Blogging aboard Black Diamond! Sailing logs of Black Diamond, a Jeanneau Sailboat.

Skipper Edward Radonic

Skipper Ed & Derek Hatfield aboard Spirit of Canada an Open 60. Derek is a veteran around the world alone sailor.

I have been boating for 25 years, at the age of 43, this is more than half of my life time. Starting out with a number of smaller power boats, then switching to sail about 10 years ago. I have sailed various boats from wind surfers, dinghies (lasers), trailer sailors, keel boats from 26 to 45 foot yachts.

I live in the area of Toronto Canada and sail mostly on Lake Ontario. I have been racing yachts for the past 10 years. I have also entered many long distance races such as the Fort Lauderdale to Charleston, completed in 2 days 8 hours, we received 4th place in division, 8 minutes in PHRF behind a 3rd place trophy. Then 6 times finishing the Susan Hood, a 75 mile over night race, 6 times entered in the Lake Ontario 300 the worlds longest fresh water race, a 308 knotical mile race around the perimeter of Lake Ontario. My crew and I on Black Diamond finished in under 2 days. Our best placing was 3rd in division, and 12th overall in PHRF for the entire LO300 fleet of almost 200 boats.

Multiple, deliveries of yachts back up to Canada from the Bahamas and the Caribbean, we entered in a couple of interesting races along the way, one from Fort Lauderdale to Charleston described as a sled ride up the gulf stream,  the Charleston race week regatta series and the New Year’s Day Staniel Cay Regatta in the Exumas, Bahamas. This race we came in 2nd over entire fleet, only lost by 3 minutes in a 2 hour race to a 47 footer. This was a boat for boat race, no PHRF scoring.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do,

than by the ones you did do. So cast off the bowline, Sail away from the safe harbour.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.           Explore. Dream. Discover.”           Mark Twain

Blue water experience include yacht deliveries multiple deliveries of yachts from the BVI’s and the Bahamas to New York City. These deliveries are  non-stop, thousands of miles. We crossed parts of the Bermuda Triangle, and during most of the delivery were over 200 miles offshore. The delivery of Black Diamond a 40 foot Jeanneau racer/cruiser has been delivered to New York City and then offshore to Florida and the Bahamas from Toronto, Canada. This delivery from NYC to Florida was completed 100 miles offshore, for a distance of over a 1000 miles non-stop to Jacksonville, Florida. Completed in what might be a cruisers record of 5 days 3 hours non-stop offshore. This fall my family and I added another 500 miles of sailing throughout much of the Bahamas. Spending months aboard Black Diamond sailing the Abacos, Nassau and the Exumas. I then sailed the boat back to New York, completely offshore, entered a few races along the way, and back to Toronto through the Hudson River and Erie Canal. During the 2009 season, we sailed Black Diamond off the dock 148 different days out of 365, winning the Vacant Dock award the second year in a row.

Most recently, 2011, completed the delivery of friends boat Tracey & Nilson Ruiz, from Tortoal, BVI to New York. Tortola to Georgetown Bahamas in 5 days non-stop. Last leg from Charleston to New York over the momorial day long week-end non-stop Friday to Monday in 4 days. All completed safe and sound without incedent.

With about 16,000 Nautical miles of experience. Need any deliveries let me know, deliveries completed at no charge if it’s in a desirable location, and I can use the boat for an extra week or so.

I am also an Open Water Certified diver and an active member of the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron, certifications included Power/Sail boat handling, Seamanship Sail, Piloting/charting, GPS Navigation, Extended Offshore Cruising and a VHF Radio operation license. Recently completed the CYA Coastal Navigation certification, and working on my instructor certification. I hope to further my education, qualifications and experience in long distance cruising and racing. One of my goals is to obtain a commercial Captains License.

Feel free to contact me at ed@sailboatcruise.ca

Enjoying a sunset during the LO300.