Quinte Sailability’s Blog

By Carly Bickford

My Tuesday stated off fairly normally with a trip down to the
Sailability dock to see what Fletch had told me was going to arrive at
11 am. Being punctual I arrived just after 10, took a look around and
decided that everything looks pretty routine here.

 

Except for this huge flat bed truck loaded with a huge steel and
wood dock and a huge, a really huge, a gigantic crane that was getting
ready to move the dock!

 

We’re talking huge as in wowsers that’s a huge crane and
it’s way taller than the flag mast. The crane operator explained that
you need a big crane to lift a 19,860 pound dock from a truck…

 

and gently lower it into the waters of the Bay of Quinte.

 

The workers checked to ensure that the dock was floating at the
correct height, level and was water tight – then the it was hooked
onto a boat for a ride around past the guest dock and to it’s new
home. I think someone named Fletch misplaced the keys
to the Erin Knot so a CFB Trenton Yacht Club boat had to be used as
the towing vessel.

 

All the lines are cast off, we’re ready to go and the brave crew of
the good ship Dock Extension are ready to go – we’ll have to
talk to them about always wearing a life jacket though…

 

The maiden (and only voyage) of the good ship Dock Extension.

 

Rounding the mark…

 

And making the approach to the dock that so many people have sailed
from over the years.

 

 

The first line is passed – good thing there were a few sailors
around to tie it off.

 

Everything is lined up.

 

And the crane starts lifting the concrete anchors from the parking
lot, above the dock and boats and over the final positions.

 

Anchor Ahoy!

 

There are four of these huge concrete anchors that keep everything
in place.

 

A view from the shore, or as a few of you have seen a view from
stuck in the weeds and waiting for Alex to get stuck while towing you
out.

 

This will be the new view as you approach the dock after a
wonderful sail around the bay.

 

Be sure to check back often – there’s more exciting news to come as
we gear up for a wonderful season of sailing!

 

By Carly Bickford