDirection:

 

Weather:

 

Update

Anchored off Croton Point listening to Arlo Guthrie singing "City of New Orleans" at the Clearwater Revival Folk Festival.

---

Date:

19 June 1999

Time:

1000 Hours

Latitude:

40 Degrees, 42 Minutes North (the lowest we will reach on this voyage)

Longitude:

74 Degrees, 01 Minutes West (is this the furthest West?)

Bearing:

359 Degrees True

Speed:

6 Knots

WindSpeed:

0-8 Knots

WindDirection:

Northeast

Weather:

 

Update

Headed up the Hudson. 'Easy Wind' is under Power.

---

Date:

June 15, 1999

Time:

1400 hours

Latitude:

New York City, Pier 25

Longitude:

 

Bearing:

at mooring

Speed:

n/a

WindSpeed:

10-20knots gusting

WindDirection:

West

Weather:

Sunny, warm, windy

Update

Great trip through the East River. Here is a list of bridges and the times that Easy Wind passed under them. For a Virtual Voyages project, find a map (any map) of Greater New York (city) and calculate the distances between each of these bridges. Then calculate Easy Wind's speed on the East River. (use both statute miles and nautical miles) For extra credit: See if you can figure out the point at which the current turned favorable. (Hint: there should be an increase in speed) Throgs Neck Bridge 1046 hours Whitstone 1119 hours Arched Railroad Bdg 1212 hours (near Hell Gate) Manhattan to Rsvlt Isl. 1232 hours Bridge just North of BB ???? Brooklyn Bridge 1314 hour

Brooklyn Bridge

---

Date:

June 15, 1999

Time:

1000hours

Latitude:

40degrees 49.5minutes North

Longitude:

73degrees 46.6minutes West

Bearing:

220degrees Per Ship's Compass

Speed:

4.3 Knots

WindSpeed:

5-7 Knots

WindDirection:

North

Weather:

Partly Cloudy  About 70degrees F.

Update

Left Stamford harbor at 0630 in order to make the East River in time for the Tide Change. The current is scheduled to begin running Southwest at 1230 hours.

We have made good time and are about two hours early, so we have killed the engine and enjoying a light air sail approaching Throgs Neck Bridge.

---

Date:

June 10, 1999

Time:

1400hours

Latitude:

Stamford Yacht Club

Longitude:

Stamford Yacht Club

Bearing:

N/A

Speed:

less than 3k

WindSpeed:

10k

WindDirection:

South

Weather:

perfect

Update

Rogers Magnet School Students have presented projects at a luncheon festival on the grounds of the Stamford Yacht Club. Sound Waters was there too, providing life jackets and putting their programs on display.

In groups of six, Rogers students sailed Easy Wind around Stamford harbor. It was really great to see the more experienced sailors in the group showing the newer sailors how to steer, what to watch for, and so forth. These kids get along great and really enjoy each other's company. We also learned lots about different boats in the anchorage and (through the festival projects) facts about the history and fauna of Stamford Harbor and Long Island Sound. Captain Lathrop was presented with a Rogers Magnet School Burgee which we proudly displayed on Easy Wind's backstay for the duration.

Thank you MAPTECH for extra help with kids' projects. Thank you WEST MARINE for providing a couple of dozen really cool tee shirts. Thank you PATAGONIA, for the extra warm fleeces, vests and hats on board and NATIONAL CAR RENTAL for shore side transportation.

Watch the Stamford Advocate and local TV station for coverage of this event.

---

Date:

June 10, 1999

Time:

1000 hours

Latitude:

Entrance bouy to Stamford, CT harbor

Longitude:

Long Island Sound

Bearing:

360 True

Speed:

7 knots

WindSpeed:

13 knots

WindDirection:

East

Weather:

Clear

Update

Mate Mark M. and Captain Lathrop have nearly completed a fast passage from New Haven Harbor.

The Easterly breeze has lasted all morning and a swell builds as we moved West.

Surging down a wave at one point we saw our knotmeter register 8.3 knots--that was a thrill.

We tacked down wind during the last couple of hours--reaching to the south of our chosen course (our rhumbline) for a while, then to the north of it. This proved much faster and easier than trying to keep the jib winged out and sailing dead down wind. If we had more experienced hands on board it would have been a perfect day to try out the spinnaker.

