Decided to get a quick lap in after being out of town for the weekend. I started off Clarke's Landing into fierce, gusty conditions. I hugged the shore for half an hour up to Forest Landing Cove, hoping for a speedy downwind run back. Unfortunately, the wind died off by that time, and I was left doing a bit of work paddling back. Beautiful golden hour light and a great workout!
Century Club: Jonathan Nepini
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Today's route
Decided to get a quick lap in off SMSA before heading up the road this morning. Beautiful conditions, if a bit breezy, for a trip up Back Creek and back.
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Today's route
A nice evening paddle with Dewey from Abell's Wharf to Leonardtown Wharf and back. Light-ish conditions and warm weather made for a great evening as we chatted and caught up on what we've been up to. We enjoyed a picnic dinner on the water. The breeze kicked up a little on the way back and we had to work a bit to get back in. A great way to ease into the weekend.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Crossing tacks with Microburst
Skippering Red Baron today in Dion's absence, as he was skippering Harm's Way. We had trouble with the new motor and ended up having to sail out to the course. Finally some moderate conditions allowed us to put up the nice new 140, and we enjoyed fast upwind performance as a result. We sailed clean legs, but I delayed the douse for too long on the first downwind and cost us time saling away from the mark, but we caught back up some on the second upwind. In hindsight there are a number of small tactical decisions I could've made to improve our standings, but the crew handled the boat very well. Not enough to pull off a podium finish, but still a pleasant day on the water.
Monday, April 21, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Today's route
A nice Monday paddle from Forest Landing to Clarke's Landing and back. Pretty breezy on the way out, particularly at the mouth of the river. For my work paddling upwind on the way out I enjoyed a relaxed downwind ride back.
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Headed out of the river
Up in Baltimore this weekend to sail the BCYA Icebreaker race on the J/35 Incorrigible, one of Michael's usual rides. We set off in pleasant but gusty conditions for an all-reaching course, and worked with some brand-new sailors on active trimming to keep the boat performing in the gusts. We briefly launched a spinnaker on a short leg on the way back up, but didn't have much success and had a difficult douse as the angle was too high for it (not my decision to launch). In the end we managed a third place finish. Overall a fun day on the water, and I got to learn more about how to execute dip-pole gybes.
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
A cool shot of a helicopter training during the race (courtesy of Steve Birchfield)
Out for a very sporty Wednesday night on Red Baron. We got out early despite some motor trouble, put some tacks in to decide if we were comfortable racing, and ultimately decided to go for it. We pulled off a tidy, if slightly late, downwind start, and sailed a clean, conservative leg to the first mark. As we were rounding up to beat to the bridge, we tore our jib on the pulpit and had to retire. We had a leisurely sail back in under just the main. Disappointing to have to stop what was shaping up to be a promising race, but still glad we got out there and put the boat through her paces in some heavier conditions.
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Today's route
Light conditions allowed for a paddle out on the river to both Kingston Creeks. I wanted to check out a piece of waterfront property (just window shopping!) and enjoy some different scenery. A nice evening workout.
Monday, April 14, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Today's route
A relaxing sunset paddle off Clarke's Landing. I made a lap around the basin and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Nice to get out there after a stressful afternoon.
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
In the fleet on the first leg (red spin on the left)
SMSA Spring Invitational on Harm's Way, the new J/109 in Solomons. We had a full crew, and several newer folks on the boat. After a little trouble with one of the battens on the main on the way out, we got set up and got underway. The race started downwind, and we launched a spin at the start. With some coaching (and in his first time driving a wheel boat), Dion drove us on a pretty clean leg and we executed a tidy douse. On the beat up the Bay, we looked to balance pressure and angle to the mark, and made a gamble going inside to line our tack up better. Unfortunately it didn't work out in the end as the pressure fell off closer to shore. We set up the big kite at the top mark, anticipating a speedy ride to the finish. Unfortunately the wind clocked and increased violently towards the middle of the leg, resulting in an extremely messy douse. Ultimately we got the sail out of the water and into the boat and finished the race. Not the cleanest effort, but still an interesting time on a new boat.