With the Niagara, Memorial Day Weekend, May 28 – 31, 2010

Keith Otto, Val Schwarzmueller and I sailed and visited with our "friend" from Erie, PA, the tall ship, Niagara.

We arrived at the slip Friday evening, May 28 and completed repairs on the new shower/faucet.  Despite some minor scrapes from the tight space below the head sink, the repairs succeeded and the new shower in the head delivers hot showers!  Stowing of gear and catching up with each other over a few cold ones completed the evening’s activities.

Saturday morning Val took on the cook duties and prepared a terrific breakfast of eggs, toast, donuts, bacon, sausage and juice.  With this excellent fortification, we motored out of the bay on course for Put-in-Bay, Ohio, on South bass Island.  It would be Val's first time to visit so it was important to include PIB on our itinerary.  The light winds were so much that it proved a grand excuse to break in the new motor as we powered our way through the South Passage past Kelleys, Mouse, Starve, and Green Islands and finally into the anchorage at the base of the Perry Victory and Peace Memorial.

Photo by Val

We found that the US Niagara was tied to the dock at Put-in-Bay only a hundred yards from our anchoring spot!  Keith and I regaled Val with our stories of sailing and watching Niagara while based on Kelly III in Erie, PA.  These stories included the dramatic and LOUD mock cannon battle on Presque Isle Bay between the Pride of Baltimore and Niagara.  It was like seeing an old friend as we looked upon the raked masts and voluminous rigging raised tall over the 110 foot wooden hull.

Murph and the trusty Port-a-Bote, photo by Val

Val and I assembled the port-a-bote dinghy on the bow while Keith prepared the life jackets and other dinghy gear for going ashore.  We visited the excellent museum and learned more about the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie.  We met new friends from an Ohio Ski Club through our bon vivant single, Mr. Otto, and enjoyed a dinner with them in town while enjoying the views of both the Niagara and Kelly IV from our table.

The next morning we showered ashore then sailed west past Rattlesnake Island using the new (to us) drifter, a very light nylon sail which pushed us through the water at about 3 knots in only 5 - 8 knots of wind.  While Val piloted Kelly IV, Keith and I mounted the new mast ring and tested the new (to us) whisker pole with the drifter.  With all the "new" goodies added this winter, we're having a wonderful time testing and practicing with the new gear.  

Val at the wheel

We had to turn into the wind to sail through the gap between North Bass and Middle Bass Islands so we doused the drifter and fired up the new engine.  Once again the Yanmar purred and putted as we made way towards the anchorage on the north shore of Kelleys Island, just off the state park campground.

It was the first time we've anchored here in the 3 seasons we've been sailing Kelly IV in the Erie Islands.  We anchored next to a beautiful 50 foot ketch with an admiral's burgee flying from the spreader.  Soon the anchorage included the Niagara as she sailed in and join us just a couple hundred yards away!  It seems our two boats hailing from Erie, PA just had to hang together this weekend!

Niagara at anchor north of Kelleys Island, photo by Val

We rowed into the launch ramp and docks behind the breakwater at the park and introduced the Glacial Grooves to Val, as Keith and I recalled enjoyable times from previous visits.  After a short walk about the campground we rejoined Kelly IV for a sundowner.

Keith & Val prepared a magnificent dinner featuring Mahi Mahi and Steaks, a surf and turf dinner to beat the best anywhere!

We lounged around the cockpit in the evening and speculated about the Niagara's sailing plans as we made our own for the next day.  Given the forecast of wind and weather coming from the southwest, we decided to sail back to Sandusky Harbor Marina by raising the Genoa and Mainsail to press the boat through the infamous "Kelleys Triangle", the northeast corner of Kelleys Island where Kelly IV has picked up 4 different tows!  Of course, all these tows were prior to Kelly getting her brand new motor.  Maybe we were a little shy about testing the curse of "Kelleys Triangle" because we sailed through the "KT" without the motor running!  :-)

Keith at the wheel, photo by Val

As we sailed south towards Sandusky Bay, the breeze remained lighter than forecast, about 10 - 12 knots, but plenty to keep us moving under Genny and Main.  Given Kelly IV's rather poor ability to point into the breeze, our heading was more to the southeast than following our course to the south.  As we had plenty of time this was no problem, until we noticed the clouds building into ominous thunderheads directly over the city of Sandusky.  That was enough encouragement for us to strike the jib and fire up the now-dependable motor.  She took us quickly into the bay and our slip to conclude a terrific weekend with an excellent crew!

