Gaspe Cruise: 2016

Marc-Departure is set for 7 August 2016 from Gaines Marina in Rouses Point, NY

Gaspe Cruise pre-positioning begins

Marc- 30 July 2016.  Point Bay Marina

We arrived from NYC today and slept over.  The boat does seems a little beat from last weekend's spot storm.  The heavy winds cracked the dodger in several places.  I was able to tape things up for short term fix.

31 July 2016.  Nice sunrise at 5:30  this morning.  I was up for an early start for our 10 hour trip to Rouses Point, NY.  West winds of 10 knots favored us during the first hour until Essex when the wind turned North and then went calm off of Burlington.   It was a motor trip.  Fortunately the autopilot worked beautifully until South Hero.  I disengaged the system to give Autum a lesson at the helm.  Unfortunately it would not restart despite several attempts.   The weather was sunny and warming to the 80's.  Our reception at Gaines Marina was excellent.  Fuel up and pump out completed quickly.  Then we went off to the clean showers.  John and Mindy arrived soon after to take us back to Point Bay Marina.  We did stop for dinner at Archie's in Shelburne.  Nice trip and a great day.  John amused us with some new riddles.  Autum stumped him with one of her own.

July 3, 2016 Cruise Week at RSYC

Marc-  Sue and Stephanie and I arrived on board at about 18:00.  We immediately set sail for Shelburne Bay to join up with the fleet.  We were able to sail for perhaps 1/2 hour until the winds vanished.  The engine brought us to our destination without a glitch.  Our arrival was marked with the beginning of the fireworks display at Burlington. They were fantastic.  We quickly rafted up with Coquina and enjoyed the show.

4 July 2016-  Sailed on a beam reach all the way over to Spoon Cove on Valcour Island.  The autopilot could not handle the wave and wind today on shut down after the first hour.  Not a problem with three of us aboard.  Lucy III enjoyed its best point for sailing staying ahead of a 36 foot Beneteau.  Spoon cove was calm but busy when we arrived.  We picked a spot near our fleet and dropped the anchor.  It set immediately in the hard sandy bottom.  Steph and I went ashore to explore a bit and then went over by Dinghy to Sloop Cove to see the several powerboats from our fleet anchored there.  We all enjoyed an interested get together on the beach for appetizers and a few drinks.  John Donnnelly had requested that each boat come up with a theme song and present it.  Steph helped out with getting "Build me up Buttercup" on you-tube and then we played it on the speaker system provided.

5 July 2016- Early departure for Burton Island State Park.  The fleet split at this point and half went to Deep Bay while the rest went to Burton Island.  Since we were on a short cruise we decided to skip Deep Bay for our beloved Burton Island.  We sailed and motored and then sailed up and across the Lake to get to Burton.  We arrived at the Grand Isle Drawbridge only three minutes early.  We were the first boat to arrive at Burton (sail or power) and quickly settled in at the new sailboat docks.  After checking out the General Store we learned that they were having a special Lobster Omelet today.  Sue and I both ordered this and Steph had  excellent French Toast with strawberries and cream.  I have included just a few photos of the many flowers we discovered around the island. Raspberries were also in season and tasty too.  Steph and I enjoyed swimming off of the boat and Steph tried the paddleboard.  It was a nice swim.  A rather large steel houseboat came in and tied up behind us.  When they plugged in it tripped all of the Marina circuits.  I fear they have a ground fault in the hull making it unsafe to be in the water.  The Park Rangers came over and fixed the problem by denying them electricity.  Come nightfall the RSYC gang had a bonfire and marshmallow roast beneath a sky filled with stars.  There is no background lighting in this part of Vermont so we could see a great many constellations.

6 July, 2016- 07:00 departure for the Bridge opening.  This would end up being a total motoring day heading all of the way South to Kingsland Bay.  There were several RSYC boats to greet us there.  This was an excellent swimming day and we used the paddleboard extensively.

June 25, 2016 Kingsland Bay Weekend

Marc- Up here again to finish the boat preparations for Cruise Week.  Lucy III ready to go.  Sue and Steph will get the main food items and ice next week.  I sailed over to Kingsland Bay where quite a few other RSYC boats were headed.  Lucy III rafted up with Knot Negotiable to form quite an odd couple.  John and Mindy came over later on Coquina and also rafted up to us.

May 15, 2016 Boat Launched

Marc-Yes we are again in Lake Champlain with a lot of help from our friends John and Mindy Donnelly.  Sara prepped and painted the bottom.  I repaired the soggy cabin top and installed new stainless steel handrails.  Everything aboard seems to be functioning well.  Several new electronic items have yet to be installed fully including the AIS and the Radar.  The Raymarine autopilot is working.  Our maiden voyage was an overnight to Kingsland Bay State Park.

Mid-Winter visit.

5 March 2016:  Point Bay Marina, Charlotte, Vermont

Marc-  The Lucy III is still frozen in here at Point Bay Marina's storage yard.  Not much snow this year but rather a lot of ice beneath the boat.  All is secure for a few more weeks before we start the Spring preparations.  Stephanie and I attended the Royal savage Yacht Club Mid-Winter Raft Up at the Fire & Ice restaurant in nearby Middlebury.  Great meal and excellent conversation with fellow boaters.

Back out for the Winter at Point Bay Marina

October 15, 2015- Point Bay Marina, Charlotte, Vermont

Marc-  Nothing very exciting.
I winterized the boat with Stephanie's help and then we were off to Burlington.  No Fall projects completed but I did remove several hatches for repair/refinishing at home.  Here is one that has been completed (cover to life raft box).

 I am redoing the Dorade boxes and refinishing the front Hatch.

We will have the new Raymarine Chartplotter and radar to install in the Spring.  Hopefully we can learn to use it by then.  The autopilot is 99 % completed and working fine.  The below deck steering arm needs one more bolt to reinforce the installation.