Century Club: James Bromwell

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Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Number of days:
1 day
Wet Wednesday Member Sail

Weather didn't look great for the member sail today but we decided to try our luck anyway.  Rich is working on his cruising skipper checkout so we took Akimbo to give him some time on the helm and at least get the sails out.

I'm testing out some "hand me up" foulies so I figured this would be a good, short-ish trial run.  Rebekah was right, though -- the Helly bibbs are not as waterproof as I'd like; I had to change into dry pants after I got home.  Glad we got out, but it was even too wet to manage a crew photo.

Sunday, April 26, 2026
Number of days:
1 day
Skills Practice at Sunday Member Sail
  • Crew photo includes Joanna's new "high vis" foulies

Joanna very graciously volunteered to skipper for skill building, so we set out with Sarah for a chilly Sunday afternoon.  I got in some good quick-stops and one or two sort of passable figure-eights, then returned for a really good series of dock approaches from just about every wind angle.  Sarah had to leave a little early so the end of the day was basically a private lesson -- I got some good feedback and really think it helped with my confidence.  Thanks, Joanna!

Friday, April 24, 2026
Number of days:
1 day
Sail setup and testing on Huzzah
  • The main was a little finicky
  • Spinnaker looked good even with barely any wind

Went with Rebekah to lend a hand getting Huzzah set up for the season.  Not sure how useful I was and the wind died to almost exactly zero, but at least the weather was awesome.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Number of days:
1 day
Wednesday Member Sail

Some POB and docking practice, had to hurry back to get in on time -- unfortunately couldn't even get a crew photo! -- but a really nice day.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Number of days:
1 day
Short but sweet Member Sail

We got out with Sarah again on Wednesday's member sail, with a skills focus on POBs.  Wind was decent (5-10) but without the big gusts I saw predicted earlier in the day, which is nice.  With limited time, we just headed straight over to the anchorage (uh, near Anchorage?) and got in a bunch of quick stop and figure-8 maneuvers.  I feel pretty good about my quick stops now but needed some help talking through the end of the figure-8; I do want to get to where both feel natural before I check out.

Sunday, April 12, 2026
Number of days:
1 day
Member Sail with some pep
  • I promise I did not feel as crazy as this picture makes me look

Strong but not overpowering wind for Sunday member sail.  It was a packed house, and I had forgotten to register until fairly late in the week, so I was lucky to land a spot on J22#5.  We each got a turn for some skills practice, and made it partway to the bridge, though by the time we got past Ft. McHenry the wind was coming almost straight across the old spans so we had a lot of tacking to do, and I had some serious Boat Yoga to stay on the high side.  Felt like we did better than 6kt the whole way home, though.  Really fun sail overall!

Saturday, April 11, 2026
Number of days:
1 day
Checklist and shakedown on Akimbo
  • One measly knot!
  • Good company, though

We started out doing spring checklist stuff -- I think I got the lifelines neatened up pretty well, but Bek still doesn't trust them -- then had time for some motoring practice and a bit of a sail.  Wind started at 5-10 but had some serious lulls (pic enclosed).

Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Number of days:
1 day
Member Sail on Messin' About
  • Crew photo!
  • Sailed past this big ol' RORO

Wednesday was the first Member Sail of the season!  Great weather, moderate to light wind, dying on the way back.

Albert was planning to do a short shake-out sail for Sweet Dreams, after the starter motor was replaced over the winter.  Unfortuntely the starter still wasn't in the mood to turn over this time -- electrical issues? -- so Albert, Santhosh, Rebekah, Sandy and I took out Messin' About instead.

We only made it a bit past Ft McHenry before we had to turn back to make our deadline at the docks.  I got some time on the helm bringing us home, bringing us into the wind while we dropped the main before Albert brought us in to B-dock.

Monday, March 30, 2026
Number of days:
1 day
Great evening sail with Tom

Rebekah had some maintenance to take care of with Tom while I attended to other business. At the end of the day, I was going to pick her up, but at the last minute she called and asked if I'd rather come out for a sail instead - obviously, yes! 

We took a J22 out - didn't catch the number, but it wasn't one of our off season "usual" boats - just as far as the Canton basin. I got some good tiller time, and (with some excellent coaching!) managed 3 or 4 quick stop POBs and a couple figure 8s. Big thanks to Tom for volunteering to fish the fender out of the harbor, it's still pretty chilly...

Got back right around sundown, only a couple hours but the wind was great and the weather couldn't have been nicer. Great day!

Sunday, March 29, 2026
Number of days:
1 day
Wrestling with reefing lines
  • I'm smiling so this was probably before we tried to run the reefing lines

Spent a good chunk of Sunday afternoon getting the sails set up on Sunrise. The furler on the headsail needed to be lubed, some lines were a little worn, but what took the lion's share of the day was figuring out the single line reefing system. We got it in the end, and I think I even managed a few passable bowlines while moving the lazy jacks around. The real disappointment was that maintenance took so long we didn't have time for a shakedown sail before heading over to the chili cook-off!

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