CODA: Quick sail to Essex, NY

 17 August 2023

Point Bay Marina Moorings

Charlotte, Vermont

Marc-  Our friend Cheryl was visiting so we decided to sail over to Essex for lunch at the Old Dock Restaurant.  The Old Dock allows for free docking when you are a guest.  We arrived at about 11:00 after a nice sail over from Charlotte and alerted the staff that we would be touring the town before lunch.  Essex has some nice shops including a bookstore and ice cream shop.  There are several restaurants and a museum as well as a library worth visiting.  We also enjoyed visiting the Episcopal Church to view it's fine stained glass windows and a sailing ship hanging from the ceiling.

A tribute to sailors.

CODA: Cruise Week - Burlington Festival of Fools

 5 August 2023

Burlington Community Boathouse

Burlington, Vermont

Chrch Street and City Hall Plaza were filled with performers and spectators today.

Marc-  We left Burton Island at 09:00 and were able to make the 10:00 ferry.  Unfortunately there was little wind today so we motorsailed all the way to Burlington.  Other DIYC members were there to help us dock perfectly.  Best of all is the camaraderie provided by this group.  This was especially apparent at the pot luck dinner at the dock.  Thank you Will and Kathleen for hosting and for the delicious chocolate cheesecake.

Our fleet was split between two marinas (south boats above).

Fitz, our commodore, in the sunset.

Good night.

CODA: Cruise Week - Weather delays for some - Burton Island State Park

 3-4 August 2023

Burton Island State Park

Burton Island, Vermont

Living the dream.

Marc-  We are still at peaceful Burton Island while the wind and storms carry on.  Much of the DIYC fleet has moved South to Valcour Island or beyond.  Four of the most adventurous sailboats left yesterday in mounting winds with gusts reaching 30 knots and as much as 6 foot waves.  No hurry for us since our next reservation is at Burlington on Saturday.  John and Michael Foley aboard Madrigal II have remained as well. 

We enjoyed a fantastic time socializing and having dinner aboard Madrigal II.  

    The winds persisted all night with thunderstorms lighting the sky at a distance.  No problems here.  I had time to replace the galley faucet with a more modern design (the crew threatened mutiny if the spring loaded faucets, designed to limit water use, were not replaced).

Michael's fire.  Sara Lou's marshmallow.

CODA: Cruise Week - Burton Island State Park

2 August 2023

Burton Island State Park

Burton Island, Vermont

Sunset last night.

Marc-  Steph reported a beautiful full moon sail last night on Chip and Angela's magnificent New York 40.  I used one of the park fire rings to cook dinner earlier (Too windy for the boat barbecue).  

Plenty of heat from this one.  

CODA: Cruise Week -Willsboro Bay Marina to Burton Island State Park

30 July 2023

Willsboro Bay Marina

Willsboro, New York

Moonrise above CODA at Willsboro Bay Marina

Marc-  We had a late departure at 12:00 due to getting a few last minute chores at the house in Vergennes and gathering everything we would need on our trip.  Northwest winds of 10-15 knots in Town Farm Bay were on the nose so to speak when we turned the corner at Split Rock and headed Northwest.  We gave up on any hope of sailing up the Lake when the wind speed diminished and the sailboats were not making much progress.  In the end we motored under automatic- pilot for most of the journey under bright blue skies.  Roger Wallace, a friend and fellow sailor, greeted us at the marina where we backed into the slip.  CODA makes the task easier by having a bow thruster.

The Diamond Island Yacht Club cruise pot luck dinner was great fun.  This marina is very welcoming for group reunions.

You know what is on my mind.

31 July 2023 - 1 August 2023

Burton Island State Park

Burton Island, Vermont

Arriving at Burton Island.

Marc-  I cooked up a breakfast of french crepes for the family while still at the dock in Willsboro.  We did not depart until 9:30.  

Stephanie seeing us off at Willsboro.

(Steph took the car to Burton Island due to her work commitments.)

Hiking about the Island.

DIYC fleet growing.

Welcome to Burton.

Burton Sunset taken from the campfire and s'mores gathering.

 

CODA: Cruise Week -Diamond Island Yacht Club 2023

 29 July 2023

Point Bay Marina 

Thompson's Point

Charlotte, Vermont

Visiting Button Bay State Park with friends Donna and Frank

Marc-  The cruise officially started yesterday with a two night stay at Converse Bay.  We delayed our start due due to visiting friends and to await our crew: Sara who arrived today from Montreal.  I went aboard to load the boat today and met a series of rain showers and thunderstorms coming through the area.  We decidied it was best to sleep at home tonight and start in the morning for a sunny trip over to Willsboro.

CODA : summer shakedown cruising

 1-3 July 2023

Point Bay Marina 

Thompson's Point

Charlotte, Vermont

Burlington by Stephanie

Marc-  The week of July 4th has traditionally been our boat club's cruise week on Lake Champlain.  It has been delayed to the end of July this year.  We decided to cruise locally to test out our new boat and go visit some of our traditional favorite harbors.  Sue and I raised the sails, main and genoa, on July 1st in rather light winds of 10 knots in the main Lake North of Split Rock and achieved 5 knots of boat speed.  The boat tracked very well and the auto pilot handled the calm conditions well.  We headed over to Kingsland Bay, picked up a PBM mooring and met up with friends.  

Sue enjoying attention from the Hillman's dog Lucca (a Cockapoo).

At various times we visited with Steve and Wendy, Roger and Susan, Will and Kathleen, Charlie and Susie and with Charlie Langworthy.  We are still doing with a working gas stove, anchor windlass, and bow thruster.  There was some excitement aboard when leaving Kingland Bay under sail.  The genoa sheet tangled with the anchor chain (I had not stored the chain well when working on the windlass earlier) and we ended up with an unfurled genoa that could not be controlled.  I went forward and found the problem only to create a runaway anchor situation while sailing at 5 knots.  Luckily the rocna anchor did not set this time as I pulled abound 20 feet of chain back aboard by hand somehow (oh my aching back).  Our next trip was over to Westport, New York to enjoy their fireworks display on July 2nd.  The persistent rain cleared in mid-afternoon and Sue, Sara, Stephanie and I motored over to Westport.  We did raise the sails in Northwest Bay just as the wind dropped off.  CODA had the best slip for fireworks viewing at the Westport Marina.  Enjoyable evening with a wedding in the local park, a nice walk around town with an ice cream stop, dinner cooked on the barbecue and fantastic fireworks.  

Steph getting ready to raise sail.

Westport Marina

Westport wedding.

Westport flowers.

A Gnome garden.

Pilot house views.

Steph-  This morning I woke up to a bloody nose and Dad and Loulou talking loudly.  I was not having it!  How were they so happy at 05:30 a.m. ?  I have never been happy at 05:30 a.m. .  Trading pillows helped and bunks helped a lot for another hour of sleep and then I woke up to microwaved scrambled eggs with fake bacon and toast - yum !  Ok but for real it was nice :) .  

    Super calm on the lake today leaving Westport and heading back to Point Bay so I can go to work.  The mist in the mountains is magical .  Even though we are in a new boat (that kind of feels borrowed / like we are at a boat show ) it feels like coming home and all four of us being on the boat together means everything to me.

    #Family is forever!

Independence Day band playing on the Vergennes Green.

Vergennes Falls after several days of heavy rain (from the hydroelectric plant).