A quick sunset sail on Neptune's Wager to test the new sail plan and running and standing rigging. Very light conditions, so we practiced hoisting a spinnaker, to very little effect. She's like a whole new boat with all the work that's been done and I'm excited to see how Jay & Sam do with their program this season!
Century Club: Jonathan Nepini
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Deep sunset after the sail
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
A relaxing sunset sail
A nice, brief sunset sail with some friends on Barba Roja to enjoy the pleasant weather.
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Running around in the pre-start
Charging to the finish
Having fun at the SpinSheet Crew Party
Back to the racing season at long last. SMSA Frostbites #1, and my first race on Red Baron. Michael was down visitng for the weekend and he raced with us, and we divvied up crews between us and Harm's Way at the dock, and ended up with 7 total - a very full crew for a little boat. I ended up on the foredeck, and spent some time learning the layout differences between this boat and Dangerous. The breeze was a little in and out, but we set up with the #3 and rigged for a peel if conditions allowed a switch to the #1.
We excecuted a flawless start at the windward end and set off towards the first mark. We executed a pretty clean leg with a couple tacks, and cracked off to a deep reach to the second. Another tidy leg, if a bit slow running deep with the small jib, and then we set off for the long beat to the bridge. We spent some time a bit overpowered, and decided to put in a reef, unfortunately losing a little time in the process. Ultimately the wind backed off and we shook out the reef before rounding the bridge. We sailed a tidy close reach to the next mark, and then turned down for the finish. We finally got the necessary conditions to launch the #1, though unfortunately on the opposite tack of what I had set up for the peel. A little bit of sloppy foredeck work later and the big sail was up and we charged to the finish.
Great conditions on a fun boat with good friends made for a fantastic first day back racing. After the race, we enjoyed the Solomons Spinsheet Crew Party.
Friday, February 28, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
A great Friday evening sail with a large crew on Barba Roja. We enjoyed beautiful conditions and great camraderie as we relaxed after a hectic week. I had a long chat with another friend I hadn't seen in quite some time, and we all enjoyed the best sunset yet this week. Nice breeze allowed us to sail out towards the Bay and then put up a spinnaker for a long run to the bridge. The beat back down was a little chilly, but all in all a great time was had by all.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Tonight's crew
We had so much fun on the boat yesterday we decided to do it again today. A little cooler out, but with much more breeze, so we took a shorter course up to the bridge and back. I had a nice time catching up with a friend I hadn't seen in quite a while as well. It never gets old coming out here on the water.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Relaxing in the breeze
Out for a sunset sail on Barba Roja to enjoy the pleasant temps. We took a leisurely course nearly up to the bridge, and on the way back down the wind dropped out somewhat, leaving us to drift in a spectacular, glassy sunset. This is the first of three sails on the schedule this week, and I'm looking forward to getting out on the water more often as we slowly crawl out of a long winter.
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
A Solomons neighbor snapped a picture of us from the boardwalk
Out for a brisk Saturday morning sail on Barba Roja. We headed up towards the bridge, but got caught in a late morning shift and didn't have quite enough breeze to make it. We enjoyed a lazy downwind sail in front of the boardwalk on the way back down. A great way to kick off the weekend!
Sunday, February 9, 2025
Number of days:
6 days
Progress on the under-cockpit support
Using this entry to log my boat work days for the year.
1. 2/9 - Dangerous: Created pattern for under-cockpit support beam & removed motor & cushions for winter maintenance
2. 3/15 - Dangerous: Installed under-cockpit support
3. 4/17 - Dangerous: Apply epoxy to keel joint repair, apply second coat of varnish to under-cockpit support
4. 6/5 - Dangerous: Buff topsides
5. 8/5 - Dangerous: Tighten all deck hardware, install steaming light
6. 11/29 - Red Baron: Inspect all deck hardware & make recommendations for winter improvements.
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Some of today's crew in the sunset
A much-needed sunset sail on Barba Roja after a long hiatus due to lots of snow & cold weather. With the puffy conditions and relatively cold weather, we set a full main & the storm jib, and enjoyed a nice lap around the river basin. Hoping for better weather going forward so we can get back out more often.
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Number of days:
1 day
Barba Roja charging across the basin to start 2025
A good crew today
Out on Barba Roja for our traditional New Year's Day sail. I've been out on the boat every year I've finished Century Club, so I wanted to start the year off right. We decided to go out early, and were met with very breezy and puffy conditions, with gusts above 30. The reefing system on Barba Roja isn't currently set up, so we flew a full main and a storm jib to manage sail area. We sailed across the basin and back, and then conditions backed off a bit and allowed us to beat up to the bridge. We enjoyed a surprisingly sedate downwind run back to the harbor, and Steve expertly docked the boat in decidedly challenging conditions. A beautiful morning for a heavy-air sail and a great start to 2025!