Launch Day Trials - May 15, 2010

Mark Johnson and my oldest son, Allen IV, were both very instrumental in launching Kelly IV this past weekend! Without their help, she'd still be high and dry!

Mark came out early Saturday morning, May 15 and stayed the entire day, partly because I stranded him out on Sandusky Bay! The details are that all three of us worked hard to prepare Kelly to be picked up by the travel lift, set into the well and have the mast stepped. Jim Zima from Great Lakes Diesel, the guy who sold me my new engine, was also along to get the new engine started for the first time. All was going extremely well, the new motor was purring quietly, so Jim suggested we take her for a spin out on the Bay. Eager to do something, anything, on the water, I quickly and foolishly agreed to his suggestion. I say foolishly because I had done nothing to prepare Kelly for a day on the water, no food, no drinks, no sails, and most importantly, not much fuel. Once the four of us were motoring serenely out of the marina, I mentioned that "Guy" (Warren Stewart) and I had emptied most of the fuel out of the tank while cleaning it in advance of the new motor. So I said we needed to fill the tank.

About halfway across the Bay towards the fuel dock at Battery Park Marina, the new engine suddenly quit.

Having Jim on board was terrific as he has the skill set to quickly diagnose the problem and he soon declared that no fuel was getting to the engine. We assumed that the tank had much less fuel than I recalled, so we now had to get ourselves to the fuel dock. After sharing the news that I had left the mainsail and jib in my car, the crew was contemplating mutiny. Then it dawned on me that I had already put the new (to me) Drifter on board a month or so earlier. I went rooting through the mess down below and came up with the untried drifter. As there was only a light breeze, it was the perfect sail. Allen IV and Mark set the sail precisely and trimmed her to a "T" as the "new" sail gently pushed us along at a gentlemanly stroll of 2 knots. It now looked like we could make the fuel dock.

At least it seemed OK until the wind died completely.

It turns out that Jim has clients and customers everywhere. We spoke with a few sailboats going our way and finally found a kind lady sailor who had been a customer of Jim's in a past experience. She agreed to tow us if Jim went aboard and helped her, as she was motoring solo at the time. The tow finally got us to the fuel dock where we filled the tank with only 8 gallons of diesel. Given a 20 gallon tank, it was clear that we had not run out of fuel after all. Jim bled the fuel lines and we were underway again, but only for 15 to 20 minutes when the engine was starved for fuel again. After chasing it down, Jim was able to confirm that the 30 year old fuel pickup tube in the tank wasn't working. He jury rigged the tank by inserting the fuel line directly into the tank and our starved Yanmar motor suddenly was purring beautifully again.

Jim has installed a new pickup tube in the tank this week so everything should be ready for a final sea trial this Saturday. Mark and Allen IV worked all around the boat the rest of the afternoon as we emptied the car of sails, bent on the mainsail, cleared out the v-berth and both cabin berths, tested the new solar vents, reviewed and tested much of the new electrical system, cleaned out the bilge and tested the backup bilge pump. We ended the day with a very nice Mexican meal at the Margaritaville restaurant, very well-deserved by both crew! 

Chesapeake Bay - April 2010

Bill celebrates with Donna as she & Don tie the knot

Don's boat, the Evelyn Marie"

Kelly II visits the Chesapeake while "Evelyn Marie" is in the shop

"Relentless", Troy Cain's new cruiser ready for Spring commissioning

Kooser 2010

Huge snow this year

Bill Paviol and his brother set up the first Kooser Ski Weekend in 2005.  Within the next couple years Bill brought more Pittsburghers along and soon it was a strong tradition we'd repeat year after year.  Here are pics from 2010.

Beautiful weekend for skiing

They closed the camp, but after we checked in

Bill prepares our breakfast

The cabin galley

Our dining area

The fireplace provided lots of heat

The bunks were comfy

We had to dig our way out!

Tons of snow

Murph, Bill, Guy & Keith, photo by Tom

Guy

Keith

There was a ski competition this weekend

Night skiing

Bill brandishes his beads

Thankfully, Bill survived this "yard sale"

Bill, Guy, Murph, Tom, Keith

A great Kooser ski weekend!

Great Breeze, Great Sail! - October 2 – 4, 2009

Jim Clark and I had a great sailing weekend October 2 – 4, 2009.  Due to unexpected work duties, I didn’t meet with Jim until 9:30pm Friday night, but we took off for Sandusky anyway.  Even so, we were moved aboard Kelly IV by 1am and got a decent night’s rest before departing Sandusky Harbor Marina about 10am on Saturday morning.

