Georgia E Toronto-Bahamas

Vessel Name: Georgia E
Vessel Make/Model: Bayfield 36
Hailing Port: Toronto, On., Canada
Crew: Skipper: Stu Ferry; Crew: Tony Patt
Extra: We hail out of Mimico Cruising Club, west of Humber Bay on Lake Ontario. http://mimicocruisingclub.com/index.php?q=node/1 Boat info: http://www.wind-borne.com/Bayfield36Spec.PDF (Same type -- in Grenadines. Thanks Carolyn & Nick)
21 November 2010 | Gulf Coast Marina
22 October 2010 | Museum visitors' dock, Kingston, NY
21 October 2010 | Hop-O_Nose Marina, Catskill NY
12 October 2010 | Winter Harbor Marina, outside Brewerton, NY
28 September 2010 | MCC
Recent Blog Posts
21 November 2010 | Gulf Coast Marina

St. Augustine to Palm Coast

Sun. Nov. 21/'10 Dropped mooring M22 9:20 after 3 days at historic St. Augustine. Met and travelled with 'Tybee Time' and 'Klabara'; we saw 'Riverdance' at fuel dock as we were leaving for Palm Coast (M 803) , about 26 miles along ICW.

22 October 2010 | Museum visitors' dock, Kingston, NY

Catskill to KIngston

Masted at Hop-O-Nose from 9:00 to 10:00 in morning; 100 year old derrick - slow but worked well. Finished rigging and set up main (left on boom on deck) by 13:00; went across Catskill Creek to get fuel and pump-out (free with fuel!) as Sean at Hop was out of diesel and didn't do pump-outs.

21 October 2010 | Hop-O_Nose Marina, Catskill NY

Waterford to Catskill

T. had to go to Toronto on an errand and returned just after midnight Thurs. We departed Waterford 9:00 and cleared Federal lock #1 at 10:10 (waited for another Toronto boat to come). The dam next to the lock is the last on the Hudson before the Atlantic. Now in tidal waters so were bucking a quarter [...]

12 October 2010 | Winter Harbor Marina, outside Brewerton, NY

Finally moving

Hope this blog works -- still learning posting rules and regs.

28 September 2010 | MCC

Introduction Blog 0

We are two retired guys who have been good friends for 40 years and also partners in a 24' Shark and then a 29' Columbia 8.7. When Stu retired, he bought Georgia E with the intention of taking off and cruising to the Bahamas where we enjoyed our first of many bare- boat charters starting in the 1970`s. [...]

St. Augustine to Palm Coast

21 November 2010 | Gulf Coast Marina
T warm, sunny , light winds
Sun. Nov. 21/'10 Dropped mooring M22 9:20 after 3 days at historic St. Augustine. Met and travelled with 'Tybee Time' and 'Klabara'; we saw 'Riverdance' at fuel dock as we were leaving for Palm Coast (M 803) , about 26 miles along ICW.
9:55 twin bridges @ Anistasia Island -- route 312.
13:10, T driving and got seriously aground on a shoal west of daymark"G81C" after successfully getting past reported bad shoaling areas near previous red marks on channel near Matanzas Inlet. 'Tybee Time' stopped and dinghied over and set our second anchor on a rope rode as a kedge; 'Klabara' waited as well; got some helpful wakes from power boats but no luck even with windlass. 'Delusions' gave us a tow off the shoal after about 3/4 hour of being stranded; by this time, tide was falling (bad situation). So, all well -- disappointment for Tow Boat US who were aware of our situation -- assume they had some other incidents in area in past few days.
15:05 arrived Palm Coast Marina. Few drinks (sorely needed) on 'Klabara' with 'T T'.

Catskill to KIngston

22 October 2010 | Museum visitors' dock, Kingston, NY
Masted at Hop-O-Nose from 9:00 to 10:00 in morning; 100 year old derrick - slow but worked well. Finished rigging and set up main (left on boom on deck) by 13:00; went across Catskill Creek to get fuel and pump-out (free with fuel!) as Sean at Hop was out of diesel and didn't do pump-outs.
Left at 13:30 against a tidal current of 0.75 Kts (high tide at 15:15) on the Hudson; 2200 rpm gave us 6.5 Kts over water (SoW) = 5.75 speed over ground (SoG is critical in tidal waters, we learned).
Coudy with sunny periods on ride down the Hudson to Kingston River (hang a right at the lighthouse); arrived at Kingston a mile up river at 17:15; docker behind a beautiful 1929 English-built restored 95' ketch "Belle Aventure" (photo).
Saw Jim and Julie of "Outreach" at a marina up river. Nicely restored buildings near the waterfront; beers and complementary jerk ribs at the local pub.

Waterford to Catskill

21 October 2010 | Hop-O_Nose Marina, Catskill NY
T. had to go to Toronto on an errand and returned just after midnight Thurs. We departed Waterford 9:00 and cleared Federal lock #1 at 10:10 (waited for another Toronto boat to come). The dam next to the lock is the last on the Hudson before the Atlantic. Now in tidal waters so were bucking a quarter to 1 knot current til late morning. Waterfront tour of Albany.
Then we were pushed by current til we arrived at Catskill Creek just after 4:00 pm. Got in to a tight docking spot at the masting crane by 4:30. Beer, soup and calimari at the Creekside bar at the marina. Masting tomorrow.

Finally moving

12 October 2010 | Winter Harbor Marina, outside Brewerton, NY
cloudy morning, sunny afternoon, cool
Hope this blog works -- still learning posting rules and regs.

After arriving in pouring rain on Thursday, Sept. 30, (shall try to insert posts later), we learned the Oswego Canal and part of the Erie Canal were closed as of Oct. 1 . Oct 12, we heard Canal would open @ 7:00.

7:00 decided to let all the big power boats go first and try at third Lock full.
9:00 shoved off after topping up water, breakfast and getting some gas for outboard. Waited around at Lock 8 entrance for about 15 minutes with three power boats and two other sailboats. Got in and all fitted OK.

There was a separate channel from lock 8 to 7 and 6 so we didn't have to fight the flood .current in the lower Oswego River that runs next to the canal. Cleared Lock 6 by 10:30 with 6 other boats into the Oswego River with 1.5 opposing current at that point (dams were controlling flow). By 11:35, we cleared #5 with a 6 mile run up current to 3 (no Lock 4) then a 1/2 mile run to #2 which we cleared by 13:30; the bigger power boats had all taken off and were far ahead.

Got through Lock 1 after 10 miles also against about 1.5  Kts. We continued 2 miles up Oswego River to Three Rivers at the junction with the Erie Canal. Turned left to go east on the Erie. 

We then had to rush to get to Erie Lock #23 before closing at 17:00 -- just made it and cleared out with 5 other boats - one being a 95' cruiser returning to Florida.

Got to Winter Harbor Marina at 18:00 -- best diesel price on the canal according to Terry H. They had loaner cars so we went to Brewerton for dinner.       

8 locks, 30 miles logged.

Pic exiting Lock 8 to canal to #7 (1/2 mile past bridge)

Introduction Blog 0

28 September 2010 | MCC
T. Rainy day
We are two retired guys who have been good friends for 40 years and also partners in a 24' Shark and then a 29' Columbia 8.7. When Stu retired, he bought Georgia E with the intention of taking off and cruising to the Bahamas where we enjoyed our first of many bare- boat charters starting in the 1970`s. So here is our story.

The plan is to cross Lake Ontario, travel via Oswego and Erie canals to the Hudson River, down the East coast to Florida and then cross over to the northern Bahamas.

Home slip SS 8:

About & Links