We met up with my parents on Monday after a nice sail from an anchorage just outside of Gananoque. My parents had arrived Sunday after a rough sail in the wind and rain. (Sal and I decided to stay put that day). They were a little worried about where we had got to, so we decided then that we would make more concrete plans and have a set station on the VHF that we would use to check in at designated times. We spent Monday night in Kingston, buying a few little last minute things and some ice and bread. We both left Tuesday morning and had a windy sail up to Kerr Bay (12 miles west of Kingston, on Amherst Island). My parents are able to go much faster on their boat, so they arrived a good hour before us, but when we got there we rafted up beside and had a hot cup to tea to warm up. After a pot luck meal we separated boats and Sal and I anchored a little ways away.
Wednesday morning was a cool one! We both had our gloves, toques, and jackets on. Sal and I woke up at 5:45 am and got ready for a long day of sailing, we made extra coffee and some sandwiches for lunch. We set off an hour later heading around Amherst Island and finally SOUTH for Oswego. All morning we had the most wonderful sail (all sails up and averaging about 5 knots), the sun was shining, we saw monarch butterflies fluttering by and making their trip south, and not another boat in sight except for Chautauqua up ahead. Around 1pm things started to get a little rougher, the wind was stronger and the waves were starting to build. We tried reefing the main and finally took it down all together and motor sailed with jib and mizzen. I'm not very good at estimating wave height but I can definitely say it was the biggest i've ever experienced and something that I would not want to do again too soon. It was a tense 3 hours as we got closer and closer to Oswego. Poor Sal was on the cabin floor wedged between the two bunks trying to get rid of the sea sickness feeling. We both got wet from waves splashing over the boat and into the cockpit and were so happy to finally sail behind the breakwater and tie up to the dock. Mom and dad also had a rough time and we both drank our tea and discussed our amazement with the waves and relief to be in the safety of the harbour.
We both cleared into Customs and settled in for the night. Everyone was so exhausted and even though Sal and I were tied to probably the noisiest dock in the country, we both slept like babies. Today we will take our masts down in order to transit the Oswego and Erie canals. Another first for me will be going through a lock but my dad has promised to help with the first one. We will have lots of practice by the time we reach Albany.
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