Temporada 2015!!!! Welcome!!! Bienvenida!!!

Arrancamos la temporada de navegación, preparando el velero y lazándolo al agua en el Lago Ontario. Es el momento de rearmarlo para tenerlo listo y seguro, y el tiempo de hacerle los cariñitos que nos hacen sentir más a gusto! ... Todos abordo!

Saludos!

Chacho: Racing to Port Dalhousie across Lake Ontario

Chacho had a rough start at PCYC during the LOSHRS race 2013. Just minutes before the start the genoa halyard went loose to the top of mast and over it went back down! Darn! Pablo had to be hoisted to the top of the mast by Michael's dad Mike!

After hard work and in a panic we got it done and left the PCYC DOCK racing to the starting line, we made it JUST on time and got the start line crossed! From there we fought all the way finding the wind and best tacks, we kept the fleet in sight most of the time....we got an incredible lift with crazy wind arriving to Dalhousie and we arrived zooming like a jet!!!

We later found out back in Toronto we had conquered a 3rd place!!!!! We did it, Mikey!!

And the blue flag goes to Honour the passing of our beloved Uncle Chacho that went to Heaven in January 2013, sail the seas of the Universe Dear Tio Chacho! Much love and Gracias!! To you! Much Love! You are in my heart....many people know Chacho very well....tell you that!!!

Chacho in her New Home!

CHACHO Is Happy  at the new harbour at the Glorious LSYC!!!!!
First season 2014 at the brand new Humber docks!

Yes, yes, yes!!!!!! My VERY DAMN OWN well deserved SUPER SUPER 5 STAR PRESIDENTIAL DOCK!!!!!!!
After 8 years at the TS&CC docking with 4 mooring lines by the break-wall and exposed to the crazy weather!!!!!   And having to row back and forth to get to the boat :-/
Now Alvaro can come and do overnight Reciprocals at the Bahamas Hilton Hotel....at the bottom of Kipling Ave.

Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
Best kept secret in the lake!
WANNA CHEK lT out?
Whistle!!!!

Racing Mentorship Program

As for the last three years, I plan to attend the Port Dalhausie Race in September organized by the Port Credit Yacht Club. But I have to learn to race!

SO, this program is a good opportunity to learn and perhaps it may be good for you too!

This program is one way to give us the chance to learn racing in our own boat with our own crew with an experienced racing skipper (mentor) on board for advice and hints as we encounter different situations. "We will start with a chalk (i.e. Power Point) talk that reviews safety, basic rules, starting sequences/signals and tactics for starting and fleet racing."

"This will be on Victoria Day, Monday, May 19th, 1:00 pm, for about 2-3 hours. This is for all skippers, crew, mentors and anyone wishing to their knowledge. Over the next five (or maybe six) Monday evenings, we shall have on-the-water practice sessions. The fleet practices starting sequences and initially, short upwind, mark rounding, and downwind courses to the start/finish line."


Wanna race and be part of this? Just call me! (647-8690041)

Getting ready for the 2014 Sailing Season

(Actualizado para el 22-04-2014 para Tranquillity!)

Ok... Es tiempo de prepararnos para la temporada. Varias tareas quedan de hoy al 26 de Abril, fecha del lanzamiento de los veleros en el Etobicoke Yacht Club.

Un vistazo a lo pendiente y a lo que está listo en "Tranquillity":

1. Chequeo de Seguridad: 
1. Salvavidas. Algunos son de bombonas...
2. Primeros auxilios
3. Thru-hulls...
4. Flares
5. Lifelines
6. Bilge pumps (elect y manuales)
7. Varios en un listado largo...
2. Casco (Hull)
1. Limpieza
2. Aplicación de epoxy en puntos específicos
3. Aplicación de anti-fouling
4. Desmanchado general (sí, otra vez!) y pulido
5. Reposición de banda en línea de flotación
3.  Electricidad
1. Montaje de sección AC (última semana de Mayo)
2. Montaje de Cargador Inteligente de baterías (última semana de Mayo)
3. Elaboración de base de batería (fibra de vidrio y madera)
4. Recarga y traslado de baterías
4. Launch:
1. Nueva manguera (y guía) de gasolina
2. Prueba (en aire) de motor 
3. Preparación de velero (chequeo de fixed-rigging, bilge pumps listas, señalización de posición para eslingas para levantar bote, cuerdas en posición, chequeo de nuevo dock y de posición de cleats)
4. Chequeo de Head
5.  Mástil:
1. Compra y montaje de nueva veleta de viento.
2. Chequeo de luces con batería
3. Verificación y montaje de luz de anclado
4. Compra y montaje de nueva antena VHF
5. Armado completo del mástil (posterior a Launch y previo a colocación en velero)
6. Velas: (están listas, winterizadas)
7. Fixed rigging:
1. Chequeo tornillo a tornillo, tuerca a tuerca...
2. Aplicación de aislante en puntos muy específicos
3. Chequeo de Furler para garantizar operatividad. (idem en Mástil!)
8.   Running rigging:
1. Compra de cuerda spear de Vela Mayor o Spinnaker
2. Chequeo de poleas y dispositivos varios
9.  Otros:
1. Provisiones de snacks y bebidas 
2. Provisiones de limpieza
3. Provisión de gasolina

Uf! JEJEJE!! Por supuesto que cualquier ayuda es BIENVENIDA!!!

Waking up for the 2014 Season!

(TRANQUILLITY) 

 

It has been a long and winding Winter!

It´s the time we all come up, get together and plan...

 

Now, SPRING time is HERE!

Overcoming sailing difficulties...

Let's share this video on the amazing experience of some Greek sailors in the last Aegean Regatta. Many thing to learn. Take a seat and watch. (please, copy this link in your browser) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc5lETIVSfM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

With a Canadian Hero!

Very proud of meeting Derek Hatfield at the Toronto Boat Show 2012!

He did the Velux, "a 32,000-mile race with four stops along the way that takes approximately 130 days!!! ALONE!!. This race is sailed on an ECO 60 by all competitors; it is a boat designed on the unique balance of weight and displacement. It is powerful, noisy and fast. Derek admitted that now, after 50,000+ miles onboard, he thinks he finally understands her complexities." Elizabeth A Kerr, http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=84575

"It takes tremendous courage, determination and persistence to race around the world alone. Derek is the 126th brave sailor to have ever done it. As perspective, this is fewer than the 400 astronauts who have gone into space or the over 15,000 mountaineers who have reached the summit of Mt. Everest. It is a tremendous accomplishment under normal circumstances, but Derek Hatfield’s story is truly inspiring." http://spiritofcanada.net/wordpress2/about/

 Peter Barclay, Derek Hatfield and Alvaro Briceno

Winter 2011-2012 is Over!

Thanks God!

Boats are waiting for our care and preparation towards the 2012 sailing season. It has been a not very cold winter. Nevertheless, we had enough cold, empty mooring sites, tarp protected boats...

Pingoyo´s mooring site (3rd from left)

Pingoyo having a blue (tarpped) winter

We all are excited! A renewed commitment to sail and enjoy is in our hearts!
Join Us!

Sailing to Toronto Islands

What a wonderful world! with family and friends in this nice island! This 2011 Father´s Day we headed to Toronto Island with our sailboats "Pingoyo" and "Chacho". With a very nice weather we sailed to spend the day in this set of small islands which have an amazing beauty and friendly welcome visitors. We docked at the last mooring posts in the public docking area that offers enough space for our families and friends´ picnic.

Toronto Island is a good example of how Canada cares Canadians leisure time. A well rounded design of a place for enjoying nature, art, and amusement, where ingenuity is everywhere. A must for visitors.