Dons July 5th 1999 Adventure

Adventure! July 5th, 1999 Submitted by Donald Peavey of the Victoria 18 Forum Updated 07/05/99 Mail Comments/ Data/ Pictures/Suggestions to: The Victoria 18 Forum
This Adventure! was posted to the Victoria 18 Forum Website by Donald Peavey. Donald has owned his Victoria for 3 years, and sails in the Central New York area. Fresh water sailing includes the Finger Lakes, Lake Ontario, the lakes of the Adirondacks, and a number of smaller lakes in the region including Oneida Lake between Syracuse and Utica NY. He is an avid sailor that enjoys both the wind, wave, and comradeship that sailing imparts to those who practice it. You can reach him by email via the Forum, or the Victoria 18 Website.
(All photos are straight from the camera, and un-retouched other than size adjustments.)

Just wanted to give some of you folks out there a taste of how July 4th and 5th went with my Vic. I spent Monday (6 hours anyway) by myself relaxing and enjoying the 10-12 knot breeze on Delta Lake.

My attempt at sailing on Sunday the 4th started good, and ended Bad. I lost my radiator on the way to the lake. The heat was reaching 95, and my Olds 88 couldn't make the haul, so she rested overnight while the boy's at the local Auto parts shop ordered me a radiator for delivery the next morning. It arrived by noon, and I put it in in record time 1.5 hours!

I hitched the boat at 2:30, and got to the lake by 3:00. My Vic was rigged and in the water by 3:30.

The (sailing) day started with a clean and brisk launch at 3:30pm at Delta Lake State Park in Rome NY, (Just about 3 Miles from Woodstock '99!) Delta Lake is a quiet little park, with a hundred or more campsites, with the opportunity to locate a site where you can tie up your boat off shore while camping.

I raced across the lake, and decided to take a swim to get out of the heat. I found an unused campsite, in a cove where I have not previously sailed. I knew there was additional areas of the lake that I hadn't really explored, but sometimes you just pass them off as areas that probably are not too interesting anyway, so why journey there. What a mistake that was. This part of the lake is quiet, calm, and allowes a rest for weary sailors to nap, catch up on some reading, or take a swim out of the traffic and noise of the power boats and wave jumpers in the main portion of the lake. I quickly spotted the "perfect" spot, and snuck in.

The spot was partial sun and shade, a great place for a swim, so I dropped anchor and had at it! I might be a bit paranoid, but for me, safety comes first, so I hung a life jacket on the port winch in case I had any problems in the water. I can just picture them finding this "lone ship", un-piloted, abandoned, floating on Delta lake with tattered sails, and worn teak. "The Ghost Ship of Delta Lake"! Anything can happen when your by yourself, so. . .

The water was 72 degrees and comfortable. I popped on a mask and snorkle, but the water was awash with silt from the heavy rains over the last 2 day's and it was difficult if not impossible to see more than 1 to 2 feet.


I took the camera in with me for some neat shots of a Vic at water level. I think they look great, what do you think?
The dark shaded trees and shore in the background do a great job of making the Vic stand out in these 2 shots!







There was a recent posting on the Forum from Cas that said he feels bad because his outboard has a broken bolt that prevents him from tilting up his motor out of the water without external support. (I included a rope in this shot to help make Cas feel better, I was laughing so hard I couldn't hold the Camera steady for the shot!). Tell me, if a man laughs out loud, and there is no one to hear him, did he make a noise? Does it matter ?


(This picture is dedicate to Cas of the Victoria 18 Forum !)


Below are some shots of my gunk holing activities, and how dis-organized, yet comfortable the cockpit and cabin can become when your having a good time!











Just a shot of myself before attempting the world record 20 yard swim to shore in 72 degree water. I wanted to get some shots of the Vic whilst "hanging on the hook".



I swam to shore because I have not as of yet found a dinghy smaller than the Vic to tow around behind it!

Was it worth the swim?






It was about 7:30pm, and time to head back to the launch.

I was wing on wing running on the way back to the Boat launch when I crossed paths with another sailboat.. The boat in the distance was the couple that took some shots of my Vic under sail the last time I went out.





I couldn't resist this one. I knew that the sun would have some kind of effect on the shot, but I was quite surprised how well the silhouette came out. It was about 8:30pm. (Notice Cas's motor rope!)





It was a HOT, but beautiful day, and I couldn't have asked for more of anything except time!

As far as the day went, It has to rank with some of the best I have had, even though it was all accomplished in less than 6 hours! I turned to take one more shot and caught the setting sun as I entered the marina.



Please feel free to comment, or send in your own mini adventure for posting on the site. Share your Sailing experiences with others!


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