Locks, lakes and rapids
After two seasons cruising on Lake Ontario and among the Thousand Islands we were feeling the lure of the sea and keen to have saltwater under our keel once again.
It had been a wonderful experience; freshwater sailing has definite advantages, not least that on winter lift-out the hull below the waterline emerges almost as clean as when it was launched; no barnacles or crustaceous growth to scrape off! The brightwork had remained clean, shiny and salt-free and the running rigging pliable and soft to the touch.
However, it was time to move on and consider route options from the Lakes to the Atlantic. The obvious one was to return the way we’d come; mast-down through the Oswego and Erie Canals and down the Hudson River to New York. Alternatively, we could negotiate the more challenging route, mast-up, down the St Lawrence Seaway and River, and through Quebec Province to Nova Scotia.
It was no contest really; the latter option won hands down, particularly as we enjoy exploring new territory and sailing into new ports.
We’d carried out much of the research for the passage over winter and returned in May to Irondequoit on the Genesee River, Rochester NY, where Quilcene – our 40ft Bowman cutter – was waiting on the hard. She’d survived the hard winter very well and a light sanding was all the hull needed before we applied the marine antifouling necessary for the return to saltwater.
Launch day came around – always a tense time wondering if all is watertight and functioning correctly – but it went smoothly and soon we were afloat once again and tied alongside the dock.
Flooded lakeshore
Rochester has fixed docks as the Lake is not tidal, but this year (2019) they were often an inch under water and we had to paddle along the pontoon to get on the boat. Fendering was tricky as the fenders kept floating
