| the 11th annual North American Wayfarer
Rally Organizer's Report by Alan Asselstine ... |
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Original Message -----
From:
Alan Asselstine W7346
Sent:
Saturday, November 20, 2010 6:00 PM
Subject: Killbear
Rally Report 2010
I have at last incorporated the comments from various participants, so this is the latest version. Alan W7346
Report
on the 11th Annual North American Wayfarer Rally
Killbear Park, Parry Sound, ON * August 7-14, 2010 Overview:
At this years North American rally, 40 sailors with 18 Wayfarers
enjoyed a week of sailing on Georgian Bay around Killbear Provincial
Park. We were able to sail 6 of the 7 days of the rally. Each evening,
there was time to socialize as we were all in the Lighthouse Point
campground. Of course, there were still those nasty camp duties of
erecting tents, cooking on a camp stove and trying to keep things clean
and dry. This years participants were:
Saturday August 7 Sailing: The weather was warm and sunny with good winds from the Southwest. The early arrivals of Blue Mist, Majam and Ab faB set sail into Blind Bay on the north-east side of Killbear Park. As the winds were coming over Killbear Point, they were fluky but a two-and-a-half-hour sail took them to the end of Blind Bay and back. It was a good start to a week of sailing. Those boats launching found a strong crosswind that pushed them into the rocks, so everyone cooperated getting the boats in. Social:
That afternoon and evening, each new arrival was greeted and
friendships were renewed. The crew of Blue
Mist did get a midnight visit from a local - the park bear.
Sunday August 8 Sailing: At about 10:00 AM, as the captains' meeting ended, the rain started. It rained and thundered all day. There was no sailing. Social: By 6:00 PM, the rain had stopped and the tailgate party went ahead in the parking lot. Trunks were opened, coolers were set out with table cloths and a wide variety of nibblies was rolled out. Although chairs arrived, most of the visiting was done standing up and milling about. We were serenaded by Jeff Kirk (banjo), Lisa Nelson (guitar) and Andy Douma (guitar). We then got a rare treat as Anne Armstrong, lead violin of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, performed for us beautifully in the lovely outdoor setting of Lighthouse Point on a violin that Maribeth Fletcher was in the process of delivering to her daughter. A park warden stopped by to advise us that it was illegal to drink alcohol off “your” camp site. All official drinking stopped but the party went on until 9:00. Monday August 9 Sailing: Many boats still had to be launched and winds were light. However, soon after 11:00 AM, 15 boats set out for the Pancake Islands. Once we made it around Lighthouse Point, the winds freshened and we had a nice sail to the Pancakes and lunch at about 2:00. Some enjoyed a swim in the warm, clear water. When it was time to head home, the winds
stopped and we drifted. It was out with the oars and paddles and
slow progress home. Finally, off Spruce Island, the wind did pick up.
Robert, the last to leave the Pancakes, took the long route but had
better winds and so beat most of the fleet home. As with the following
days, some boats did not join the main body of our fleet, but rather
sailed around Killbear Point or took the day off. Like all rallies,
this offered comradeship and flexibility.
Social: This was an evening of
informal campsite to campsite visiting and fireside chats. Tuesday August 10 Sailing: At the captain’s meeting, Ted
Rosen repeated the Monday weather forecast of light, variable winds
freshening during the day and a chance of showers. This was the
standard forecast all week, as Environment Canada seemed to be playing
the same recording each day for Ted. The decision was to sail to
Davy Island and then decide where to go, based on the winds at that
time.
15 boats set out around Lighthouse Point, and found good winds but hazy skies and fog. A low was passing through. At Davy Island, the boats hove to and there was some indecision, as communications were difficult.  With good winds, we decided to head for Oak Island and a reported beach. On that island, we found a cottage and an owner who did not welcome us ashore. Andrew and Lori set out across the near-by bay and found several coves suitable for our landing. It was on the Parry Island Indian Reservation and had no cottages. The sun came out and we enjoyed lunch on the rocks; a place to return to at future rallies. Most took the occasion to enjoy a swim. Meanwhile, a sub-group - Uncle Al, Sean Ring and Robert Mosher - spent a quiet lunch break on their own a bit further south in the anchorage between Surprise and Parry Island. The return down wind took us through the Rose Island Channel. Social: The crew of Njord hosted the traditional black-tie night. As this bit of drinking and eating was being done on Lori's and Andrew's camp site, the warden did not visit. Everyone made the effort to dress up special for this austere event, as the pictures will show elsewhere. Duct tape again showed its versatility and provided elegant accessories for some of the gentlemen. As the evening progressed, the sailors munched their way through most of the goodies, and so left little for any late party-going bears and raccoons. Wednesday August 11 Sailing:
With light easterlies, the fleet headed east towards Parry Sound with
the objective of rounding Wall Island and coming back through the Hole
In The Wall.
