After working on the boat all day yesterday, it was nice to get out for a sail again. There was a SCA and there should have been one. Winds out of the North - North West 10-15 with gusts well over 20. Barometer was 29.7 and steady. Temps range from 65 - 73. Sunny to start off with, but got cloudy as the day went on. Decided to head over towards Spaniards Neck and Conquest Beach to see if I could get out of some of the wind - didn't help much at all, but I was double reefed so it was a comfortable ride. Boat handled well - when I had her balanced, but with a reefed/furled Genoa.... balance is a tricky thing! Was out of the slip at 10 and came back in about 2:30.
Century Club: Tom Dean
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
It was a bit overcast and rainy, so I thought it would be the perfect day to do a bit of work - had to install a new fuel line (it was leaking) put a new bearing on a winch, and also had to empty the water tanks and refill them. Those tasks ended up taking the better part of the day, but as always - nicer to spend the day on the water than on land!!
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Spent about 10 days in Iowa so this was the first sail after that.
Barometer was at 29.99 and falling. Temp range was 65-71. Winds out of the SSW at 5-10 with mostly cloudy skies. Got out of the slip at 10 am and didn't come back in until 3:10. Sailed around the Chester River basin and of course up and down Langford Creek. Great being back on the water again and sailing!!
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Got to the marina about 9:30 and was out of the slip by 10am! Barometer was 29.87 and falling. Temperature range was 71-79, winds were out of the SW at 5-10. Mostly sunny with some very high wispy clouds. It was a nice day for a sail and this would be the last opportunity to go off for a sail before heading out to Iowa for a bit. Had a lovely day - came in a bit after 2pm.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Didn't think it was going to be much of a sailing day, but it turned out OK. First time taking the boat out of the slip bow first (reoriented the boat on account of the Ospreys trying to nest on Solar Panel). First mate had a little bit of trouble - turned too early and smashed the grill into a piling. Light winds out of the south, but a nice sunny day with temps in the 60's.
Friday, April 26, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Cool day - temperature was 51 when I got to the boat with the barometer at 30.39. Tide was VERY HIGH but falling. The sun was out and the winds were out of the east at 5-10 to start and then switched to the SW with gusts up to 15 knots. Sailed from 10:15 - 3:00 just out in the Chester. Saw a few other brave souls out there along with me - turned out to be a fine day for a sail!!
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Got to the marina about 10 and immediately got Bubbles ready for a sail. While it seems that the osprey and other birds have given up building nests on Bubbles, but that hasn't stopped them from shitting everywhere!
At time of departure the barometer was 30.26, temperature was 53 and the winds were out of the NE 5-10.... s bit breezier in Langford creek. Mostly cloudy with the sun peeking through every once in a while. Got the mainsail up quickly - and since the wind was at my back, waited a while to put out the Genoa. Sailed back and forth across the Chester from Langford creek to Reed Crkk a few times before heading back in (the wind was dying).
Had to drop the sails and start the engine earlier than I wanted to, but the wind was only blowing 2 1/2 knots. All in all a fun little sail!
Friday, April 19, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
According to the forecast when I went to bed on the 18th - the winds were predicted at 5 knots or less for Friday the 19th, so I figured either a work day on the boat or finding something else to do - but when I awoke and found the forecast had changed, I headed to the marina! When I got there found the staff busy dropping in boats - so lots of activity - and still no osprey on my solar panels!
Barometer was 30.08 and falling. Temps ranged from 52-61 with winds out of the SE 5-10 to start... dropping off significantly about 2:15. I thought it was high tide when I got to the marina - and it was... just not the complete high tide - for when I returned about 3, I found the docks under water!
Headed out, got sails up quickly in Langford creek and sailed quickly out the creek into the Chester and down towards Kent Island/Eastern Neck Island. Winds started to fall away a little about 1pm... and I saw some rain was expected about 3pm so I started heading back. Got part way up the creek (wing on wing) before I gave up and turned on the engine. Managed to get docked and zipped up before the rains came - but I was already wet since I had to wade the docks back to land!!
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Got to the marina about 10:30. Had to clean the speed paddlewheel and check the water in the batteries before I could head out. Also had to take my opsprey deterrence thing off my solar panels. Got that all done quickly - along with setting up a different spring line, and I was off. Saw some watermen on Langford Creek - didn't get too close as I raised the main. Wind was out of the NE, so a little behind me as I went down Langford creek towards the Chester. Since it was light wind, I decided to go ahead and set a preventer for the main and then put the genoa out so I could run wing on wing - gotta practice!.
Got that all set and drifted a bit faster down towards the Chester. Once out past the daymarks, I set course to run a broad reach and went forward to take down whisker pole and take off the main preventer. Ran a broad reach towards reed creek - where I jibed and headed towards Easetern Neck Wildlife Preserve on a beam reach. Saw a sailboat come out of Reed creek, put up their sails and head down the Chester towards Kent Island. Tacked back across the Chester on a beam reach again, ending up closer to piney point.
Started to head back at this point - pretty much running close reaches and closes hauls. Dropped the centerboard - which helped and had a fun time tacking up the Chester and Langford creeks.
Since I am still fighting with the osprey - or better, trying to undermine their attempts to set up "home" on my solar array, I backed the boat into the slip - something we normally don't do!
Fun day all and all - glad I got out!
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Got to the marina hoping that the forecast would be off, but unfortunately, they were spot on... no real wind. So after some chores, decided to go for a SUP paddle. Took off out of Davis Creek into Langford creek and headed down towards the Rock Hall Yacht Club. After I got out of Davis and into Langford, it seemed that there was a good amount of wind - in the creek.... but as I looked out into the Chester, that seemed rather flat... so I guess it was smart just to paddleboard instead of taking Bubbles out. No pictures... had to concentrate and not move too quickly - lots of waves!!