With southwest breezes forecast, we were able to sail immediately upon leaving the marina.  First a beam reach to clear the coal pier, then wing & wing run to clear the harbor and bay.  Jim had not been to Put-in-Bay before, so that was our destination for the weekend.

Since Kelly IV doesn’t point upwind very well, we found ourselves tacking to clear Starve Island and the southern end of South Bass Island.  Otherwise, the sail was very exuberant and exhilarating!  We reefed both main and jib but still heeled about 20 degrees and occasionally shipped significant spray across the deck.  The new dodger definitely earned its stripes as it kept both Jim and I very dry.  Jim manned the helm most of the way as I trimmed the sails.  Once we cleared the southern end of South Bass Island, we easily sailed a beam reach up the west coast of the island.  We enjoyed the clear view of the freighter turned house as it sat perched on a cliff overlooking the western coast of South Bass Island.

Captain Clark aboard his boat, "Magi's Mate" with Sarah

As sometimes happens when Jim sails Kelly (both III & IV), I got a few minor scares.  Jim sailed us into the harbor at Put-in-Bay, slipping very closely past 2 or 3 mooring balls.  I know if we had been sailing his boat, the distance to the mooring balls would have been double or triple the clearance Jim gave Kelly IV.  I think he likes the idea of watching my heart leap from my throat! :-)   With reasonable grace we snagged a mooring, then called for the water taxi.

The big surprise came when we finally got an answer from the Boardwalk Taxi people.  They told us they were trying to minimize their taxi service, given the late point in the season.  I asked if that meant scheduled/limited service or none at all.  The voice on the other end said they were trying to encourage people to tie up at the pier slips by the building.  When I asked what incentive they were offering, the voice replied that the slips were available at no charge.  I agreed that was a fine incentive and Jim and I immediately dropped the mooring and proceeded to the dock.  Although the wind was still blowing a steady 15-18 knots from our starboard (southwest) side we managed to pull into a slip without touching any part of Kelly IV to the hard, rusty, threatening iron rails that made up the finger piers surrounding Kelly IV.

We enjoyed the afternoon and evening walking around Put-in-Bay as proper tourists, even enjoying the video at the Perry Monument and Museum.  It was especially fun, as we’ve often sailed near the Niagara replica, featured frequently throughout the film.

The breeze on Sunday was forecast to be 20 knots with gusts to 26 knots, so we left before 9am to get away from the harbor before the breeze reached its full potential.  By discussing and planning our departure carefully we were fully prepared to exit calmly and successfully.  All would have been perfect if I had eased the motor into reverse to leave the slip, instead of forward.  As it turned out, my error of moving forward briefly, then quickly reversing, did get us out of the slip, with only a bent anchor bracket to show as evidence.

We raised sails while still in the harbor, then sailed downwind (more southwest breeze) past Middle Bass Island and east past the northern shore of Ballast Island.  A turn upwind had us sailing on a broad reach, then a beam reach across the northern coast of Kelley’s Island.  The sail became increasingly more bouncy as we created more distance between us and the islands of South Bass and Middle Bass opening up the fetch between the islands and us.  Given the stiff breeze we sailed under double reefed main alone until we reached the lee, east of Kelley’s Island.  Jim took the helm as we scooted rapidly across the smooth waters but still brisk wind east of Kelley’s.  The wind put us on a close reach as we were headed due south past Kelley’s towards the mouth of Sandusky Bay.

We made great time and improved our speed by unfurling a scrap of jib in the calmer waters east of Kelley’s.  At first it seemed like our entrance to the bay would be fast, yet uneventful.  Murphy’s Law being what it is, that didn’t happen.  While we sailed south along Kelley’s, we took note of a freighter that seemed to be headed the same way.  Although the freighter was still hull down (only the bridge deck was visible above the horizon) when we first saw it, it was coming toward Sandusky Bay from the northeast.  We speculated as it drew nearer that it might be headed to Toledo or Huron, but it be came gradually clearer to us that both the freighter and Kelly IV were headed to the same Sandusky Bay channel.  Since the freighter can occupy the entire channel all by itself, our mild interest gradually grew to significant concern.  As we were entering the channel we found the freighter was rapidly coming up from our port quarter and there would be little room in the channel for both of us.  Accepting the overriding “Mack Truck Rules of the Road” as the appropriate rules to follow (The biggest vessel has right of way, because he’s bigger.)  Kelly IV calmly did a 360 degree turn to starboard so we ended up entering the channel behind the freighter.

