Got back home after horrible week and funeral up in nyc. Took #4 out with Bhavani for a couple of hours in low wind just to sail around a little.
Century Club: Rebekah Bromwell
Sunday, May 11, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Beautiful day with perfect wind in spite of low predictions and a bleak looking situation at the dock. Had an absolutely lovely sail out past the bridge, around carol island and the. A relaxed downwind almost run back. We put the main away shortly after passing the bridge on the WAH back and just used the Genoa. Made 4.5 knots most of the way with just that. Very relaxing. Got text from nyc right before bridge on upwind leg, was able to call from below after we passed the bridge and I let James, David & Fumin get us into a good position to head around carol island and jibe through FSK.
Akimbo, low 70s, 10ish knots easterly. 12-4pm
Amtrak to nyc that night.
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Informal pursuit race to Curtis bay green #5 & back (start was from line between lighthouse point corner dock to port admin building) and then we anchored and had a lunch raft up w/Sun. My anchor did slip a bit which has never happened to me before there (usual spot in anchorage) but as we started getting a little too close for comfort towards the leeward dock we just started engine and separated and went home. Anchor line was kind of im big curves around the boat. I think setting it with high wind and significant oscillating between NW & SW seemed to reduce the it's bite. James said it felt set, but even using the motor to reverse to set, I was getting blown sideways enough that I think it was rotating in the ground.
Had Rayned helm pretty much of the time because intended to do more sailing after lunch to give James and Jen time tomorrow drive , but wind was a little higher than I really felt would be fun for us. Even Ray had significant steering difficulties sometimes, and maintaining momentum seemed weirdly difficult especially on a starboard tack. We were double reefed but I don't think that was the issue.
Went on Akimbo, beautiful weather. Gusting over 20. 10am-2:30pm
Friday, May 9, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Took #9 but regretted it. Outhaul completely useless. Started reefed b/c was gusting to 20, but was very flakey and light heading out after underarmour so shook it out. Still came in very distant 3rd of 3 boats. Bleh. Did meet a new sailing friend, John, who was nice to have aboard today.
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Took Bhavani out to work on quick stops and had a really nice 90 minutes or so of decent wind and sunny but not too hot weather. Took #11 against my better judgement b/c didn't want to bother with shifting it with #5 for dock position. The bilge was absolutely horrific with urine stench though, which also permeated the jib bag. Ugh. We kept the wash board in the whole time and had the hatch closed to not get nauseous from it while we were out. I wasn't going to stick Bhavani in there to practice SH myself. I'll do it another time. Had a good session coaching anyway and it does help me visualize it for SH too.
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Spinnaker start w/10 knts but it petered out completely before the end. Tons of people retired and it was canned. Was already fully dark before I could start driving home. Bleh. We managed well for being only 5 w/1 very new crew though. Wind was light enough that jib was easy and I was able to help out on main during downwind legs.
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Pouring rain and gusty to start. Pushed back starting call half an hour. Rain cleared up but decently high wind still for first race. We didn't do too badly. I struggled to release the lazy side wraps with so many on and wet heavy lines though. Also I screwed up in race 2 by not understanding that getting the Spinsheet up to Chris was my job and a couple boats got past us. :-/ I did feel good about my role in getting the spin clew over when jibing though.
Am extremely bruised on knees and shins and some inside arms (how?) and hip. Ordered kneepads and arnica gel, lol. Also pretty bummed there wasn't more footage of the J105 class races in the video and photos after the event.
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Day 1 ended early. We retired from race one and went home to fix the jib and discuss how to do better tomorrow. I think mayhem forcing an abrupt tack right at the beginning (which was actually going pretty well) really kind of ruined our day. They protested relentless and race committee penalized relentless 30% but that doesn't really help us since we retired.
Also I think I need knee pads.
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Got to meet John and the crew on Chessie. (AYC Wednesday night race, a first for me.) Was not on spin trim, just jib, which was neat because I am actually pretty decent at it on other boats. I liked the J105 set up, and I am looking forward to Saturday! (NOODS) Wind was pretty light, 6-8or so mostly. Beautiful evening, great sunset.
Friday, April 25, 2025 to Sunday, April 27, 2025
Number of days:
3 days
Quite gusty this afternoon. Very very shifty in front of dominos as well, not ideal. Was able to get through almost entire SH list, but only as practice and not while being observed. :-( Have to demonstrate tomorrow in worse conditions. 12-15 SSW ish but bouncing around everywhere. Low 70s.
Early morning at the docks was beautiful though.
Day 2 was bananas. Mega gusts and downpour hit right after we came in and started presentations.
Day 3 even crazier wind. Actually could not take boats out. I didn't think conditions could kick up as much as my cruising check out, but clearly was mistaken. Didn't get a chance to do last quick stop check so have to schedule that soon. :-( otherwise everything good.