---

Update

Date: June 9, 1999

Time:

Latitude:
Longitude:
Bearing:
Speed:
Wind Speed:
Wind Direction: Weather:

Other:

Layday--tune in tomorrow

---

Update

Date: May 8, 1999

Time: 1400 hours

Latitude: New Haven/Fair Haven
Longitude: Same as this Morning's
Bearing: all over the place
Speed: 2-3 knots
Wind Speed: 0-5
Wind Direction: southwest
Weather: hot, hot, hot

Other:

Easy Wind is cruising the backwaters of New Haven--as far up the rivers as her 5-6 foot draft will allow. We have passed under three draw bridges, including the Chapel Street Bridge and the Ferry St. Bridge. Aboard are Karen Zwick and 5 of her students from Cold Spring School. We tied up Easy Wind at Tallmadge Oyster Company Docks and walked to the school to fetch this crew. After showing us their web page on New Haven Harbor wild life, we boarded the boat for a cruise.

It is amazing how many birds we saw--even in this city-surrounded river (creek?) These included two varieties of heron and gulls, terns and comorants. Good eyes, kids! We also learned that New Haven's largest export to be shipped by water happens to be scrap metal and we saw huge barges, waiting to receive this metal, beached on the river banks at low tide. We saw a business based on rehabilitating such barges. (How do you rehabilitate a barge?)

And we noticed a theme...a theme that covers a category of names for almost every working vessel on the river. FOR A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO THE VIRTUAL VOYAGES WEB SITE AND LOTS OF FREE PICTURES AND STORIES AND FREE ATTENDANCE AT ALL FESTIVALS, guess what that theme is!  Finally, from our dock Mrs.Zwick pointed out beautiful coral-colored cliffs rising above the city. These distant cliffs were made of a special Connecticut material--a color I remember from long ago--a color found on Connecticut highways in the winter months.

WOULD SOME OF YOU CONNECTICUT VOYAGERS WRITE ABOUT THESE CLIFFS (AND THIS MATERIAL) FOR OUR WEB SITE?

Thanks Students, Cold Spring School, and, especially, Mrs. Karen Zwick for such an enjoyable and interesting afternoon on the waters of New Haven Connecticut. See you all next year, I hope.

---

Update

Date:  May 8, 1999

Time:  1000 hours

Latitude: Entrance bouy New Haven harbor--East end or breakwater.
Longitude: You tell us
Bearing: 280 magnetic
Speed: 7 knots
Wind Speed: 1 2 knots
Wind Direction: Southwest
Weather: Hazy sun

Other:

Left Old Saybrook at 0521 hours. Although our speedometer read 7+ knots for much of the time, we really averaged only about 5 due to a strong ebb current. This is said to be one of the hottest days on record for this date but it was cool on the water. We had to wear sweaters to be comfortable. Passed Faulkner Island Light. Would like to visit that island some day (maybe next year). Does anyone have a Faulkner Island story for our web page? Tell us about the lighthouse keeper family.

---

Update

Thank you Jeff H. and Saybrook Point Marina for letting us tie up here for a couple of nights. Signed: The Crew of Easy Wind Virtual Voyagers

---

Update

Date:

June 6, 1999

Time:

1400 hours

Latitude:  Saybrook Point Marina, Old Saybrook, CT
Longitude:
Bearing: na
Speed: na
Wind Speed:
Wind Direction:
Weather:bright, sunny

Other:

Tied up at the dock awaiting Gale: mom, pilot, and taxi service. Gale will cruise up to Hamburg Cove and back with us, then drive us back to New London where we left our National Car Rental vehicle. Took a swim in the Marina Pool before taking off up river.

---

Update

Date:

June 6, 1999

Time:

1000 hours

Latitude: 41d16m North
Longitude: 72d15m West
Bearing: 270 magnetic
Speed: 7.0k
Wind Speed: less than 3k
Wind Direction: variable
Weather: Mostly clear very high stratus clouds. Cumulous clouds beginning to build over land masses on Connecticut and Long Island shore lines.

Other:

Steaming at 7 knots. Mainsail up but not doing much. Halley is navigating (she is learning fast) and keeping the log. Mark, Heather, Sawyer, and Capt. are taking turns steering and watching out for lobster pot bouys. Strong ebb current flowing East--at, perhaps two knots.

