Heading out to Newfoundland…

The week leading up to departure was consumed by “situations beyond our control,” so planning got a little deferred/disordered and we ended up rushing with final tasks.

We had originally set a “target departure date” of the 20^th, but as we watched the weather patterns developing (a strong east wind over Lake Ontario, which makes for a washing machine ride and fight upwind the whole way) we realized it was go early or delay for 5 or 6 more days.  So, we called an audible” and scrambled to get set for an early departure, leaving the dock at 8:05pm Sunday.

This is /was the weather forecast for the 21^st…orange is bad… so why we left early.

May 19, 2025

The overnight sail was a pretty comfortable one, with the wind blowing 18 knots out of the NW, so with a full genoa and single reef in the main overnight (for safety we reef the main every night unless it is really light winds), we coasted down the lake at about 7 knots.  With water temperatures hovering around 5 degrees, it gets pretty cold offshore, so we were wearing our orange floaty suits for the first time (goofy looking but warm).

These winds were not to hold, and by 1am had dropped to 6 knots (still out of the NW) so we turned the motor on and motorsailed to maintain boat speed of 5 knots. About 5am the winds shifted north and started to build but were fluky (swinging over 100 degrees) so we sailed/motorsailed trying to get to Kingston before dusk.

The cabin set for night sailing

It did not work out that way………..

Is an ugly start auspicious for a positive rest of the journey??… Hope so.

Late afternoon, feeling very pleased with ourselves for a steady uneventful run, we rounded the east end of Prince Edward County, preparing to swing north when we switched fuel tanks (to balance the boat).

This is when the fun started…………

After 30 minutes, the engine sputtered and we shut it off.

Backstory…we had water get into the starboard fuel tank last year, but through the winter we had drained the tank thinking we had got all the water out….apparently not.

With Alison on the helm, we set up a nice downwind sail with the genoa poled out and I started tearing apart the fuel system to drain any water, bleed the injectors and try to diagnose any other problems and get the system restarted.  After several hours, we “sorta” got it working, and were trying to nurse the boat, jibing the main several times to maintain course for Collins Bay. Unfortunately, they could not accommodate us but were helpful in connecting us to a diesel mechanic for a phone consultation. So changed our course for Kingston.

Then the wind decided to build to 19 knots on the nose……..

Sails down, engine only power and rpm tolerance less and less… we realized that were not going to make Kingston. This was 7:30pm so light was fading. We needed to find a safe place to put this boat before darkness fell and the wind built up anymore (or we were going to end up on some rock). We tried to call for a tow but they told us they could be there in 90 minutes (!!) and the rocks were closer than that.  We hoisted the Genoa (on a furler so this is easy), spun the boat around and hobbled to Long Point Bay on Amherst Island before dark. We were got into the bay, knew we had to rely on the engine to get up into the Bay (safer further in). The building winds stopped us dead, and the engine died. So we dropped out 25m of anchor and chain manually.  Tikaani secured, we paused for a small scotch (thank you Pulkit) and collapsed into our bunk.

May 20

After 11 hours of being totally comatose, we got back to nursing/cursing/fighting with the engine.  We got her started again but soon realized that she could only handle very low RPM’s. Luckily the wind had settled down to a steady 7 knots, but direction was still on the nose when heading for Portsmouth Harbour, Kingston. So, with prayers whispered and fingers crossed, we pulled up the anchor, using the staysail to backwind and turn us around and hobbled towards Kingston.

For those asking “ you’re a sailboat, why not sail there?” …fair point, but Kingston was almost dead upwind, Tikaani is not the most responsive upwind boat, the bay is littered with islands and shoals, and we would still have to figure out how to sail her into a strange harbour.

Sure enough, as we hit the middle of the main channel, about 2 miles from Portsmouth harbour, the wind picked up (again, +12 knots) and the engine decided it had enough for the day.   As we drifted backwards down the channel, we frantically launched the dinghy, lowered the outboard onto it, and tied it alongside Tikanni where it became our “engine”, and we tugged Tikaani the last 2 miles to the harbour.

With me in the dinghy providing power and Alison at the helm, we maneuvered into harbour, spinning the boat around to face outward (thank you Bow Thruster). We had called ahead and staff came out to catch her! Very grateful, we booked 3 nights to ride out the coming East winds and rain and, of course, to fix the engine.

May 21 and 22

Trips to Marine and Auto stores, ubering and bussing around Kingston. Visits with friends, were highlights. Weather cold and rainy. Met up with friends, enjoyed Portsmouth Bakery and Pub. Fantastic dinner at Heist! Thank you, Josh (head chef).

By the end of Day 3, we had switched the fuel feed to the Port tank, drained all the fuel lines, changed all the filters, bled all the injectors, cursed/coddled/coersed and generally begged the engine back into operating status.  A few tests at the dock and we were 90% confident that Tikaani was back in the game. Thus, decision was made to depart for Brockville in the morning.

May 23

Departed Kingston at 8:53am into drizzle and an 8 knot easterly breeze (so on the nose). Temperature was ~8 degrees and visibility less than ½ mile.

Much as we hate piloting with the full enclosure up, the alternative would have been a truly miserable day of motoring.