America's Cup has Come Home

America's Cup has come home !

Congratulations to Team BMW Oracle.
Forget the Olympics-the real innovations in the world of sports took place in Valencia Spain the weekend of Feb.12-13-14. John & I were amazed at the beautiful new racing boats; both Team Alinghi's catamaran and the victorious trimaran of the Americans. The Swiss looked like they were walking on water as they crossed from hull to hull over see-through trampolines. Seeing 2 hulls out of the water as Team BMW Oracle raced around the course at 30 knots was breathtaking !

Highlights-videos-news stories and more can be found at americascup.com

As we watched the races on our monitor in the office I looked up to see our print of the 1987 Amerca's Cup race . Back then our TV screen was smaller than our present computer monitor and coverage was very limited. This time it felt like we were right with the crew !
How times have changed .

Wishing You Fair Winds
Fiona

River Ice Break Up

Mild temperatures and heavy rains at the beginning of the week led to an early break up of ice on the river. Within a day all the ice that had built up over the past 2 months was washed out to the lake.


What a difference compared to last year ! Then the break up didn't come until mid February with dramatic build ups of ice and rushing water creating flooding all along the Kettle Creek. In man versus nature, Nature's going to win every time. Heavy rains and melting snow north of Port Stanley caused enormous amounts of water to rush downstream. However their way was blocked by solid sheets of ice covering the river -in some parts two feet thick. This caused a daming effect until the pressure was so great that the ice "snapped' and with a great roar the water surged forward another few dozen feet. This pattern was repeated over and over again until the water could disapate into the outer harbour and lake. Flooding occurs when the water, unable to break a path through the ice, goes under it raising the ice and water levels several feet at a time.



Last year after a day of watching the build up of water coming down the river it finally peaked about midnight. Just before the final explosion there was so much pressure that the water came over the end east wall of the marina with water reaching the stairs to the parking lot !



So the MNR ( Ministry of Natural Resources) was right in their predictions of where a hundred year flood line could reach ! Thankfully we complied with this when building our house a few years ago.


We've witnessed dramatic break ups several times over the past 25 years and it always leaves us awed by Mother Nature. Enjoy these photos from 2009.

Wishing You Fair Winds,
Fiona

Asian Carp Threaten The Great Lakes

Just when you thought it was safe to go swimming ! Fiona


Asian Carp eDNA Found in Calumet Harbor, Supreme Court Rejects Case Requesting Closing of Locks to Lake Michigan
By Gary Reich
Jan. 20, 2010


Back in September 2009, many Great Loop Cruisers found themselves stuck on the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal (southwest of Chicago, IL) when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) upped the voltage of a fish barrier designed to keep Asian carp from traveling farther northeast toward Lake Michigan. Unsure whether the increased voltage would cause harm to transiting vessels, the USACE closed the canal, stranding several cruisers attempting to pass through. While the canal was eventually opened to recreational traffic, concern over Asian carp hasn't gone away. Subsequently, the canal was poisoned, hoping to further stop the looming spread of the pesky fish. Things get even more interesting.

As an introduction, Asian carp are an invasive species that entered the Mississippi River system in the 1960s, traveling farther and farther north ever since. The fish is now known to exist near the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal, 20 miles southwest of Lake Michigan. The large fish can consume huge amounts of plankton and push weights over 100 pounds. The fear is if Asian carp enter the Great Lakes ecosystem, they will destroy the multi-billion dollar fishing industry by overwhelming the food chain of the existing species that are commercially harvested there. Once the fish and their eDNA were discovered nearer to the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal than expected, politics took over.

On December 21, 2009 Michigan State Attorney Mike Cox filed suit with the U.S. Supreme Court requesting the complete closure of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in an effort to keep the species from entering Lake Michigan. On January 5, 2010, the Illinois State Attorney General filed a counter suit with the Supreme Court, urging that the request for the closure of the locks be rejected. On January 19, 2010, the Supreme Court rejected Michigan's request to close the locks.

Also on January 19, 2010, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers press release stated that eDNA samples tested positive in two areas beyond the final barriers (Calumet Harbor and Calumet River) on Lake Michigan. Officials state, however, that the eDNA test results are far from conclusive and do not necessarily mean a large population (or even any) of the fish are present.

The series of closures, poisonings, eDNA findings and court filings has set off a multi-jurisdictional and agency conflict with little sight of any agreement on the horizon. The USACE and the Fish and Wildlife Service have attempted to downplay concerns, while organizations like the Alliance for the Great Lakes believe immediate action is required. More eDNA testing has been promised and researchers plan larger-scale efforts to find live specimens in the areas where the eDNA was found. For now, the locks remain open.

