Century Club: Rebekah Bromwell

And it went awesome! (except that I spaced on which slip we were in mid-final docking, but up to that, awesome.) I really wasn't 100% on enrolling in the BKI because I felt so unsure about single handing skills in certain specific ways, and she clarified stuff and also made just had me DO everything I was worried about and it was totally fine. I did a quick stop POB with the weighted buoy, a heave-to, reefed and should it out, an upwind and downwind dock at the T-head, and left the dock 3 times myself which made me feel much more capable of that in future. The only things I'm still worried about are leaving the dock under trickier conditions (pinned to it in higher wind, for example) and generally just managing much higher wind. Otherwise I think I'm good. So I went ahead and registered. Eek. (≈2.5hrs) ooh interestingly, I tried sheeting the jib both ways because she likes NOT crossing them, and I find it pretty much fine either way so I'm ambi-sheetrous or something. I think I will generally keep them crossed though because it does keep it a little simpler to adjust on the high side.

Went out for just under 4hrs with Tom and my James on Akimbo. Wind was amazing so we were double reefed and pulled in the jib even a little extra once out past ft McHenry. I think only letting it to just the front shroud is the best balance for the second reef in the main. There were much fewer whitecaps than it seemws like there should be for the level of wind we had. I don't quite understand that. It definitely was less than my checkout day but not by a ton. If my checkout was around 28 I would have guessed today was 24ish. So how how come practically no waves or whitecaps? Anyway, had a great time. Did a final pump out for the winterization and added antifreeze to the tank. I taped over the toilet lid too so it should be EXTRA clear to everyone that they better not use it. 

Took advantage of the excellent wind, just a bit gusty but never considered reefing until we were practically back past Dominoes. Got to just before the bridge in under an hour! Averaging 6kts in a J seemed crazy but we were just about dead downwind. Getting back took some effort and stupid navionics messed up the track record repeatedly. I really wanted to see what kind of progress we were making on the starboard tacks (wind was quite westerly with a little south off and on) but no such luck. Just under 4 hrs out.

First session "teaching" and I think it went well! My 2 people did great, both got in a good amount of practice tacking and jibing and discussing wind direction, checking the windex, etc. I hope they had a good time. Wind was so low it was a pain getting back in at the dock though. :-( Not super confidence inspiring.