O'Day Mariner Tribute

The O'Day Mariner Association has just released a small video tribute to their favourite boat which can be seen here. (first video you come to as you scroll down the page)

I only mention this as I brought this 40 year old fin keel version home late this fall. If I'm not mistaken, she'll be the only one on the harbour. 

Any thoughts on what I should name her? Ancient Mariner has already been used. 

Rowing Regatta - Lochaber Lake

The St. Francis Xavier University Rowing Club will host its first-ever regatta on Lochaber, in Antigonish County, on Saturday, October 13th, 2012. Lochaber, the new home of rowing in northern Nova Scotia, boasts a lane-marked two-kilometre
racecourse – the only one of its kind east of Montreal.

Attending clubs include: Dalhousie University Rowing Club; St. Mary’s University Rowing Club; University of New Brunswick Rowing Club; St. Thomas University Rowing Club; Fredericton Rowing Club; Kennebecasis Rowing Club; Halifax Rowing Club; and MicMac Rowing Club.

The StFX Rowing Club has experienced tremendous growth in the past two years: the team now has over fifty active rowers who train eight times per week on Lochaber. The community of Lochaber has enthusiastically welcomed the StFX and Antigonish Rowing Clubs, and will co-host this inaugural regatta.

For more information on spectating, volunteering, or general club news, please  contact Katie Edwards ((902) 867-4984/ 449-1510; kedwards@stfx.ca).

The Dock is In!

For those of you who have been waiting patiently, we finally seem to have enough floats under the dock which are free from ice damage. She floats!

CYA Competent Crew Course

What a weekend! We could hardly have asked for better weather for the inaugural CYA "Competent Crew" sailing course. Alena Wilgenhoff, Amy Sloan, Christine Alyward and Emily Robertson all now have a certificate signaling their achievement along with a log book to chart their progress in the art of sailing.

A big thanks to Michael Ernst of Sail Mahone Bay for coming up from the South Shore to teach the course and as well to the Wunns for loaning the club their Tanzer 7.5 for the weekend. It must have been very hard for them not to be out sailing.

Stay tuned for future course offerings later in the summer.

CYA Sailing Course - Take 2

Well that spot didn't last long. One of our new members has snapped it up.

That said, should all go well next weekend, we may seek to do another course in August. We were hoping to have a second boat available for the first course, but no luck on that front. With that in mind however, should anyone have a boat suitable for an instructor and 3 to 4 crew that they would be willing to volunteer, we do have a second instructor lined up.

Enjoy the Highland Games and we'll see you on the water.

CYA Sailing Course

Due to a late and regretful cancellation, a space has just opened on our CYA Competent Crew Sailing course next weekend. The course starts at 5 pm on Friday, July 20th and runs through Saturday and Sunday. Michael Earnst of Sail Mahone Bay will be the instructor. The boat is Moonshadow - a Tanzer 7.5 keelboat which is kindly on loan to us from Birgit and Rainer Wunn. 

If all goes according to plan, you will emerge from the course not only with a CYA certificate and logbook, but more importantly, a very secure knowledge of sailing. While the course is taught on a keelboat, much of what you learn would also translate to sailing smaller dinghies as well. The course fee is $250 which is a significant discount as compared to that typically offered elsewhere. 

Anyone interested - or seeking further information, please contact me ASAP. 

Regards

Sean

Solstice Paddle

Where was everyone tonight?

A bit of rain, some playful lightening and all was fresh and clean. Apart from the fire flies flitting along the wood's edge, the odd fish jumping and a lone crane fishing off Black Island, I was alone in the beauty of it all. Actually, I had quite a bit of company now that I think about it.

Happy Summer.

A Good Day's Work

Thanks to all those who made it out to the Club this past Saturday. We proved a small but mighty group and managed to get a great deal done. Special thanks to Ernie for coming over with his backhoe to clean up the road down to the wharf, and again to Jeff of ESL for donating a 6 yard dumpster for the weekend. Thanks also to Antigonish County for supplying the Porta-Potty. I think the most satisfying moment for me was tossing that old rusty BBQ in the dumpster. 

