On a gorgeous sunny May evening recently, the Canadian Yachting staff were treated to an evening sail aboard Lynn and Pat Lortie’s Adamant 1, complete with delicious snacks and Lynn’s custom audio soundtrack, which may have taken us back a few years.
After a long winter and a cool, wet spring here in Midland, ON, it was such a welcome change to be out on the Bay on a calm, warm evening. Prior to setting out from the Midland Bay Sailing Club we enjoyed a glass of wine and a selection of appetizers that were all prepared using the Carnivore Club’s Meat of the Month box. The meats that were offered in this particular selection ranged from a Sweet Coppa to a sliced Prosciutto to a Hot Sopressata. (Please see the end of this article for a full description of detail on the meats etc.) We created some appetizers that would both allow the flavours of the meats to shine through as well as ones that were easy to make and transportable onboard the sailboat.
The flavours of the different cured meats were all distinct on their own and all offered something different to the palate. The hot Sopressata had a nice brand of heat that was not overpowering but really added to its flavour. The sliced prosciutto we had paired with some fresh cantaloupe and it made a delicious marriage of complementary flavours. The sweet Sopressata went deliciously with a grape tomato, a piece of bocconcini cheese and a basil leaf while the sweet Coppa took the flavour lead when combined with a button mushroom and a slice of cucumber. The Milano and Genoa Chubs were left up to individuals to combine with crackers, red pepper jelly, savoury spreadable goat cheese and some wasabi or salmon flavoured caviar.
Because it was such a calm day on the water we headed out under power with the sails still furled. Lynn anchored us out in Gawley Bay where we continued sampling the snacks and admiring the 360 degree view. It was race night at the Sailing Club so not far off to the East the boats were queuing up to attempt a race without much wind to leverage.
It was a fine night for a spring cruise and everyone enjoyed the scenery, the company and the appetizers. For more info on the Carnivore Club and details of how you can start receiving your monthly selection of meats visit: https://carnivoreclub.co/
The image above describes visually the contents of the box we sampled.
Soup season is in full swing and this Tomato Tortellini Soup with Pesto is just the recipe to warm your belly. Any recipe that lends itself to a slow cooker and very little prep is a galley recipe for sure. This dish combines comfort on cool fall days with ease of preparation and surprisingly terrific taste.
As the season’s evenings grow cooler boaters will be looking for heartier galley meals to extend their boating season. This skillet lasagna hits all of the highlights; it is easy to make, the flavour is top notch, hearty enough to add some heat to a cool evening on board and the one dish feature makes clean up easy.
Pan frying fish is, perhaps, the most delicious way to cook any non-fatty fish. The coating protects the flesh from direct heat and helps keep the fish moist, while also providing a browned and crispy or crunchy crust. Yet, the method avoids the large amount of oil (not to mention the mess) required for deep frying. The steps here show how to do a full three-step coating, but the basic idea can also be used to simply coat the fish once with flour to improve browning for pan fried fish. Whether you catch and fillet your own fish or buy them from a fish monger or at a fish counter, always cook with only the highest quality, impeccably handled fish. Look for firm, uniformly textured flesh and a clean smell of ocean, river, or lake. Fish should never smell fishy or have soft spots or bruising.
Cooking onboard can sometimes be a challenge. At Canadian Yachting we are impressed with the new SilKEN Induction 2 Burner Cooktop from Kenyon. This comes with special high-temperature Silicone mats. The biggest benefit is that induction heats the inside of the pot (and quickly) right through the Silicone mat. The mat holds the pot in place and is shaped to offer spill retention and quick heat dissipation.
New Boats: Beneteau Oceanis 34.1 – A Sleek, Good -Looking Delight To Sail
By Katherine Stone
There is nothing more that I enjoy than being with friends and messing about in boats. Messing about in brand-new boats on a champagne sailing day on Lake Ontario at the beginning of the summer doesn’t get any better. To have the new owner, Helmuth Strobel and Anchor Yachts dealer Pancho Jimenez aboard made it even more special, as they can also speak to what they truly enjoy about the boat. We keep our own boat in a harbour that has a long waiting list for boats over 35 feet, so this little gem would definitely fit the bill and feels like a much bigger boat. True to the spirit of the 7th generation Oceanis line, the 34.1 is built in Poland and replaces the 35.1. It is 1,000 lbs lighter, 14 cm narrower and has 29% more sail area.
Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands has Reopened
Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands has opened its rebuilt and re-envisioned luxury private island in 2024 after the property closures from the Virgin Islands’ 2017 hurricane season. Peter Island Resort has been undergoing its transformation for over six years. Its evolution includes brand new and upgraded accommodations and new state-of-the-art facilities and five stellar beaches amid hundreds of acres of unspoiled tropical island.
Peter Island Yacht Club
The new Yacht Club will be a must on the itineraries of sailors, boaters and yachtsmen with a marina that can accommodate a range of vessels from power boats, sailboats and catamarans, to super yachts of up to 200 feet. Located in Sprat Bay harbor, the Yacht Club will be its own destination with a dedicated swimming pool for Yacht Club guests, Drunken Pelican restaurant and bar, a commissary, Sea Chest Boutique and a sports recreation area with pickleball, basketball and bocce ball courts and a lawn-games area. To protect the coral reef and marine life surrounding the island, moorings will be located in White Bay, Sprat Bay, Deadman’s Bay…