Voyage Overview
- Year: 2025
- Destination: Lake Ontario, Canada
- Boat: Take Five
- Vessel Type: Catalina 42
- Distance Sailed: 148 nautical miles
- Skipper: Mike Scrivens
- Crew: Simon Tyler (“Simontario”), Warren Creates (“Warbario”), Boris Ulehla (“Borizontario”)
- Notes: 24th Phat Buoy voyage, fewest crewman
Logbook Entry
The 2025 voyage marked a new rhythm for the Phat Buoys: four men, one fine lake, and no distractions. Chris had to withdraw at the last minute, leaving a tight-knit crew to savour the serenity and shared challenge of Lake Ontario (and the boat name cheekily adjusted to reflect this year’s crew).
And in a sentimental nod to David, Scriv under-sized his merch order and couldn’t get into his Lake Ontario Hoodie, replacement in production.
The intimacy of a smaller team brought a single, unbroken flow of conversation and collaboration. The conditions were idyllic — steady breezes that seemed to shift on command — and the lake offered everything from open water stretches to tranquil anchorages near the vineyards of Prince Edward County.
A rare mechanical failure gave Scriv the chance to demonstrate his renowned calm and engineering skill, coaxing the reluctant motor back to life by sheer perseverance, know-how, rubber gloves and a heavily taped spanner! The electric dinghy outboard was a revelation: silent, powerful, and future-proof.
No fishing this year, no golf either — just a pure, unhurried sail, with fine wine, calm nights, and the unmistakable feeling that two and a half decades of shared voyages have distilled into something quietly perfect.
Joan caught up with us in Picton ahead of her cycling and camping near picturesque Sandbanks, so dinner with her and her pal had to be on the wharf, full honours.
Post sail was a real treat, schlepping north into Quebec and the astoundingly beautiful Scriven’s cottage on the edge of Lac Pemichangan. So we simply had to have a sprint around the lake on his speedboat didn’t we!?