Arriving in the Pick-Up (boat)

Time for a new start for this old club. 


(Missing from the pics are Birgit, Adam and Sean - yes, another one)

Myself, Gerry, Eric and Neil - ready for Action

Christine and Amy putting on a new coat of stain
What an improvement!

Sad End to a much storied Mirror Dinghy

Eric and Rainer take a well deserved break

If you can't get the truck to the roof, take the roof to the truck
(Pick-up boat now tug-boats)
Dogs providing supervision

The youngest crew member

Crew Bank

For those of you who are fresh out of sailboats, please let me introduce you to our "Crew Bank". On this page (see above), you will be able to add your name and contact info to a list which will be shared with our members. Those hoping for crew, or just company for a sailing outing can touch base and invite you along.

Happy Sailing.

Please, as with any items on this blog, if you have any thoughts on additions or improvements, please comment accordingly.

Personalized Adult Sailing Lessons

An exciting new opportunity is being offered this season for those interested in learning to sail a keel boat or simply upgrading rusty sailing skills. Should all go well, you will also gain CYA accreditation as “Competent Crew”. 


Michael Ernst of Sail Mahone Bay has agreed to provide sailing lessons here in Antigonish from the AYC. Lessons will occur on the June 23rd weekend. We hope to offer a second course later in July.


As you may imagine, Michael will not be bringing his boat here. Happily, club members  have agreed to put their Tanzer 7.5 in Michael’s capable hands. Drawing only 2’8, she’s a perfect harbour boat. 4 students can be accommodated in this first session. 


Classes will run from 5:30 to 8:30 on Friday evening, and from 10-5 on both Saturday and Sunday. Places will go quickly. Names of those who cannot be accommodated in this first session will be kept for possible placement in July.

I have taken lessons from Michael in Mahone Bay and can attest to his professionalism and easy going manner. Should any of you be interested, or know someone who may be, please let me know. Please email for a copy of the course syllabus and further details.

Antigonish Rowing Club

Now at Lochaber


Summer programs 2012

Junior rowing:• July and/or august
• Twice/week, in the late afternoons
• $125 for four weeks
• Must be 13 or older (some exceptions)

Learn to row:• July and/or august
• Twice/week, 6-8pm
• $125 for four weeks
• Any age – total beginners welcome

Community rowing:

• For experienced rowers
• $125 for four weeks; $250 for the season
• Flex sessions – you choose your schedule

Contact
Katie Edwards
antigonishrowing@gmail.com
863-5701

Don't Try This At Home

Now for something less serious - but quite amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2PQfJ2SAg4

Summer Sailing Classes

Growing demand for youth sailing lessons around NS means that Antigonish will only be hosting the Mobile Sailing School for one week this year commencing on July 30th and running to August 3rd. 


Lessons will be held at the Lochaber Community Centre on Lochaber Lake, 25 kilometers south of Antigonish on the Route 7 Highway.


More information  is available by contacting Shirlyn Aker at 863-1141 or by email directed to shirlyn.aker@antigonishcounty.ns.ca.


Registration will commence on June 4 and registration details will be posted in the Municipality of the County of Antigonish's County Quarterly. 


The Mobile Sailing School is a program of the Nova Scotia Yachting Association. More information about the program is available here

Songs of Spring

As I was walking up from a water's edge, bonfire Saturday evening, I noted that the Spring Peepers had emerged from hibernation and were singing heartily (lustily?) - a sure sign that boating season is nigh.

Antigonish Yacht Club - Redux

This may be a repeat - still learning the blogging business.

What is important however, is that the Yacht Club is in for a remake - less about the big keel boats which have mostly gone out of harbour and more about smaller, more nimble craft. Boats which can explore the myriad small coves and shallow bays offered here in the harbour. Boats which put you in immediate touch with the water and that mystical world just under it's surface.

I hope you'll join us on the adventure.

Separately, there was only wind, water, sail and hull, but at my hand the four had been given purpose and direction. Lowel Thomas