Question: What is our speed over the bottom?

---

Update

Date:

June 3, 1999

Time:

1500 hours

Latitude: 41d21mN
Longitude:  72d4.5mW
Bearing:  210M
Speed:  5K
Wind Speed:12K
Wind Direction:  165
Weather:  Bright Sunshine

Other:

Vick and his father are sailing in Fishers Island Sound. On board are Tyson, and his sister Mark (deckhand) and Captain Lathrop.
Vick's dad spent time in the U.S. Navy on the aircraft Carrier Robert F. Kennedy. When he
was a boyscout he sailed a sunfish in Candlewood Lake. All the other guests are brand new
to sailing. They all catch on pretty fast. After a trip around the New London Ledge Lighthouse
we cruise up the Thames to the waters of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Then we head up wind again pretending we're an America's Cup Yacht racing another boat beating down the Thames. We Win! Thanks to great tacking skill and fast grinders.

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Update

Date:

23 May 1999

Time:

14:36:00

Latitude: 41 degrees, 18.2 minutes N
Longitude: 71 degrees, 58.4 minutes W
Bearing: Due west 270 degrees in Fisher's Sound
Speed: 7.5 knots
Wind Speed: 15 knots
Wind Direction: S.E.
Weather: Raining

Other:

Estimated time of arrival at Mystic Seaport is 15:30.

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Update

Date:

23 May 1999

Time:

10:00:00

Latitude: 41 degrees, 25 minutes
Longitude: 71 degrees, 24 minutes
Bearing: 230 degrees
Speed: 5 knots
Wind Speed: 8-10 knots
Wind Direction: South
Weather: Overcast

Other:

The "Easy Wind" is sailing from Newport, RI to Mystic, CT. On board are Capt. Lathrop, Virual Voyages crew members Jared Holzman and Adam Roundtree and parent chaperone Chris Roundtree.

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Update

Date:

May 21, 1999

Time:

14:00:00.

Latitude: 41 degrees, 29 minutes
Longitude: 71 degrees, 19 minutes
Bearing: 270 degrees
Speed: 5 knots
Wind Speed:
Wind Direction:
Weather: Blue Sky

Other:

Jib is up.

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Update

Date:

May 21, 1999

Time:

10:00:00

Latitude: 41 degrees 34 minutes
Longitude: 70 degrees 54 minutes 12 seconds
Bearing: 210 degrees
Speed: 5.5 knots
Wind Speed:
Wind Direction:
Weather: Partly cloudy

Other:

Jib's up; Ryan steering--doing a great job.

---

Date:

18 May 1999

Time:

14:30:00

Update

The easy wind is docked in New Bedford, MA this afternoon.  A group of students from the South Shore Charter School Virtual Voyages program is touring the city.   They will visit a whaling museum and talk with local experts about New Bedford and it's connection to the sea.

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Date:

14 May 1999

Time:

16:20:03

Update

Latitude 42degrees 15 min 30 sec N
Longitude 70 degrees 48 min 38 sec W
Speed: 0 knots (docked at Cohasset)
Wind Speed: 10 knots
Wind Direction: 110 degrees SE by E

Students leave to return home after a glorious day sailing. All reported to have taken on their sailing tasks conscientiously and enthusiastically. When Stephen and Dan were asked if they were ready to go again, they nodded and seemed to say something that sounded like, "Aye, aye--and it can't be too soon."  

---

Date:

14 May 1999

Time:

11:08:02

Update

Friday, 1999:05:14:10:00

At ten o'clock this morning, the "Easy Wind" was reported to be at latitude 42 degrees 6 minutes North, longitude 70 degrees 5 minutes West at a speed of 6.5 knots at a compass bearing 0f 140. The wind speed is less than 3 knots and it is a clear day. They are heading toward Plymouth, Massachusetts. On board are Dr. Richard Lathrop, Captain and Director of Virtual Voyages, four students from the South Shore Charter School--Morgan Coyne, Dan Cross, Stephen Delorey, Ted Lothrop, and, accompanying the students, is Mrs. Elllen Lothrop, a parent of one of the crew members. As the boat passed SSCS, classmates went to the beach to see the boat on the distant horizon and then, back in the classroom, they followed this with a look at the position on a map.