North Channel 2006

Again this year we made the trip from Goderich via Tobermory and through Georgian Bay to the North Channel which is the complex landscape of low old mountains and islands that make it a rich cruising ground for boaters. Last year Bill and Heather Holmes followed us in their Grampian sailboat named Maybee Knot. We were away a whole month and had a great time (see North Channel 2005). This year we were accompanied by two other boats. Robin Wilson in Tipsy Nipper and Zoran Dordevic in Rambler; both Canadian made 26' Nash sailboats. We made our first stop at Port Elgin on Saturday night with plans to move on to Tobermory the next morning. However nature had other plans. We ended up spending four days there while storms howled outside the harbour. On Tuesday night we were awakened in the harbour by a phenomenal wind that made the water in the harbour literally boil. On Wednesday afternoon we endured a 45 minute long storm with at least 70 mile per hour winds. It was probably the worst storm I have ever seen. It eventually roared inland and did a lot of damage. Finally we ventured out on Thursday and made Tobermory by 5 o'clock. After two days there in Big Tub we started out in rather tenuous weather to go north. As we rounded Flowerpot Island I sensed that the waves were coming right at us so I decided to make the 15 mile trip to Cabot Head. We had a reasonable sail and reached the cove (our first time) in 4 hours. Next day we motored the 45 miles north to Killarney and Snug Harbour. Robin and Zoran stayed with us until we reached Snug Harbour where we were joined by Mike and Liz Earle who took both of them east toward the Bustards. Mary and I then set out for Killarney where we resupplied and then spent several days at Covered Portage Cove. We hiked and swam and spent some time with Paul and Mary Carroll who were there on Jay and Kathy Poulters boat. Jay and Kathy had been up for a few week earlier and now Paul and Mary were using it and then taking it home. The rest of our trip was simple this year. We went on to Little Current for a couple of days; then over to Fraser Bay and then down to Manitowaning. On the way down to Manitowaning we anchored off of Sunsite Estates and spent a few hours looking at lots. Our acquaintances John and Jackie Potter were out for the day but we did get to talk to their son John Paul. On our last night we anchored at Snug again and then began the trip home. We overnighted in Tobermory at Little Tub and next morning started a single leg trip home to Goderich. Our new chartplotter brought us in right on target and we got to enjoy the beautiful lights of Goderich after our 17 hours trip from Tobermory. This was our fifth trip to the North Channel on Rubicon. Every year we learn something new and do the trip more efficiently. We have decided to take 2007 off and do something else. Peter