We then topped off the diesel tank at Battery Park Marina and returned to Sandusky Harbor marina, where we docked safely, stiff breeze not withstanding.

Jim and I had a terrific weekend thanks to great company, free dockage and very exciting sailing, with the stiff breeze being what Kelly sails best.

Kelley's Island, A Great Destination! - September 19-20, 2009

The weather forecast called for rain early on Saturday, so we just slept in, then grabbed a quick breakfast at "The Better Half", a great restaurant for breakfast in Sandusky.  By Noon we were on our way, but the breeze was much lighter than forecast and we motored most of the way to Kelley's Island.  We missed the terrific benefit of Keith's spinnaker in the light air.  Frequently I could be heard saying, "I got to get a light air sail!"  Kevin manned the helm for most of the trip, enjoying his first trip sailing Kelly IV.  Since the trip to Kelley's is rather short, we were mostly willing to just drift along, but as the afternoon wore on, the clouds over the island threatened to storm on us, so we motored our way into the marina.  Once we made Kelley's Island, we rented a golf cart and made the grand tour, including the famous "Glacial Grooves".

After a fun evening at the "Casino" (merely a restaurant and pub, no gambling at all!) we got another great evening's rest and cooked our breakfast on board in the morning.  The breeze was Much better on Sunday and we had an exhilarating sail immediately upon departing the quiet marina.  Kevin raised the sails.  After I enjoyed some time steering Kelly, Kevin took the helm and demonstrated his expertise and experience as a most competent pilot and sailing master.  As we approached Sandusky Bay, Kevin relinquished the helm, so I could enjoy the experience of competing with a large freighter for the space in the channel.  

Freighter sighted

Since it looked very much like we would end up side by side with the 600 foot freighter, we followed the "Mack Truck" Rules of the Road.  In other words, the big guy gets the right of way, period.  We did a brief circle to delay our approach into the channel, allowing the freighter to move ahead of Kelly IV.  Then we merely sailed in the freighter's wake, very smooth water, as it turned out.  Each time we ran the motor, I became concerned with the reliability of the iron monster.  Especially as the time wore on and the exhaust spewed increasing amounts of white within the transparent fumes.  The bottom line is that with the nice breeze, Kevin and I decided to only use the motor to enter the slip.  We delayed turning on the engine until all the duties of furling the jib, rigging the fenders, and dropping the main were accomplished.  Then we used the iron genny to moor Kelly into her slip with nothing going awry.  Chuck and Joanne Mead, our Great lakes Cruising Club friends, helped us tie up, so I got to introduce Kevin and the Blue Horizon crew to each other.

And thus ended another wonderful weekend on Kelly IV!

Pelee Island, Canada! - September 5-7, 2009

Keith Otto and Jack vanArsdale sailed with me this Labor Day Weekend and we took advantage of the easterly breeze to sail north.  The winds were forecast to be quite light all weekend, so Keith offered to bring the gennaker from Windwalker, his O'Day 25.  On Lake Arthur, we've had many very successful light air sails on Windwalker even though the breeze might be only 3 - 6 knots.  Even though the big blue nylon puffer was a little small for Kelly IV, we figured it was worth trying out the half ounce nylon head sail.

On Saturday morning we left Sandusky Bay after topping off our diesel fuel, since we expected the light air might bring extended use of the iron genny.  We motored north out of the Bay and ran parallel to the east coast of Kelley's Island.  Of course, this meant that Kelly IV would cross through the notorious Kelley's Triangle, the waters off the northeastern corner of Kelley's Island.  These are the same waters where Kelly has required a tow on 3 other occasions.  Unfortunately, this was no exception.  The good news is that we were already discussing whether to try out Keith's light air sail when the motor began to struggle.  She quit with a puff of white smoke just a couple minutes later.

We decided to continue underway with the gennaker and rigged a tack line off the bow pulpit and connected the sail on the, until now unused, spinnaker halyard.  We stretched the luff of the sail tight, as there were no hanks or other means to connect the sail to a forestay.  We ran the long sheets outside of all the shrouds and lines back to the cockpit, raised the spinnaker halyard, and enjoyed the sudden blossoming of the bright blue sail off the port bow as we made our way further north.

