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

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!

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

Tonight's the night!

Tonight will be a big night for Sail for a Cure and the Canadian Cancer Society. Sail For a Cure's first benefit dinner will take place at the beautiful Bay of Quinte Yacht Club. I will be arriving on Jacknife around 6 pm. Please come say hi and check out the boat! Dinner will be served at 730 and the amazing Lloyd family band is going on at 9! Thank you to the Lloyd family for donating their talent and time. 


Thank you to everyone involved especially Kim Lander and Matt Jeffs! Tonight will go down in Sail for a Cure history. Please come say hi to me so I can thank everyone for coming and supporting the Canadian Cancer Society. I will be the one on the dance floor bringing dance moves back from the 90's so i shouldn't be to hard to find :) 


Even if you cannot be there tonight we are accepting bids for the live auction item via text 613-922-7245 OR e-mail kimlander@bell.blackberry.net. MUST be received by 8PM today. All bids will be acknowleged if received in time and in the order received.

One week (any week except Christmas) in a one bedroom, ocean front condo on Grand Cayman's beautiful East End. Sleeps 4. Full kitchen with dishwasher. 3 pools, restaurant, bar, spa, diving, deepsea fishing charters ON SITE. Also includes rental car (Honda Civic or similar) from Avis and $2,000 spending money.


What is your bid?


Fair winds, 


Sandy

Eastern Yachting Circuit 2012

Yesterday I had the pleasure of racing in the Eastern Yachting Circuit Regatta 2012 hosted by the Collins Bay Yacht Club in Kingston. With winds around 15 knots it was a beautiful day on the water! I was racing aboard Highball, a 24 foot boat from Picton and owned by a long time friend and fellow sailor Muren Pickering. A very shifty wind tested the race committee's ability to make a fair and challenging course but after 4 hours, Muren and I had finished the two races third and first place respectively. With a very competitive 7 boat fleet we were happy with our results!

After racing the fleet came back to the marina and were treated to an amazing pig roast! While wandering around with my skipper I finally met the amazing couple behind Sail for a Cure's first benefit dinner this Saturday! Kim Lander and Matt Jeffs then introduced me to what seemed like a million people who had already heard about Sail for a Cure and wished me good luck on my trip! It was an amazing experience and I can't thank Kim and Matt enough! 

During the award ceremony, at which my skipper took home two massive trophies, I also had the absolute pleasure of being introduced by Kim to say a few words about Sail for a Cure to the hundred plus racers. Thank you to Collins Bay Marina for the opportunity to both speak and sail at an amazing regatta!

With one event successfully finished, tickets for this Saturday's Dine for a Cure are selling fast! With 30 plus auction items and an amazing band playing it should be a night to remember. Tickets are still available through Kim Lander at 613 - 922 7245.

Fair winds, 

Sandy

There's no place like HOME

A prime example of just how generous the local businesses of Prince Edward County are has come from Adam Busscher at our local Home Hardware. Adam generously donated four solar panels that will charge my large marine battery over the course of the 450 mile trip. ($210 value!) The battery will power my autopilot, which steers the boat when I am sleeping; the radio, which will be used for coast guard check in's and communication with other vessels; my cabin lights, and so many other things on board.

(Apologies for the squinting)

 Many thanks to Adam and be sure to stop in to Home Hardware and take a look at all of their equipment like this and so much more!

Dine and Dance for a Cure

What better way to kick off the summer than a dining and dancing at our local yacht club in Belleville! 

On July 21st, Sail for a Cure's first benefit dinner will be taking place in the main hall of the beautiful Bay of Quinte Yacht Club.

Cocktails @ 6:00 pm

Dinner @ 7:30 pm

Dance @ 9:00 pm

Silent and live auction!

Tax receiptable cash donations graciously accepted

Tickets are $40 per person +HST

Tickets and further information can be obtained through Kim Lander at 

613-922-7245 or

kimlander@bell.blackberry.net

Many thanks to Kim Lander, the Commodore of BQYC for organizing the event!