Our summer cruise

[Scott B]

Been meaning to do this for a while, but work etc. gets in the way.
Early August we headed up to Killarney and the Eastern end of the North Channel ( at least that was the plan )

Second night out we headed into Shewanaga Island to drop anchor and saw our sister boat an '05 H33, Anika Lela. I'd talked to Jason a few times on HBO and emailed back and forth and never met in person in 3 years. It was a big surpirse to actually be in the same anchorage that far from the marina and with 100's of anchorages in between. we decided since the weather was nice the next day, we were not in a hurry to go anywhere so stayed put for another day. Winsome II ( CS33 ), a friend of Jason and Co., arrived later that day after replacing his tranny in Killarney and a shore cocktail hour was organized and later a bonfire.

Heading out at Point Au Baril the next day. The barrel originally marked the safe passage through the shoals back before modern day navigation markers.

The current Point Au Baril lighthouse

 

[Scott B]

Headed up to the Bustard Islands with winds 20 knots DDW and full sails out ( forecast was 10 knots ) and learned how to furl the main ddw, not for the faint of heart.

Weather the next day was fog, rain heavy at times & thunderstorms so sat out the day.

Next morning was fog at sunrise.

 

[Tim R.]

Very beautiful Scott. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Scott B]

Decided that since the weather was crap for a couple of days then hot, sunny and little wind, we might as well travel on lousy days and spend a few days closer to home in the first day of any decent weather for the summer ( mid- August )

Headed out in dense fog the next morning and passed another forum member and chatted on the VHF. had to use the chartplotter to "see" where we were going and had the admiral on the bow. Finally cleared after a couple of hours. It was nice to see the channel buoys as well.

Checked out the Hope Island Lighthouse, now abandoned and under automatic lighting.

and a couple of Georgian Bay sunsets.

and spent a quiet night in a local anchorage well it was hot sunny, and close to town

 

[Maine Sail]

Nice!!

That is some beautiful country up there!!

 

[LooseDiamond]

Nice! Always enjoy seeing the contrast in terrain from south Mississippi!

 

[Scott B]

I think we are spoiled up here. I can get to some really nice anchorages on uninhabited islands, with clear blue, fresh water, sandy bottom and decent beaches, with a 4-6 hour sail depending on wind direction etc. and spend most of our weekends out there. Thats the last pic above. Within a couple or few days we can be in the north Channel and even nicer cruising grounds.


I think its great to be able to see sailing / cruising areas from other locations around the world and like to share a bit of our area.

 

[paulj]

Scott B

Top drawer pictures.
Thanks for taking the time to post the pictures.
:troll:
paulj

 

[jfssail]

I think we are spoiled up here. I can get to some really nice anchorages on uninhabited islands, with clear blue, fresh water, sandy bottom and decent beaches, with a 4-6 hour sail depending on wind direction etc. and spend most of our weekends out there. Thats the last pic above. Within a couple or few days we can be in the north Channel and even nicer cruising grounds.


I think its great to be able to see sailing / cruising areas from other locations around the world and like to share a bit of our area.

Scott, Really enjoyed your photos from your Georgian Bay trip. Reminded me of my own 2008 summer cruise thru the area. Your anchorage at Shewanaga Island appears to be Hopewell Bay. We also enjoyed the small anchorage at the north tip of the Island at Eureks Point.
Your final crowded anchorage appears to be Little Sand Bay at Christian Island. Must be during a weekend since the three times we were there, there were only a few boats anchoring over nite. Spent 4 days there three different times in 2008. Was our jumping off point as we headed north for 12 Mile bay, which was one of our favorites. Spent 3 days here.

Posting "Windancer"at 12 Mile Bay

Jack F Stewart
1993 C36 #1233 "Windancer"
Port Clinton, OH

 

[Scott B]

Hi Jack, good to hear from you again. Don't remember the name of the bay at Shewanaga, charts etc. are at the boat, but its at the south end of the island beside the old picnic site.

The last, crowded picture is is the East side of Beckwith, which is just East of Christian. It's the closest island and closest bay to Midland, so a lot of boats go there especially the daytrippers when it is hot and the winds are calm. It was the first really hot day in the summer and was mid-August. :cry: There was a steady stream of boats all day, coming and going. Wake form the boats was so bad, that we had to separate from the boat we were rafting with. We've been to Little Sandy Bay, Christian Island a couple of times, but you really have to watch the wind direction, we got bounced really good there one night when the wind held us pointed NW and the waves rolled in from the N and rolled us sideways all night.

Haven't been into Twelve Mile yet, but is on our future list, but have been by there many times.