Saddest day of the year

[Interim]

We pulled the boat out of the water yesterday, so I am as far from sailing as I can be. Everyday will bring it a little closer.

But the other bad news is that I doubt 6 months will be enough to complete all my winter boat projects. Especially if I spend the first four months thinking about it.

--john

[Tomfoolery]

I'm still resisting hauling it out. The lake water just keeps dropping, as does the average temperature, but there are still some nice days to be had in October.

Like Saturday.



As the sun set on the west side of the bay, the full moon rose on the east side. Camera wouldn't focus on the moon, though, but it was crystal clear, and The Man was smiling at me.



Weather was really nice, though the wind wasn't much out on the open water. But it was still a day alone on the water in a sailboat, reading a Robert Ludlum book, and sailing along without paying much attention to anything, as there were very few boats out, spread out over miles.

But the longer I wait, the harder it is to get onto the trailer, as my marina's ramp is the steepest I've ever seen, anywhere. Gotta dump the ballast first to make it easier to get into the little vee bunks under the bow. It would probably help if I had a couple of rollers leading up to it.

[Interim]

We've enjoyed a bit of fall sailing this year; cooler temps, better winds, and less traffic. I think there are good days ahead here, too, but they become less likely with each passing week.

But I found myself going through my usual routine when I got to my desk this morning: Check lake levels, and reservoir forecast; and check two weather web sites for the weekend forecast. I may be in denial.

Nice Pix.

--john

[March]

I agree. The local lake has been so low over the entire summer that I didn't even bother to launch. It's never happened before, to my recollection. Then, all of a sudden, at the beginning of September--wham! Heavy rains brought its levels up so, of course, three weeks ago we launched. Kept the boat on the water ever since. I managed to snatch some good sailing days even during the week, after I was done with the classes. The weekends were completely taken, from Fridays to Sunday night. Slept on the boat, too. There was almost nobody on the lake, the winds were sometimes good, sometimes lacking, but it didn't matter. The leaves were changing colors and the temps were in the 70's and 80's. Really nice.

Unfortunately, I will have to pull the boat out tomorrow. My depthfinders no longer work (I lost power in all the electrical sub-system in the steering column and haven't been able to figure out why) but the engine still works (it's hooked to a different battery and sub-system) so I'm hopeful. Still, no depthfinder while the water levels are going down, as they are now (one foot per day) is not a good idea...

It was nice while it lasted.... will post some pics when I retrieve my camera which is on the boat

[Russ]

Tucked her away a week ago. Sad long winter. Gotta be done.

--Russ

[C Buchs]

I called to see about pulling out. We have to give 30 days notice. They said that they have two people on the waiting list. Who gets on a waiting list in October!! This year there were two spots left when we put in in March. Now we are going to keep the slip year round or we won't have one in the spring. I have to pull the boat out to work on some projects. I hate having to pay for something that I'm not using. More evidence that the economy is good here.

Jeff

[Catigale]

Thanks to Kmac getting me into Harpoons, I'm never more than 15 minutes from sailing, any time of year

[paul I]

yeah, I did the haul out on 10/8. My marina is installing new docks this year so everyone had to be out by the 15th no if's, and's or but's. If your boat was still in the water after that date they were threatening to remove it for you, at your expense. Sad indeed.

[Catigale]

Where do you slip, Paul? I sail out of Wilson NY with friends on a Mac 32

[paul I]

Where do you slip, Paul? I sail out of Wilson NY with friends on a Mac 32

Small world. I'm in the "other" lake and slip at the Small Boat Harbor in Buffalo. Its now called "Safe Harbor" and is now a NY State park. For many years I was a resident of Oak Orchard Yacht Club further down on Lake Ontario. I've been to several festivities at the Wilson YC.

[Tomfoolery]

Where do you slip, Paul? I sail out of Wilson NY with friends on a Mac 32

Small world. I'm in the "other" lake and slip at the Small Boat Harbor in Buffalo. Its now called "Safe Harbor" and is now a NY State park.

Small world indeed. I've been to RCR Yachts on the river next to the Skyway many times when I was boat shopping. I used to ogle the CSY 44 walk-over that was docked in the river every time I was there (the pilothouse ketch version is my dream retirement boat).

[paul I]

I spent one season at RCR when I first moved from lake Ontario to Lake Erie. Very nice place, but pricy. Exclusively sailboats. I still had my Hunter 31' that season. RCR is across from the General Mills plant that makes Cheerios. The entire area smells like fresh baked cookies when they are manufacturing. I think my would be shunned there now.

Ahhh the memories. When I was sailing in Ontario I never really had to pay attention to my depth gauge. I'd go 200 yards off shore and be in 100 feet of water already. Erie is way shallower.

I used to sail to Toronto fairly often when in lake Ontario. Nice. Overnight in a marina. Catch a cab right outside the marina. Go to a Broadway show or a baseball game.

[Catigale]

DIdnt the name the bridge after the Cheerios' Father Baker (bad Buffalo humor)??

Western NY has the best people...great memories from living there.

Does RCR still do Catalina? If I don't buy my retirement boat there my WNY friends will kill me. Its amazing the good condition of 20-30 year old fresh water boats on the Great lakes

[Tomfoolery]

Does RCR still do Catalina?

I guess you have been away for a while. RCR was a Hunter dealer, and still is C&C, J/Boats, Beneteau, and I think Alerion. Navy Point is the local Catalina dealer around here, and has been since I got here 15 years ago.

But they'll sell anything that floats, on the used market. Ask for 'Corbo'. He's a pretty decent broker. Sold my Hunter (for more than I paid for it), and sold me my Mac.

If I don't buy my retirement boat there my WNY friends will kill me. Its amazing the good condition of 20-30 year old fresh water boats on the Great lakes

This is definitely the place to buy a used boat. Fresh water is very kind to boats, especially rigging and mechanical systems. And now is the time to buy, before everyone gets excited about the coming season.

So what are you waiting for?

[Highlander]

It,s been 18-20C here the last few days for short periods when the sun was shining
I think I,m gonna like it here

J