The real concern in closing the locks is not only the effect it will have on the commercial shipping that uses the canal (valued at $1.5 billion), but what it will mean to recreational boaters, who utilize the canal to gain access to the Mississippi River and ports farther south. The USACE has stated that closing the locks will not solve the problem, as fish will find other routes into the lakes and that the locks are "leaky" enough to allow passage of the fish toward Lake Michigan.

Waterway Guide has been keeping a close eye on the situation, as it presents the threat of closing off the only link to the Mississippi River, thereby eliminating the ability for cruisers to complete the Great Circle Route. Waterway Guide Web editor Ted Stehle posts updates to the Waterway Guide Web site almost daily. Stay tuned to www.waterwayguide.com for updates as they become available.



This email was sent to info@kettlecreekmarina.com by editor@waterwayguide.com.
Waterway Guide PO Box 4219 326 First Street, Suite 400 Annapolis MD 21403

Port Stanley's Gym

New Year's resolutions included updating the website- done, getting on facebook-done,and starting a blog-done....also going back to the gym. For 5 years I was pretty dedicated to exercising there -at least 3 times a week- and then one day I was simply tired of it. However after an 18 month hiatus I decided to beat the January blahs by giving it a try again. And I love it.

Life in Port is enjoyable in part due to the convenience and location of everything. The gym , The Port Stanley Fitness Centre( in the Wharf Building) is a half block from the marina, visible from our south deck and open for members 24/7. And what a great view the gym rats have ! Fishing boats and the lift bridge are just 30 feet away from the big windows facing the harbour.

Larry & Dan,who own the place, are in and out during the day, and always ready to share the latest happenings of life in Port. Its busy enough to be welcoming but never too crowded or having line ups for the equipment Most days there's always some friendly locals to talk to ,with summer visitors and guests from the nearby inns dropping by on occasion.

Just another good reason for Living in Port !
Wishing You Fair Winds,
Fiona

Toronto Boat Show 2010

Attended the Toronto Boat Show ( indoors of course) on Saturday. Though we didn't get snow in Port Stanley until after Xmas I'm already tired of it so this seemed a great opportunity to put some summer into your winter as the ads proclaimed. As it was the first day of a 10 day show everything was fresh and clean with the exhibits sparkling and the sales people enthusiastic!


The biggest yachts attracted the most attention with long lines for boarding/viewing already forming by 10:30am. As most of the people in line had 2 kids in strollers there was a lot of day dreaming going on.

John & I loved looking at the old Muskoka style wooden boats with their impossibly glossy finishes and sleek designs. That retro look was continued in Chris Craft's line of smaller power boats such as the Lancers and Corsairs. Great colour combinations were on display from traditional red, white and blue to funky turquoise and even a metallic silver hull all accented with teak detailing. John had to drag me away from the the sales booth- really loved the Corsair 28- definitely on my wish list !

Some interesting new products were on display including a new deck matting for boats that looked like teak produced by Nuteak. Caused a lot of attention as people gathered around the booth passing the sample mats back and forth to feel the product. I can see applications for using it on home and cottage decks as well for a very distinctive look....nuteak.com


The Sperry Shoes Booth is a perennial favourite for price and quality conscious sailors. John loves the tradional canvas deck shoe while I got my first ever pair of leather boating shoes ! Its just taken 25 summers !

Fair Winds,
Fiona

Just North of the Lift Bridge

Much of the attraction of our marina is its location in the heart of Port Stanley, a small fishing village on Lake Erie. Located on the river, Kettle Creek, we describe ourselves as being just north of the lift bridge . The village started developping in this valley in the 1830's since it was one of the few natural deep water harbours on the north side of lake Erie. The river divides the vllage in two with a distinct feel and character to its east and west sides.

A major focal point of "Port", as the locals call the village,is the 70 year lift bridge named after King George VI.Boats have the right of way so the bridge opens on the hour and the half hour when necessary providing a frequent and ironclad excuse for being late.From time to time the electronics that now power it get cranky and the 2 spans that move grind to a halt ...lasting from minutes to hours. After a spectacularily disruptive 3 day event a couple of years ago a local T-shirt entrepreneur starting selling shirts that read " The People in Port are friendly......its the Lift Bridge that's stuck up !"

So we're located just north of this lift bridge with easy access to the lake for our seasonal and visiting boaters. At the same time we're in the middle of the small business core with shops and restaurants 'round the corner. From the various windows and decks of our 3 story house/office we can see much of the village and river activities. And if I stand on a small stool and lean a little bit sideways I can even see the lake itself from our south deck !

Fair Winds,
Fiona

25 Summers

25 Summers: that's how long ago we started Kettle Creek Marina, here in Port Stanley. So 2010 will be a celebration year for John & I- for surviving, amidst tears and laughter, all the ups and downs of running a summer business.

I'll be looking backwards recounting some of our successes and failures plus keeping you informed of "a year in the life of a marina 2010" as we make plans to celebrate 25 Summers
over the coming season.

Wishing you Fair Winds
Fiona