Out for a quick test sail this morning with our local Quantum rep to check the fit of the new main Dewey ordered for Dangerous. The sail looks great and will be a welcome upgrade from the thorougly worn and delaminated old sail. We found light conditions so we also took a look at our light #1. After we sailed we packed the boat up for winter storage. Excited to get out there next spring!
Century Club: Jonathan Nepini
Saturday, December 16, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
New main looking much improved from the old one
Friday, December 15, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
End of week sunset
Quick after work cruise up to the bridge on hte Barba Roja. Very little wind, so we motorsailed for the most part. A nice sunset followed by rapidly falling temps made the ride back a little chilly.
Saturday, December 9, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Racing to the dock
Lighted spinnaker
A great, full day of unseasonably warm sailing. Spent the day out on the Spicy Meatball racing in the Freeze Your Bucc Off race, the last event of the SMSA season. A great turnout, with 17 boats on the line for 5 good races. I wasn't quite on my game, but we still had a lot of fun and managed a 7th of 17. Still working through some quirks on the boat and techniques for mark roundings, etc.
Spent the evening on the Barba Roja with Steve and the Pax Sail high school team. Lots of well decorated boats, but only one actually sailed part of the event... us, of course. We motored most of the route through Back Creek, but put a spinnaker up once we got out on the river, and lit it up with projector lights. Our efforts were rewarded with an honorable mention.
A great late-season day on the water once again.
Thursday, December 7, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Spectacular Sunset
Met up with Steve to take the Barba Roja on a quick sunset run up to the bridge and back. Left just as a truly spectacular sunset was getting going, painting the sky with a carpet of reds & oranges. Enjoyed the view as we motored out to 6A, then sailed under headsail up to the bridge. Cold temps but nice to be out here as always.
Saturday, December 2, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Went for a short sail on Dangerous after a long & involved halyard problem that had me spending about 4 hours hanging from the mast. Cool, damp conditions and little wind made for pretty mediocre sailing, but nonetheless it was nice to get out there after working on the boat, and we did see some cool cloud formations as the fog rolled in.
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Sunset under the clouds & through the bridge
Out on the Barba Roja this evening for #150. Cold conditions and light-ish wind prevailed, and we took a short sail up to the bridge and back as the sun went down. I got some helm time and despite the frigid temps was glad to be out there. Spending so much time on the water has been perhaps the greatest joy of my year.
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Dueling with Pony Express at the windward mark
Yours truly holding down the bow
SMSA Frostbites #4, and the last keelboat race of the season. Hard to believe it's come and gone already, it seems like it just started. RC made us work for it this time around, with a 3 lap W/L course. I was up on the bow, and put in a ton of work getting the spin up and down. We had several problems early, but got consistently cleaner as the race went on. A great day on the water, and a solid day of racing to end the season. I already can't wait for March!
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
The fleet charging out of the harbor
Out on Dangerous for SMSA Frostbites #3. Our summer-like weather from the past couple weeks is gone, with actual fall temps and corresponding strong breeze. A downwind start, with a bit of a late run to the line and spinnaker set. A clean douse, followed by a quick upwind leg where we made up some pace. Tried a spinnaker set innovation and it failed spectacuarly, somehow getting about 15 wraps in the spin. Did my best to get it worked out, before dousing and resetting. Got back in the game and had a strong finish.
Friday, November 10, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Had the day off work but spent it running around. Blocked off some time to go sailing with Steve despite the cold temps. We had a nice sail up to the bridge and back and enjoyed catching up. I'm glad to still be getting out there but I'm not looking forward to the cold winter temps!
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Today's route
Decided to go for another paddle with temps in the low 70s when I got off work. Launched from Forest Landing and paddled out to a cove I hadn't visited in a while. Kept getting slowed down by leaves and had to keep clearing my fin. Likely my last paddle for the year but I've said that a few times before so who knows?