Leg 24 of our 2022 cruise up north
(to read about leg 23, A Gale in the Benjamins, click here)
As much as we really don’t want to leave the North Channel, we had hoped to start making a bunch of progress towards home today. Alas, we’re traveling via sailboat, and the wind doesn’t always cooperate.
After several days at anchor in the Benjamin Islands with gale force winds from the west, the forecast called for much lighter south winds starting around noon today. The morning west winds would allow us to sail a few miles south-southwest into the open waters of the North Channel, at which point a shift south would be welcome.
We had been alone in the Benjamins overnight, but just as we weighed anchor several powerboats showed up and began anchoring around us. I recognized most from the Little Current Town Docks a few days earlier, and most were Loopers. I assume they had waited out the wind in town. One actually waited for us to leave, then took our spot.
With west winds at about 13 knots, we raised sails once just clear of the arrivals. On our way out we sailed amongst the Sow and Pigs, a group of large, pink granite rocks extending 10-12 feet above the water, but with very deep water alongside. It’s kinda neat sailing so close to them… and the name is pretty cool, too!
We stayed close hauled on a starboard tack until we reached the shore of Manitoulin Island. We made a few tacks, but the south wind had not arrived by mid afternoon. Gore Bay lay just to our south, and we had never been there, so rather than fight the wind, we stopped in Gore Bay for the night.
Since the weather was pretty settled and the anchorage was spacious, we anchored rather than stay in the marina. A short dinghy ride to shore brought us to a nice restaurant for dinner, and we also explored a few shops along the town boardwalk.
As I write this, the south wind is filling in. Hopefully we’ll make a bunch of progress west tomorrow.
There’s a Sow and Pigs Reef off the coast of Cuttyhunk, MA, but not not nearly as picturesque!