Quick trip on the Barba Roja with my twin brother to close out 2022. A cold and light day, with just the oystermen and us out on the river. Michael took a turn at the helm, and after a while we motored up to the bridge and back into the harbor to see where the back portion was iced over. A nice way to get out and get some fresh air despite the cold weather and a great way to end the 2022 season.
(Photo courtesy of Steven Birchfield)
Helped the SMSA high school team decorate the Barba Roja for the Solomons Lighted Boat Parade. A cold, calm evening to ride around listening to Christmas carols and having fun. The team did a great job decorating and we won best sailboat.
SMSA Frostbites #4, the last race of the season. Another cold, heavy-air day. I took it easy on this race and mostly served as rail meat as Steve makes the transition back to helming his own boat. One of the coolest downwind starts I've ever seen, with the whole fleet charging out of Solomons harbor. Made great time on the first leg, but had difficulty on the long beat to the bridge with our high-cut #3. Did our best to make it up on the return, but didn't score our best finish. A typical late-fall race and a great way to finish out the racing season. Racing was followed by a much-appreciated soup potluck at the club.
(Photo by Steven Birchfield)
SMSA Frostbites #3. Back on the Barba Roja for a vicious heavy-air race. Set a reef in the harbor, and decided once we got out that we should put the #3 up. Come to find out the #3 wasn't on the boat, so we tried to set a staysail as a heavy air jib. We couldn't get enough luff tension to point well, so we ended up taking that sail down and running under partially rolled genoa. A couple minor hardware failures on account of the wind. Nailed the start and kept the boat moving fast through the whole race, including a couple brutal beating legs. A cold, wet, but fun day on the water, and an 8th place finish.
Made the last-minute decision today to get behind the helm of a friend's '83 Beneteau First 35 to help him get it around the course for frostbites race #2. Our goal was to safely complete the course and get the boat moving, which we accomplished. This was the first time I was making most of the big-picture tactical decisions. I misjudged the start and we got across the line quite late, but managed to get back going and put together a decent race. Lots of strange shifts all across the course, plus all of us learning the new boat made things interesting. A last-place finish but still a great day on the water and a nice way to get out and enjoy the unseasonably warm weather.
(Photo courtesy of Steven Birchfield)
A beautiful day and a full boat for fall frostbite #1. Steve put me on foredeck for the race as that will be my job on Dangerous next year. Hardly any wind at the start, but it slowly built to respectable light wind conditions. I worked with several members of the crew with foredeck experience to learn the role and solve problems as needed. 12 people onboard and a dirty bottom did us no favors and we only managed a 10th place finish. Tommy brought his dino costume and we got some amusing pictures as a result.
Went with a couple friends to sail on Sloopy (soon to be renamed Dangerous) for the SMSA Fall Invitational. A pretty green crew, and one of my friends' first time on a sailboat. Moderately heavy conditions kept the racing in the river for two windward/leeward races and one random leg race. I worked the foredeck and did some headsail trim. Last-place finishes in every race, but we were significantly held back by a barnacle-laden bottom. The newer crew members picked it up very well and we consistently improved throughout the day. I'm getting excited to see what we can make the boat do next season.
(Photos courtesy of Steven Birchfield)
An impromptu cruise on the Barba Roja to help Poppa Bob make his Century Club days after his arm injury. Nice sailing conditions and nice fall weather made for a relaxing trip.
(Photo courtesy of Steven Birchfield)
Went out on the Olson with some friends intending to make it to the gas docks and back. Got the main up, the motor stowed, and put in a reef, and realized we couldn't tack through the 18kt steady wind blowing directly through the mouth of the West Basin. Would've been a fun day, but the whitecaps on the Patuxent looked vicious and we didn't want to risk the boat and the green crew.
An impromptu sail this evening on the First 35, this time without the inexperienced guests. We hoisted the 145% genoa and decided to get the boat up and moving a bit. A short beat, followed by a long reach out towards the Bay, followed by a sporty beat back in. Jay drove and I played with sail trim & tried to get a feel for the boat. Perfect weather and another perfect evening on the water.