Sailing one short today for our usual Wednesday night race. Conditions were dynamic, with high potential for a thunderstorm. We left the dock with the #1 on deck, planning to run it, got out in some breeze and forming whitecaps and changed to putting the #3 up, then as the gusts backed off ultimately settled back to the #1 again. We started low on course and a little late, and went left by necessity as we didn't have a clean window to tack into. We ultimately made it back across the middle of the course, before putting in a quick pair of tacks close to the mark. We fumbled a couple of them for various small issues, but kept pressing on into the reaching leg. We thought about putting up a spinnaker, and re-rigged to do so, but utlimately couldn't hold the angle and did it as a jib reach. We rounded the second mark and reached back across the course, dodging traffic and staying above several boats below us. We finally got to set a spinnaker on the final leg, and sailed a clean race home. We had to crash gybe after the finish to avoid the shallows. Not our best race, with some notable mistakes and oversights, but we still pulled off a third-place podium finish, and didn't get stormed on, so it's hard to complain too much.
Century Club: Jonathan Nepini
Today's route
Really pushing the weather envelope on this one - I drove to Leonardtown in a driving thunderstorm with the idea that it was moving south in a hurry and would be gone upon my arrival. It wasn't overhead, but was still making lots of noise and lightning when I arrived at the launch, so I waited by the car for a while to see what it would do. In about 20 minutes the storm totally vanished, and I squeezed in a very brief paddle before I had to move on to other evening commitments. I took a lap over to the corner of Breton Bay and a little ways up Glebe Run before it got too buggy. Grateful to get a little something in, but these pop-up storms are really cramping my Century Club schedule.
Today's route
Another day threatening thunderstorms, so I once again left off Clarke's Landing and planned a low-risk route in some close-by coves. No storms ever really materialized, and instead I enjoyed a nice paddle in Nat's Creek and Placid Harbor.
Today's route
A quick paddle off Forest Landing to close out the weekend. I explored a cove I hadn't seen in a while and enjoyed seeing a new sportfishing boat I hadn't noticed before. In a perfect world I intend to be on the water all seven days this week, we'll see if the continuously unstable weather allows it.
Sailing with Bad Cat at the start
Out on the boat today for the Smith Point Race. A pretty good crew today, with Austin finally able to join us again. We started the race in light downwind conditions, and absolutely nailed a hectic start. Unfortunately the start was so hectic RC called a general recall, and our second start wasn't so sharp. We worked hard to keep the boat moving in the light air, and gradually worked our way east. A thunderstorm brewed up south of us and several boats retired, and we capitalized on the breeze coming off the storm to press north. Once we got out of the good pressure we continued to sail gybe angles, and made our way back toward the western shore, where Austin correctly predicted generally better breeze.
By the time we reached the top mark, we had passed several boats, including our rival Diablo, and set ourselves up for success on the upwind. We discussed favoring the western shore on the way back down, but ultimately chased good breeze back east again. The breeze got a little too good, and we executed a reasonably successful peel to the 3 before taking our lumps and crossing back over the middle of the Bay in plenty of breeze and waves. Once we reached the western shore, we had to drop the headsail and put it back up to fix a stretchy halyard issue, and we carried on our way. As night fell, we pulled off a timely crossing between two commercial vessels, and took an easy beat to the finish. Diablo got back ahead of us on the upwind, but we still managed a second place overall. A long, hot, punshing, rewarding day on the boat and ultimately our efforts paid off. Good practice for Gov Cup coming up in a few weeks.
Today's route
Decided to sneak in a quick paddle before this evening's thunderstorms. Planned a risk mitigation route so I could punch out quickly if the weather rolled in sooner than anticipated. I got 15 minutes out and heard a rumble of thunder, so I high-tailed it towards the dock in rapidly increasing breeze. I made it back, and ultimately the storm didn't end up actually hitting for another hour. Better safe than sorry!
Today's route
First run with my new board. A bit disappointed with the delivery as the board showed visible signs of use and return, but I negotiated a worthwhile deal with the store I bought it from. The new stick rides nice! Not dramatically different, but noticeably faster and better tracking, with fresh accessories. I'm very happy with it for my very modest investment. I paddled down to the Mulberrys and back, and managed to push a somewhat higher average speed than usual, which will extend my range a bit going forward.
Today's route
Wrapping up the weekend with a paddle with Michael & Lelia. Breezy conditions for Lelia's first effort, and they took a little time to get going. We crossed the main channel of the harbor and headed up St. John's Creek a little ways to stay out of the breeze. A great way to spend the afternoon and wrap up a lovely holiday weekend.
A gorgeous sunset on the Bay
I decided to get my company that's in town out on Dangerous for a fun Saturday evening sail. We headed out towards the Bay, and sailed up towards Cove Point. Lelia took a turn at the helm on the way out, and Michael did on the way back. Nice pleasant, moderate conditions and a beautiful sunset made for a wonderfully pleasant evening on the water.
An easy spinnaker glide to the finish
Another Wednesday night with light conditions on Dangerous. We had a new crew member on the boat today, a high school student who wants to get into sailing keelboats. We raced in light conditions, and executed sharp performance to a solid second place finish. Everything went clean except for a little snafu with Cheetah at the very end, easily corrected with just a bit of adjustment on the helm. I'm glad to see the program having come back together so quickly, and I'm excited for the rest of the season.