Today's mission was to return the dinghy from the dinghy racks on shore. We deployed the dinghy in light winds, and I rowed from the shore to the docks and actually all around the docks before I finally returned to the boat.
Days: 1 Days to date: 54
Miles: 0 Miles to date: 668.0
Walden Rigging returned to the boat and finished up the job of installing the main and the jib, and then I was on my way. I let out the new jib after exiting the Marina and then deployed the main while in the channel. All went quite smoothly. The jib felt much nicer and allowed me to sail well in light winds. I was doing almost half the wind speed on close hauls. Eventually the wind slowed, and the tide turned direction, so I recalled the sails and motored behind pools island and back into the slip. Back home again after a month of hard work.
Days: 1 Days to date: 53
Miles 39.0 Miles to date: 668.0
Simple mission, return for the mast. I stopped for fuel at Long Beach and a pump out. It was a simple trip with no issues, but it started out with rain and quite a bumpy ride but once I got past pools island all was well.
Days: 1 Days to date: 52
Miles: 30.3 Miles to date: 629.0
I spent the month removing the compression post and eventually the rotted pad. This is a documented issue with 43 deck salons built around the timeframe of my boat. I had helped my friend Rik do his in the winter and he helped me with mine as well. After 3 days to remove the old, rotted wood and a few more letting it dry I made a new pad with a combination of G 10 and epoxy. This took 5 days to complete as I had to be careful as to how much epoxy I mixed due to heat concerns. I raised the post about 5/8”, which is now back at the original height. I cleaned up the effected bilge area and painted everything a nice white. Other major jobs completed while the mast was missing was re-bedding the main chainplates and cleanup of the mast plate. Also, I made storage drawers under the galley table. During this time, I was working with Walden Rigging on the new standing rigging as well as new wires to be installed in the mast. I ordered a new VHF antenna along with other items that would be easier to install while the mast was down. It was a challenging month but at least I was able to run the AC.
Days: 10 Days to date: 51
Miles: 0 Miles to date: 598.7
After a successful removal of the mast, I decided to head home and spend the month in my slip at Parkside working on inside tasks. The wind was very light on a sunny day with the temperatures in the low 90s. With no mast I was basically a very slow power boat. Interesting though, the waves and currents reacted differently with no mass as it was a much bumpier ride. Much like an automobile with only springs and no shocks. Docking was easy but it sure looked funny sitting there in the slip with no mast.
Days: 1 Days to date: 41
Miles: 30.4 Miles to date: 598.7
I needed to have the mast removed so that I can fix the compression post pad issue and also to have new standing rigging installed by Walden Rigging. Kevin agreed to head up to Harve de Grace with me on a sunny day with the winds from the SSE 8 to 10 knots and temperatures in the high 80s low 90s. We headed out early to catch the incoming tide. We started out on a starboard close reach moving to a beam as we got out of the river and finally to a broad reach behind pools island. Our average speed was above 5 until the Sassafras River where I dropped the genoa and started motor sailing. I brought the main in while heading up the narrow cut into Harve de Grace. We docked against the wall in basin C portside 2 after going to the end turning right and backing into the bulkhead. Dinner was at an local Italian restaurant after we pulling cotter pins and doing tasks to prepare for mast removal scheduled for Monday.
Days: 1 Days to date: 40
Miles: 29.5 Miles to date: 568.3
Today I rode the dinghy around the Marina and finally went to shore to put it on the dinghy rack. No miles. No engine hours. Just today on the water.
Days: 1 Days to date: 39
Miles: 0 Miles to date: 538.8
With no wind and temperatures in the high 80s on a very sunny day we did a quick trip to Maryland Marina for a pump out. No wind made it very easy to dock but it was quite hot and we wanted to complete the task as soon as possible. Before returning to the dock, we deployed the dinghy to get ready to go ashore on Friday and place it on the dinghy rack. I will be taking the boat to Tidewater Marina to get the mast removed so we need to leave the dinghy behind.
Days: 1 Days to date: 38
Miles: .9 Miles to date: 538.8
It was a sunny hot day with temperatures in the high 80s low 90s, but the winds picked up and begged us to come out. We raised the main in the Creek and the Genoa in Middle River and sailed out on a close reach in strong 14-18 knot winds. We reached Pools Island and came about and headed towards Hart Miller Island on a beam reach. Then after a bit we eased onto a broad reach into the river. I pulled in the genoa and then we turned into the wind to retrieve the main. Docking went well. Good sail today.
Days: 1 Days to date: 37
Miles: 15.4 Miles to date: 521.2
I started out thinking I would go on a trip by myself but I asked my neighbors “power boaters” if they would like to see how the other half lived. Unexpectedly they said yes so after they took their dogs ashore and returned, we got underway. Rick handled the lines as I motored out. I raised the mainsail while in Frog Mortar Creek and then the jib when I reached Middle River. I turned the engine off and we sailed on a closer reach most of the way out of the river. The winds were steady around 10 with gusts to 15 on a sunny day with temperatures in the low 80’s. Finally, we came about and returned home on a broad reach. At times we were moving along nicely reaching speeds of over 7.5 knots. Docking was OK in 15 knot winds. Both thought it was nice, and Kathy who was relaxed enough almost fell asleep a few times, but they thought it was a lot of work and will stick with power boats.
Days: 1 Days to date: 36
Miles: 16.3 Miles to date: 537.5