July 3, 2011
We left the marina this morning at 0900 hrs. The directions for working the tide stated 8 hrs before low tide at Quebec. The directions also warn about a NE'ly wind blowing against an ebb tide. I listened and then decided that it wouldn't be too bad so we took off. the first few hours were OK but as the ebb increased and the wind picked to 20 kts a, a nasty 4 ft chop developed. We motored against this for the next 8 hrs and arrived in Quebec an hour after the ebb and the beginning of the flood. The reputation of the Valiant as a sea kindly boat is justified in this case: she took everything thrown at her and still remained relatively dry. There was a 30 ft Bayfield ahead of us going in the same directions and she was making some acrobatic leaps that were amazing to watch. At one point, Phyllis, made a comment that she was concerned for them but there was never any danger. Actually, the Bayfield was motoring a knot faster than us.
We arrived at the Port of Quebec Marina at 1930 hrs: tired and exhausted. There was a restaurant at the marina so we had "fish & chips" and retired. I won't be sailing against a NE'ly from here on out because the St Lawrence River starts to widen after Quebec and the currents start to run at 4 kts on the Ebb. This would set up a vicious head sea.
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