The wispy breeze would shift from NE to East so we struggled to make north, given that Kelly IV has trouble pointing close to the wind.  In light air, pointing is even trickier.  The good news is that in the very minimal wind the benefit of the gennaker was most evident.  Kelly's roller furled genoa, with its heavy UV protective cover, would have hung limp under it's own weight.  The translucent, paper thin gennaker weighs almost nothing so it stayed full and powered the boat with even the slightest of breezes.  Without the motor we were concerned about arriving after dark, but we already knew we were anchoring in a full moon, so that wasn't really any sort of problem.  As the morning worked into the afternoon, the breeze gradually built to a mild but stronger breeze.  Finally about mid afternoon we deemed the wind to be strong enough to keep the genoa full and drawing, so we lowered the successful gennaker and sailed onward with the unrolled genoa pulling us further north.

It proved to be a very beautiful red and orange sunset as we ghosted into the anchorage just west of the Scudder Marina.  We joined about 5 other boats, mostly sail, in the glassy anchorage.  We dropped the CQR for our anchor for the first time since I've owned Kelly IV.  We read in the Harbor Report from the Great Lakes Cruising Club that the ground below the waters around Pelee Island is mostly limestone.  The CQR anchor (vs the Danforth) seemed the better choice for holding in the limestone rocks.  It weighs 35 pounds, so it is more difficult to lower and raise, but in certain bottoms it can hold much better than the Danforth.

Keith steers us past West Dock, Pelee Island Ferry aft

As is always the case when sailing with Keith and Jack, our meals were terrific!   Since we arrived in the evening just at last light, we enjoyed our stylishly late dinner and slept without going ashore. Once awake in the morning, the weather report confirmed the very light air forecast.  Since we were without our motor (we tried on several occasions the entire weekend, but no go) we decided to raise anchor and head back to Kelley's Island so the sail on Monday to Sandusky Harbor Marina would be short and achievable even in light air.

We had another fun sail employing Windwalker's gennaker as we were passed by the Kingsville Ferry as it pulled into the West Dock.  Again the breezes increased in the afternoon so we sailed into the anchorage west and south of the old quarry pier on the west side of Kelley's Island using the unfurled genoa.  Compared to the Saturday sail of 35 miles, the 15 miles was a short sail, but just as fun.  The shorter sail made for an afternoon arrival about 4pm, so we had plenty of time to assemble the port-a-bote and dinghy ashore.  After a couple drinks we took a cab into the small town a couple miles away to pick up ice for Kelly's coolers of food and drink.

With a very light breeze things were a little tricky sailing off the anchor, so we raised the trusty gennaker before the foredeck was clear of the anchor.  Thankfully the breeze caught, filled and pulled Kelly IV away from the rocks just 20 yards away, as the waves threatened to push us into shore.  The big blue sail pulled us out of the anchorage, then we tacked to work our way south into the South passage, then east towards Sandusky Bay.  Unfortunately, after 3 hours we covered about 3 miles, but only 1 mile to the good and found ourselves keeping the company of the red buoy, just west of Carpenter Point.  It is also the turning point for all the boat and ferry traffic as it flows between Put-in-Bay and Kelley's Island.  The breeze gave up so we just rocked-and-rolled for a couple of hours.  Even though we were southwest of Kelley's Island, instead of the notorious "Kelley's Triangle", we decided to call TowBoatUS so we could return to the marina in time to head home for work on Tuesday.

Jack enjoys sailing!

We ate very well and enjoyed working Windwalker's nylon gennaker, so the weekend still proved to be a fun time, but the towing is becoming frustrating.  After the tow from Leamington in June, Mia gave me the OK to re-power Kelly IV.  This winter we're planning to have the service team at Sandusky Harbor Marina rework the electrical system and replace the diesel with a brand new engine (assuming their quote is reasonable).  I'm afraid the cost will be huge, but we've decided that Kelly IV is the boat we're going to stick with for the next several years and we need a reliable motor, so we're making the investment.  I've thought about overhauling the motor, but it would still be a 30 year old motor requiring 30 year old parts, not always available, let alone a mechanic who knows the old motors.

If the cost to repair the motor is not too much, we'll still sail our last two scheduled sails.  If the cost proves too much, we may have to cancel the last scheduled sails and wait for the new motor.  Regardless, we have plans for many new improvements for Kelly IV next spring!  Just a few things we're thinking of:  new commode, new bimini, new 30amp charger, new AC/DC power panel and breakers, and a new diesel engine!  That should keep the wallet smokin'!  :-)