Century Club: George Hernandez

Before leaving I was already concerned about the warm weather and wind direction. However with rain showers as well as other commitments later in the week the decision was made to just do it. I'm glad I did, but by the time I was back at the dock the following day I'd had enough hot weather sailing. Until the next time...

Sailing to Kiptopeake was on a broad reach, almost a run so there was very little air movement in the over 90° humid air. Under my umbrella at the helm or in the shade of the sail on the bow was the only relief. That night it was stifling in the cabin so I moved a salon cushion and sheets to the cockpit and settled in to sleep staring up at the Milky Way. Beautiful...

Sailing home the wind was, as expected, aligned almost exactly against me along the course line. After a while making slow progress in an increasingly diminishing wind I fired up the diesel. I'd like to be a "purists" and do everything under sail, but sometimes it's a better choice to give the diesel a bit of a workout while saving myself from another uncomfortably hot day in the sun.

The forecast of gusty winds and the timing of showers ahead of an approaching front had me teetering on whether or not to make the sail or just going out for the day. Nothing extreme, just don't want to be out in 20+ knot winds and rainshowers. I finally decided an early start returning home should work out.

It did and I'm glad I went. In spite of it being warm and humid, a nice breeze kept the night comfortable. Got underway shortly after breakfast and tacked my way upwind back to Norfolk and was getting into my car just as the first showers arrived. Leaving Back River I passed a boat that ended up on the rocks during the night. Sad sight...

Across the channel to Tidewater Marine on Sunset Creek in Hampton. My neighbor Eris joined me for the ride.

On the return the winds had increased to 17 knots with one gust of 23. Normally I would have put in one reef but the boat was handling this quite well. Eris quickly got the feel for dealing with the gusty conditions and tacking upwind through the narrow channel entering Willoughby Bay.

I forgot to enter this one!

It was a light day. The only kind of day I've been going out on since I discovered a minor issue with the mast a couple weeks back. Hopefully this Tuesday my rigger will check this out and I can return to normal sailing and cruising. Seems like summer is flying by with me hardly going anywhere...