200 miles in a 16ft daysailer

My friend Ante and I were born in Croatia and both immigrated to Canada over 30 years ago. We met for the first time here in Montreal and shared a passion for small boats. We did many day-sails together, either on his boat or mine, but one day we decided to go further afield. I don't remember whose ideas it was to sail 200 miles in a 16ft daysailer, but once the plan was hatched, we began our preparation in earnest.

We both owned Falcon 16 centreboard dinghies, but as mine was in the midst of an extensive rebuild, we decided to take Ante’s boat, Little Falcon.

We spent late spring and early summer preparing the boat and sorting out our gear. When the charts for Ottawa River and Rideau Canal arrived, we spent hours poring over them and planning our trip, making notes about good anchorages and marinas, other points of interest and places where we could get fuel. We checked distances to ensure we could complete the cruise in seven days, and made a few Plan B options. Then there were the logistics of launching the boat in Montreal and having someone drive down to Kingston with a boat trailer to collect us at the end.

Because our planned itinerary would have us going up the Ottawa River – against prevailing westerlies – then through the Rideau Waterway, we knew we’d be relying on the trusty old 4hp Johnson outboard. The main tank held six gallons of fuel, and we planned to bring four gallons more in two portable jerry cans. We would replenish our fuel supply along the way as often as possible to minimise the chance of running out. A generous supply of 2-stroke engine oil, spare sparkplugs and fuel filters, along with a small box of tools, completed our engineroom inventory.

Then, before