July 20, 2013
The day before the race start inRimouski!…..
Fortunately the list is getting shorter because we’ve stopped adding more things to the list than we are ticking off of the list! The rig has been checked, straightened and is good to go. Purchase systems on the boat have been inspected, increased and re-organized. Food and safety equipment has been inventoried, sorted and stowed, and as always, a large amount of “stuff” has been evacuated from the boat. The last two days have not only been filled with boat work, but lots of work with the local press as well. Our race has been featured on CBC Television here in Rimouski, as well as on CBC Radio. Last night was followed up with a presentation for the community on One Girl’s Ocean Challenge….that I did in French!
Today is inspection day! Jean Francois and I are hoping for an early inspection so that if anything is missing, we’ll be able to quickly do a store scramble for it. So far everything is looking good, but the press is on to get it all finished!
Diane
July 17, 2013
Leg two complete! After a fantastic evening in Quebec city filled with food, great company and a tour of the old part of the city, it was time for some sleep. Today Philippe and I headed out to Rimouski…a mere 3.5 hour drive further east. We got to the marina with just enough time to rig and head out for the evening weeknight race. mmmmmmm salt water!!! Didn’t even take our bags out of the car! Tomorrow’s jobs on Antidote are to inspect the mast, tune the rig, go over the boat with a fine tooth comb to make sure that all shackles are moussed, all split rings are taped and all bits are sorted. Then some weather assessments in the evening and a quicky organization of a power point presentation of our fantastic campaign..in French, for the competitor’s party on Friday night. All part of the fun!
Diane
July 16, 2013
I’ve made it to the first leg of my journey to Rimouski for the Rimouski Anticosti Race. After a short flight from Toronto to Quebec City, I met up with my fantastic co-skipper Jean Francois. Our first task was to start plugging our way through the race route and the possible currents and tides. Afterwards, Jean Francois and his wife decided to take me on a little tour or Quebec City, as I have never been here before! We walked through the old part of the city, saw the Chateau Frontenac, ate some wonderful food and then it was bedtime. Today, onwards to Rimouski!
Chateau Frontenac
July 15, 2013
Well, with the forecast of zero to almost nothing for wind for the next couple of days, and my need to get on a plane Tuesday morning….we have decided to abandon the race. We will come back again next year 🙂
Diane
July 13, 2013
Race Day! Today is the start of the Lake Ontario 300. has done our routing and it’s looking to be a slow race for wind. The gradient is lying as flat as a pancake…and I have to be on a plane to Rimouski for the race Tuesday morning!!! Yikes!
Diane
July 12, 2013
Check out the new clothes! This is the Vigo Coastal Jacket and pants. Looks like they will be perfect for the Lake Ontario 300 and then the Rimouski Anticosti Race. Not only does this gear have all the fantastic qualities needed for coastal racing, but the jacket also has a little dry pocket for your MP3 player!!! On the Outside of the jacket! I’m soooo excited!
The Lake Ontario 300 starts tomorrow Saturday July 13! I will be on Phoenix, a J109…fully crewed. You can follow all of the excitement on the YellowBrick tracker. Click here and go to the bottom of the page to find the link.
http://loor.ca/lake-ontario-300/
Diane
Well, while Xoomer is having it’s mast sorted out, it’s time to move on to the next event! The lake Ontario 300 is this weekend, and as soon as that finishes I’m off to Rimouski with Profurl / for the Rimouski Anticosti race on a mini just like mine!
Diane
July 10, 2013
Today’s Mission……. Strip the mast on Xoomer and get it ready to pull for full inspection after our big explosion on the weekend. Pulling the mast isn’t as easy as on the mini. Firstly, the mast is about a million miles tall, so we need a crane. Secondly, it weighs more than fifty pounds, so you can’t lift it by hand! Lastly, there are several things connected to the mast that needs disassembling. So my job today is to get to the boat ahead of the unstepping crew and get it all ready to go for them. It’s supposed to rain and blow about fifty tonight! Could be a little hectic hahahah 🙂
Diane
July 8, 2013
Well this was an interesting finish to the racing weekend….. We went into Sunday in second place, only one point out of first. We were smoking fast in the first race and on our way up to first. In the second race we saw one of our competitors have trouble with their headsail and then a second competitor also having difficulties and abandoned. The wind was around 16 knots. Then, as we were closing range on our upwind marks…ready to make the turn and run to the finish line….we heard an “earth shattering kaboom”. In an instant everyone wet into “safety” mode. Nothing fell down or appeared broken, but the standing rigging had become very very loose. We took the sails down and abandoned our race for safety. The rig will get pulled and will receive a full inspection, but in the meantime, it didn’t come crashing down on anyone! I love this crew and this boat! Everyone understood and respected the situation. We’ll come back to conquer again another day. In the meantime, I’m reminded of Samantha Davies when she got dismasted on Saveol…..Sometimes these things are out of our hands!
Diane
