Saturday 25 August 2012

The time has come

Well today's the day I have been waiting for for about 6 months. Im about as prepared as I can be with the help of extremely wise parents and a few experienced sailors. The boat weighs probably 500 pounds more than she should but with a week and a half's worth of food, a thousand different safety items, and a few personal effects, 500 pounds aint bad. None the less, we're good to go!

I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has followed me thus far. My parents especially for being so supportive and actually letting me set sail for 4, 5, 6, even could be 7 days straight. The boys at the Prince Edward Yacht Club who helped turn Jackknife from a day sailor to a reliable long distance vessel. Kim Lander, Matt Jeffs and everyone else from the Bay of Quinte Yacht Club who not only organized the most successful fundraising dinner I have ever been to, but also for lending me a few sails and parts for Jackknife. Linda Austin, Bev Gorsline and everyone else who helped organize the Pancake breakfast! And last but certainly not least, all of the people who have donated to the Canadian Cancer Society!

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that Sail for a Cure would  be this big. To date Sail for a Cure has raised nearly $13 000 for the Hastings and Prince Edward branch of the Canadian Cancer Society! My original goal was $4500 so to feel that we almost tripled my goal, even before I sail, is an incredible feeling. I hope through Sail for a Cure I have inspired people to start an interesting fundraiser for the Cancer Society. You can walk, run, have a dinner, even Sail to support the Canadian Cancer Society! There possibilities are endless and all you have to do is imagine!

While I'm sailing, you can track me through the "GPS tracking" tab on this blog. The tracker updates about every ten minutes or so but if it's taking a little longer, please don't call the coast guard and tell them I have sank, rest assured, ill be fine :)

I will be reachable on the boat through 2 means of communication: VHF radio, for boat to boat communication, and my cell phone. Feel free to text me or even call me! My number on the boat is 16138482696.

Hope to see everyone at the Pancake Breakfast!

I'm off to Sail for a Cure!

Fair winds,

Sandy


Wednesday 15 August 2012

Departure Event

Please join me at the Prince Edward Yacht Club on August 25! There will be a pancake breakfast as well as coffee and juices available with all proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society!
Spectators will also get a chance to go out on a yacht and follow me for the first few miles! 
See you there!

Friday 10 August 2012

Its all coming together!

I'd like to apologize for my recent inactivity on the blog. Constantly updating social media is proving to be harder than I thought it would. Nevertheless, IM BACK! :)

I suppose the last few weeks have been crazy to say the least. Two weekends ago I participated in a race from Picton to Prinyers Cove. (Single handed of course) and came 2nd out of 7 boats! The wind was light which made the sailing frustrating but good training for the unpredictable winds of Lake Ontario. I realized after the race that I could be in the same light conditions for 4, 5 or 10 days on the Lake which made me remind myself to pack more food and water ;) The boats stayed over night and then raced back the next day. Even lighter winds made for a hot day on the water and I finished the regatta 4th overall.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to race aboard Woodjchuck. A J24 (same as Jacknife), from Belleville owned by my good friend Matt Jeffs. Lake Yacht Racing Association (LYRA) was a three day event in Oswego, NY. The three days of course racing showcased all aspects of Lake Ontario sailing from almost no wind to 45 knots the last day.

We finished the weekend with a 7th out of 12 which wasn't too bad considering this is our first season on the J24's. Sailing in Oswego made me think of how in just over 2 short weeks I will be sailing right by Oswego when I go around the lake. I shared Sail for a Cure with lots of people from Oswego and some said they might even come out and greet me on the water as I sail by! Later on in September Matt will be taking Woodjchuck to the J24 World Championship which is being held in Rochester, NY, of which I hope to be a crew.

Racing aside, Jacknife is coming together. I have an auto pilot which will steer for me when I'm sleeping, several solar panels to power my batteries! A good friend of mine has generously manufactured a solar panel mount which will hold my biggest solar panel off the back of my boat. Thanks to RAI in Trenton for donating the materials!!! This weekend will be spent drilling holes and wiring everything on the boat so I know its ready for the lake.

Sail for a Cure t-shirts are now for sale! For a $20 donation to the Cancer Society, we will give you a lovely Sail for a Cure branded t-shirt. Please contact me through email at macpherson.s@hotmail.com if you are interested :)

Above is me wearing the t-shirt with local Canadian Cancer Society chief fundraiser, Sue Rollins.

Until next time...

Fair winds,

Sandy