First Lesson of Our Journey – There Are No Best Laid Plans

We have always known that living on a sailboat would mean that weather would dictate our schedule.  What we didn’t realize is that weather is only one of a gazillion variables that affect how our day actually unfolds.  The others?  Boat issues, surprise changes with marinas, and boat traffic are just a few of the things affecting our first few days.
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Variable 1 – our mast de-stepping day was surprisingly moved up a day by Oswego Marina.  They never step masts on a Sunday but they had a lot of boats on their list for early in the week so slotted all three boats in our pod to get the masts stepped today.  We got the news yesterday morning and hightailed it to Oswego Marina from Henderson Bay by mid-afternoon so that we would have enough time to prep the masts for de-stepping.  It was a slog.  The 20 knot wind was at our noses, meaning lots bucking through of 4 foot waves crashing over our bow for several hours.

Ocean tethered up and ready to start our trip to Oswego Marina

Wild Horses (first boat) and Sensai (second boat) at the Oswego Marina

Mast stepping this morning went extremely well due to the crazy expertise knowledge of the Oswego Marina staff.  It was an early morning start though.  All crew was up and at ‘em by 0700.  The good news?  We are now officially canal ready with our mast securely set on deck.

Oswego staff go up our mast to start the de-stepping process

Our keel stepped mast being pulled up and out of the boat

Our mast being lowered into place

Our mast being strapped into place

​Variable 2 – Sensai’s engine failure in our first lock.  Yikes!  We all went into the lock together and learned the ropes of lock management.  It was a lesson!  The ropes were slimy, we had to fend ourselves off the wall as the current of the “up” locks swirled us around.  Exiting the lock we got a call from Sensai that their engine was overheating.  The decision was for us to go ahead while they resolved their engine issue.  We got through 4 locks today, learning on each one.  Now we are comfortably docked, showered, bellies full and, well, we may or may not have an alcoholic beverage in hand 😊.

Victoria at the bow as we go through lock 06

Ocean sitting breezy on deck as we transit towards our last lock of the day. The pup was brilliant all day!

Mike's foldable dock box in place and ready to make Ocean's exit from the boat as easy as at home!

Our view of lock 05 in Minetto

Variable 3 – Boat traffic.  Or, rather, the absence of it.  We are apparently a week ahead of the “rush” so we are finding that the locks are so far just our little pod.  Yeah!

Tomorrow will we head for Brewerton, NY, at the mouth of Lake Oneida.  If the forecast of light winds for Lake Oneida holds for Tuesday, we will cross the lake.
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Oh, and Sensai?  Their engine got fixed by 4pm today.  They intend to meet us in Brewerton.  Yay!!