Friday, June 27, 2025

Day 5

The weather remained good, with winds predicted to be less than 6 kts. We started the engine at 559am but it wasn’t until 0604 that we cast off as I grabbed the black extension cord for the yellow dock line (the yellow electrical cord). I pushed a very big/long log away from the dock first and by the time we left, the log wasn’t a problem.

We raise the main in the harbor at 0629 and lowered to centerboard (CB) at 0632. By 0645 we were exiting Fairport Harbor at the east end harbor entrance and found that the waves were coming from the east directly upwind, which was not what we expected. At least they were at the most 2’ tall on the big waves and about 1’ for the rest. Poor Casper. I had out him on the pilot berth, but he went to the V-berth which goes up and down the most. He was holding onto dear life with all 4 legs wrapped around a partial case of water. I picked him up and placed him on the pilot berth and he’s been there ever since. His dunk in the river has changed his spirit poor thing which I hope improves as time goes by. We had blue and wispy skies to the north and clouds to the south. Our course over ground (COG) was 051 degrees, heading was 049 degrees, speed over ground (SOG) was 5.7 kts, winds were 9.5kts.

It wasn’t too much past the Nuclear power plant that we heard a bang and then the backstay was loose and then we looked forward saw the rolling furling jib forestay had come off its connector and was flapping around on the deck. Phil and I were able to grab it and get it under control. Phil turned the boat around 180° so that we were going downwind calming the motion of the boat, Vicky came up from her bunk and assisted us. Being on the bow, I quickly became sea sick and after a while, I had to go back to the cockpit. We still had the pin and Phil was able to get the forestay connected with Vicky’s help and a curved cotter pin in to secure it. Phil tried to replace the curved pin with a straight pin, but the hole was too small. Phil and I tightened the back stay, turned the boat back on course and continued on our way. Unfortunately, my seasickness got worse and I pitched it (vomited) over the side. After that I felt better and not too long went down for a nap.

When I came up to the cockpit, the Ashtabula Harbor entrance was less than 1/2 mile away. We entered the Harbor at 1115am, dropped the mainsail at 1118am and raised the CB at @ 1120am. We made it through the Ashtabula River Bridge at 1133am and docked at 1140am at the guest dock. Engine off at 1145am. The owners of a boat there were kind enough to move forward so we were able to share the space and save room for the pump out dock so we were tied up by 1152. It’s 15.3ft deep under the boat. We’re sharing the dock with. 2009 Beneteau 34, owned by Jack and Andrea B with their granddtr Karlie from Erie, PA. They live south of Pittsburgh.

The storms that we left early for arrived about 130pm and wasn’t that bad at the boat as I heard at Grand River Yacht Club. They were very strong in Lake and Geauga counties.

We had cheese and crackers and nectarines for lunch. I wasn’t very well, and drank increased amounts of water. I started knitting my top, listening to a podcast and took another nap. I’m feeling much better I’m glad to say. I made a tortollini salad for the Friday potluck at Raul’s, their outside covered eating with outdoor kitchen at Ashtabula Yacht Club. I didn’t have all the ingredients so improvised with what I had on hand, and I think it tastes good.

We enjoyed talking with Jerry Persily of SV Manganinne, a C&C 38’ sailboat. We also met Ann Hysell who has her own Tartan 37. She’s also an RN caring for her mom. We have decided to stay another day for the Seaglass Beach Festival. Then after Ann has done her parking duty, she wants to come see our boat. Potluck was delicious.