In the past I have had a small motor fitted to my stern, but the first mate claims he has a sailing purists ideology and that we must sail (or if required paddle) off our mooring. I notice that nobody else shares his ideology at RKYC. I also notice that they didn't feel confident enough to sail off the moorings this time but instead paddled out into the river before desperately fumbling at my halyards as they raised the jib and mainsail. Again, there were some profanities that I did not approve of!
Obviously they were not very confident on this, their maiden voyage.
We set off at an overly leisurely pace, as they got to grips with my tiller and sheets, from the little bay in which RKYC is located towards Burnt Island.
Burnt Island is located only 100 yards off the mainland. A circular shaped, steep sided, rocky island roughly 250 yards across and covered in forest, it looks the perfect location for the lair of a James Bond villain. However, as far as I can see the island is uninhabited.
As you approach the island you pass Tucker Park. With its beach it is a popular location for Millidgeville residents who wish to swim and paddle in the relatively warm waters of the river. Overlooking the island from the mainland is a Gothic style mansion, but none of this seemed to be the focus of the first mate and captain who, at the slow pace of sail, were having to fight off ravenous horse flies.
Once (eventually) past the island we headed north and gathered speed before heading down river in the direction of Goat Island and Indian Island. These two islands are located about half a mile south west of Burnt Island. From the air, I have been told, they resemble two huge whales, the large Indian Island chasing the smaller Goat Island. There is a shallow channel of water 100 yards wide separating the two. Like Burnt Island these islands are uninhabited but are both popular with the Saint John kayaking fraternity who, during the summer months, will often camp and party on the islands' beaches.
We passed to the south of Goat Island before tacking north through the narrow channel separating the islands. This maneuver would not be undertaken by large sailboats, but with my draft being little more than two feet and the river being high after recent storms there was little risk of grounding on the sand bar.
From here we set a course parallel to the northwest shore of Indian Island heading towards Ragged Point on the mainland. This is the location where the Kennebecasis River joins the St. John River. A southerly tack, followed by a course in a north easterly direction along the southwest coast of Indian Island led us back into the narrow channel once more. Once through we completed a figure of eight around the two islands.
With the sound of rumbling stomachs resonating from the crew and first mate, the voyage was almost complete and we headed towards RKYC, which was half a mile to the south. I was pleasantly surprised, albeit in easy sailing conditions, how these two apparent novices had coped. But my exasperation was soon rekindled.
Coming back towards the moorings there was much panic trying to get the sails down in good time while staying in control. Meanwhile larger boats, travelling out from RKYC, pushed their way past seemingly oblivious to the confusion. Eventually, with sails half down and flapping in the wind the first mate and crew paddled the remaining 100 yards to the mooring and a well earned rest.
Temperature: 20C
Wind: Light
Length of Voyage: 5 miles (4.3 nautical miles)
Time: 2.5 hours
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