The winds or rather the lack of wind had other ideas. The fleet bobbed, rowed and paddled its way straight to the Hole In The Wall. At 1:00 PM, as most of the fleet was in the Hole In The Wall, we heard a ship's horn that indicated the Island Queen, a four-storey-high tour boat out of Parry Sound, was heading for the Hole In The Wall. Most of the fleet made it through in time to see the Island Queen bearing down on them. SHADES was clinging to the rocky side of the Hole In The Wall for picture taking and it looked as if Blue Mist might challenge the Queen for the right of way. Wisely, Blue Mist did give way and the Queen passed through the Hole - with far less wake than a small motor boat! We took pictures of the Island Queen and the tourists took pictures of us. At that point, the fleet broke up. Some headed out into the Sound to beat back to the park and investigate some beaches, while four other boats circumnavigated Huckleberry Island where Andy, Sharon and Robin found and tested a great landing place near the NE corner of the island. Tony and Mary beat back through the Hole In The Wall. Social: This was banquet night, and camp cooking was replaced by a meal and drinks at the Killbear Marina Restaurant. The food, beer, wine and company were great. Formal procedures were confined to thank-yous, and a small ceremony in which Jane Korver was presented with a Chesapeake crab hat in recognition of her stoic efforts on the Chesapeake cruise. Thursday August 12 Sailing:
Faced with similar weather to the previous days but slightly higher
winds, the fleet split in half. One half to make the 10+ mile
sail to Regatta Bay on Franklin Island, and the other half would sail
to Parry Sound for shopping and lunch.
The Regatta Bay fleet enjoyed light but consistent south-westerlies until they passed Davy Island. Then very light winds got us to the Pancakes and a possible end to the trip. As we were about to turn back, the winds came up and we voted to go on to Regatta Bay. Given the winds, Tom, Nel, Bill and Margie decided to skip Regatta Bay and return through the Canoe Channel (north of Squaw Island above), a narrow and scenic route. Meanwhile, after three and a half hours, 7 boats arrived at Regatta Bay for lunch and a swim in the sun. The south-westerlies freshened more and we beat our way out to the open but rocky waters off Snug Harbour. Then it was a beat to the mouth of the Sound, and finally a broad reach back to Lighthouse Point. The winds picked up to close to 12 knots and some boats were planing. There were some white caps and occasionally the white water of waves breaking on the rocks. The trip back took 2.5 hours.  The Parry Sound fleet - consisting of four boats - made varied time to the chosen port of call. The first of the fleet arrived after a "quick" 50-minute starboard beat to the entrance of Parry Sound harbour. However, that last stretch required beating into winds that shifted up to 145°, and it took us the next frustrating hour to reach the docks. This pattern was also experienced by the following boats. We all arrived safely and enjoyed lunch at the Bay Street Café on the harbour's main street where we were joined by Al and Julia who were making this little detour on their drive back to Oakville. All boats departed by 3:30 p.m. and had an easy downwind run out of the harbour before rounding onto a port tack beat all the way home. The winds were light to moderate at times with gusts giving us the occasional exciting ride. Overall, the day was enjoyed by all. Social:
This was the night for
Krystal Nelson’s S'mores party and the Nelson campsite became the place
to eat, drink and visit. The highlight was the blue flame and some
perfectly cooked marshmallows by Krystal, who was the prefect
hostess and left us all wishing for some more s'mores next year!! Unfortunately, some had to
leave the next day and it was also a time for good-byes.
Friday August 13 Sailing:
A much diminished fleet faced sun shine and slightly better
winds. The plan was to further explore Parry Sound and possibly
have lunch on Huckleberry Island.
Most of the fleet got off and sailed along Huckleberry's northern coast through some fluky winds. Annelies & Monica, and Robert started later and by taking the rhumb line arrived at the picnic area together, where the moss was popular for resting. There were also the lunch time swims. On the return trip, the boats sailed about as slowly as possible and still be sailing. The wind picked up as we approached Wall Island, and several boats successfully sailed through the Hole in the Wall dead upwind, tacking all the way through. Social: An informal party started at the boat
lunch ramp, as many Wayfarers were returned to their trailers. We
Wayfarers were helping each other, and any other boats that came
along. It felt a little sad when we ran out of boats to
retrieve. Andy Douma and his daughter, Sharon, hosted a farewell
gathering for those remaining. Some guitar/banjo music courtesy
of Andy and Jeff, and stories and laughter completed the evening and
the Rally.
Saturday & Sunday, August 14 & 15: A few more good-byes were said, and promises to see each other next year. Robert sailed out through the Rose Island passage and camped out on the moss of Copegog Island. He returned the next day in freshening 15-knot winds and gray skies, and has described his cruise for us elsewhere in this site. Next time he wants to have others join him in an overnight cruise.  click here for larger image
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