August 7, 2012 Tuesday
A sailing we will go, a sailing we will go.....southwest winds 5-10 kts predicted with waves, 2 feet or less, from Dunkirk, NY, crossing the eastern end of Lake Erie to Port Colborne, Ontario. What a beautiful day at sea. It was a jib alone (broad reach) sail. As usual, NOAA predictions were not accurate. Winds picked up to an actual 20 to 28 kts - and were screaming. Waves in Lake Erie with 20 kts + winds out of the WSW (240 mile fetch) will not be 2 feet or less for long. And so it was....4 footers with occasional 5's, but no worries for "Chasseur", they were pushing her. We made Port Colborne, just soon enough to avoid being uncomfortable. We had to wait for the Canada Steamship Line ship to clear the channel into Port Colborne and for our first time on "Chasseur" we got pooped by those Lake Erie waves! (for you landlubbers, "pooped" means (green water) waves coming over the back or stern of the boat and right into the cockpit)
We spent a lot of time interviewing and listening to the Sugarloaf Marina manager about "locking through" the canal. We appreciated the advise. We got to port early enough to "recon" on foot the town and locks. It gave us valuable information for the big day Wednesday. We went to the look out for Lock 8 and met Jen Scott, wife of the pilot of the ship "Stephan B. Roman" coming through the lock. She was there with her children (playing in the fountain) waiting for her husband to come home from out at sea.
Down the dock from us we met local sailor, James Shirk (not sure of name spelling), who has gone through the locks several times and offered us more advise.
Coming to port we received the "St. Lawrence Seaway Pleasure Craft Guide" that requires study before you enter the canal. It is like studying for your first drivers license, only the guide teaches you how to "drive" through the locks, equipment required (fenders,etc.), and signal light system to pass under bridges and entering and leaving the locks.
We had to clear customs which was quite simple via a phone call at a designated phone on shore. Everyone we met in Port Colborne was very helpful and pleasant.
It was dark when we came back from town and we still had preparations for the locks yet to do. We could not find the bicycle pump to inflate the fenders so as all sailors must do, Terry came up with an alternative (only a tuba player could do this), see photo.
"For there is a time for every purpose and for every work." Ecclesiastes 3:17b
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| Sailing to Port Colborne |
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| Waiting for Canada Steamship Lines to clear channel |
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| Port Colborne outer marker |
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| Inner marker to Port Colborne, Grain elevators |
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| Cruiser navigating through Lock 8 |
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| Jen Scott, wife of pilot on the "Stephen B. Roman" |
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| Scott children playing in the fountain waiting for father's return from sea |
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| Lock 8 |
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| Traffic signal for the Locks |
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| Boys and their toys |
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| Clearing the bridge into Lock 8 |
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| Closing of the lock gates |
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| Inflating the fenders |
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