The weather took a nasty turn while we were waiting to leave Cornwall, Ontario and its Marina 200 municipal marina. Brio had been on a short (20-foot) finger pier. It meant that since we had backed in to the slip, her forward 35 to 30 feet of length extended out into the marina area unattached to any stabilizing structure. On June 23rd, we were ready to leave and get most of the way across the wide-open Lac St. Francis so we could start bright and early on the 24th for the final four locks of the Seaway as well as several bridges that had to open as well. All of those passages would take time and we had hoped to arrive in Montreal by mid-afternoon. It was not to be.
The forecast turned ugly with squall lines expected to arrive mid-day. We would be in the middle of Lac St. Francis at that time. So we elected to stay another night. We were glad.
At around 1:00 p.m., the winds picked up dramatically. The rain turned from sprinkles to a downpour to sheets of rain. It was wind-driven and Brio tugged at her short pier with every gust. We tightened the lines to give her less of a chance to build momentum as she pulled.
There she lay, rocking with each gust.
Once the worst of the rain passed, we got permission from the marina people to bring her across the marina and tie her in the lee of the facing dock where customers would come in for fuel.
With the help of the marina crew, we cast off from the finger. Just as we were doing that, a curious onlooker came up and started asking all sorts of Brio questions. It was remarkably poor timing.
Brio's joy stick steering was really helpful in taking pressure off the dock lines so they could be uncleated. Suddenly, she was free. There are times when her power is a terrific asset. This was one of those times. Brio competently motored out into the heavy winds blowing on her side.
Her nose swung into the wing and her "sky hook" mechanism held her precisely on the chosen latitude and longitude. It was as if she were anchored. It allowed us to move the fenders from the starboard side to the port and re-set the dock lines to the port side.
Once all the preparations were done, Brio was released from sky hook. She sidled over gently, in spite of the wind, towards her new dock. Then the joy stick brought her sideways in the final ten feet to the dock where the marina crew, bless them, were ready to grab lines and cleat her in place.
The rain had stopped at that point. It was still blowing 25 to 30 knots, but Brio was now tucked in to the facing dock. It meant we could pump out the holding tank, fill the water tank, and fill the fuel tanks.
The crew asked if they could get a tour of Brio. We happily showed her off to them. They were impressed, just as every visitor is.
Then a quick supper, followed by an early rising so we could drive across Lac St Francis and catch up with the others in our cruising "convoy." But that's a story for the next day!
Cheers,
Brio
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