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Just because this is a page about a sailing trip in the North Channel doesn't mean you aren't going to have to look at another cottage sunrise. This is a particularly nice one that occurred just before our trip.
Now, on to the sailing...
This is a diagram of the living areas of "Sicilia." As you can see there are three staterooms and two bathrooms, one with a separate shower.
Jeff and Julia were given the forward berth as "being the most likely couple to make disturbing noises in the night."
Here is a shot of our boat in all its glory. We are moored right to the shore (more of this later).
\The group, and their Captain, gather to discuss the trip over some Steamwhistles at "BJs," a local establishment right next to the CYC marina. This picture is included mainly so there is at least one shot of Rob.
Cindy and friends appear to be relaxed as we sail away. As you can see, the weather was perfect, idyllic even.
Our Captain was Jean Loup. Julia had some questions about his qualifications. Upon intensive interrogation, Ken, the owner of the charter company, confessed that Jean Loup had never sailed for Canadian Yacht Charters before, that he had never even met Jean Loup, and that Jean Loup was not familiar with the North Channel, but "he was highly recommended and seemed to be a nice guy."
As it turned out, we had a spectacular trip in all regards and Jean Loup was key!
Here, Jean Loup has explained that although he is the Captain, he wants us to do all the work, including virtually all the steering. Julia was one of the early volunteers.
Others are relaxing.
This is the route we followed (white-out/green-back): Saturday night - onboard boat at Gore Bay, Manitoulin Island; Sunday night - The Benjamins; Monday night - Baie Fine; Tuesday night - Badgeley Point; Wednesday night - Little Current; Thursday night - Croker Island; Friday night - The Benjamins.
After lunch at Darch Island, we sailed to the Benjamins and found a secluded spot away from the crowded anchorage. We put out a bow anchor and ran a line off the stern to a tree on shore.
Oh boy! Crystalline water that is not too cold. We all went swimming.
After the swim we dried our towels and ourselves on the bow.
Rocks, trees, and water. The unfailingly beautiful formula for Georgian Bay views which are at once similar and unique. This is the view from our anchorage the first evening of our trip.
Jean Loup slept most nights in a hammock slung between the forestay and the mast. Every morning we heard a splash as he dove into the water for his morning swim and ablutions. The only problem with this was that I felt compelled to do the same thing. So every morning in I would go.
Actually, the water was pretty nice the entire trip.
After a hearty breakfast, everyone but Cindy got off the boat and hiked (bushwacked) up the mountain overlooking our anchorage. It was quite an effort.
It was worth it though. Here is a shot of the boat from our vantage point. I think Cindy is waving.
In keeping with the "everyone takes a turn at the helm policy," Cindy moves beyond being an "ornament" and becomes a crew member. This was a very calm day, but she also had a stint at the wheel that was very exciting, with plenty of heeling (tipping).
The next day involved a long sail and passage of the Little Current swing bridge. We had to wait awhile for the bridge to open, supposedly on the hour. And although the sign says it stays open for 15 minutes, it swung closed the second we were through.
I've used pictures of this anchorage several times, but it was the highlight of the trip as far as I was concerned. Jean Loup knew we didn't like to be around other boats so he was at pains to find great places to spend the night other than at the traditional anchorages.
We had passed an anchorage with about 30 boats in it and were looking for a little anchorage for ourselves. We weren't finding much until Jean Loup said, "let's see if we can moor to that cliff."
He sent Jeff and me in the dingy to check the depth and how vertical the wall was. I jumped in and walked along the wall. It looked real good so we motioned the boat in. It worked out great. We just put out the fenders and moored right to the cliff. I had seen this in brochures, but had never done it myself. It was a beautiful anchorage.
The cliffs that surround Bay Fine are of white limestone as opposed to our area of Georgian Bay which is a darker granite. The limestone is characteristic of the Killarney area which we are quite near at this point.
The next morning was very still, which was fine since we were in the narrow confines of Baie Fine anyway. The still waters made for some very pretty effects like this wake running right up to the island.
The still waters also produced some incredible reflections such as this island with trees...
And this cliff.
At the bitter end of Baie Fine is a trail to Topaz Lake. The trail is about one mile to the lake and is quite steep and rough. Cindy insisted she could make it and she did it in style.
This lake is very acidic and so is devoid of vegetation of any type and is thus very clear and of a deep blue color. It was also quite cool, but we all went swimming anyway, including Cindy. We hadn't brought any water, so one of us traded two maple cookies for a bottle of water.
Topaz Lake is in Killarney Provincial Park.
More scenery. Jeff takes it all in from the bow.
Once again we spent the night by ourselves. We set the bow anchor and tied to shore in this secluded spot.
Sunset was beautiful every night, but this was particularly nice. Our bow pointed toward this little island.
Cindy relaxes with a book after breakfast on the third morning of the trip.
We had great wind the entire trip, but today we had some serious breeze. We all had the helm during some rail splashing heeling, including Cindy.
We had quite a way to go, head winds, and an unrelenting need to pump out our holding tank. Thus we felt we had to spend the night in the harbor at Little Current. We negotiated the swing bridge again and pulled right up to the town dock.
Some of Jean Loup's sailing buddies had sailed a 22 foot trimaran up from Penetanquishene. They only had a 4 hp motor so they couldn't stem the current at the bridge and had to tie up at a marina on that side of town. They hitched a ride over, however, and spent some time with Jean Loup (and us).
One of us provided grief counseling to one of the guys who had recently lost his cat, a companion of many years.
Although we hated to tie up with all the other boats, we liked Little Current. Along with our most urgent requirements we also replenished our liquor supply and got some fresh veggies. We ate aboard the boat.
After Little Current we sailed a lot the next day, then anchored in a bay at Croker Island the fifth evening of the trip. There were a few other boats there, but it was quite nice.
Upon arrival at the Benjamins a family of ducklings came swimming out to greet us. Obviously not the first time they had done this. Jeff fell for their ploy and fed them a bunch of bread. They returned his affection with an endearing loyalty that lasted until they swam off to greet the next arrival.
The Benjamins are known as the "jewel of the North Channel" so, after the night anchored in a bay on their neighbor Croker Island, we returned to spend some time exploring. Rob stayed aboard and did some swimming. The rest of the crew took the dingy ashore and enjoyed the "rocks and trees."
Jean Loup captured on the hike around the Benjamins.
The Benjamins really are very beautiful.
This is our dinner at the anchorage outside the Benjamins. We actually tied off to the same tree we used the first night of the trip. We ate all our meals in the cockpit. Our food was exquisite. Even our French Captain, a trained chef, appreciated our cuisine.
Julia took some tough spells at the wheel (a very big wheel, which apparently made quite an impression on her). She was supremely skilled and we were all quite comfortable with her steady hand. Note the confident expression.