While I wait to sort out the path forward after last weeks demasting, I motored out to enjoy the sunshine and warmth ahead of the Thursday Willoughby Race. Will it be worth it to replace mast, boom, furler, and sails; or just start over with a new boat?
Yes it's really wierd on a naked boat. Without the inertia of the mast, every little wave rocks the boat. But, until this is resolved at least I can get out on the water!
Demasted.
A couple months back a bad storm bringing south winds of almost 60 knots generated 3+ foot waves which is a bad direction for Willoughby Harbor Marina. A loose piling was moving 3 feet pulled by my boat being tossed like a cork. The next day my wind indicator was bent and I was told that my mast had contacted my neighbors. A couple weeks ago I had the wind indicator replaced and the mast rigging inspected for damage. None was visible. Apparently there was hidden damage. Sailing home the following day was a little breezy with a SW wind of 15-20 knots. Sailing close hauled, there was a loud bang and everything came crashing down. Fortunately, I was sitting on the windward side or I would have been seriously injured or killed. I immediately dropped anchor. I worked for a few hours bouncing up and down in the waves with both the wind and current complicating things before I finally decided there would be no saving the sails or the boom and let it all go.
Returning to Willoughby, mastless, I was told by another marina customer that my mast was actually entangled with the boat next to me that night. Something was overstressed leading to this failure.
A wonderful day! So happy to see nighttime temperatures staying warm enough for comfortable nights anchored out. With SW breeze forecast through the night I decided on East of Langley anchorage on the Back River NW Branch. Once things settled down at the shooting range 1/2 mile away, it was a peaceful night...
First race of the year on Willoughby Bay. It was a little breezy so I decided to just motor out and anchor at the Birdsnest to photograph the race. As the boats rounded the first mark and headed towards me the winds picked up significantly. Instead of 15 knots they continued to build. I let out another 50' of anchor line in 10' of water, for 100'+. The winds gusted to 37 knots making things difficult for the few boats that didn't drop out of the race. Overpowered rounding the mark things got a little exciting for the first boat as it healed over 50 degrees in a gust.
I usually keep a pretty good watch on the weather. Others had not expected this either. Since I was just photographing it wasn't a big concern for me, and I was lax in getting an updated forecast before heading out.
A foggy morning heading over to Tidwater Marine Services. A cargo ship hidden in the fog could be heard long before it was visible. As I left TMS while still on Sunset Creek I decided to get my mainsail ready for use once off the river. As I was climbing back into the cockpit, my sneaker caught on the lifeline and fell off. Not onto the deck of course, into the water. Fortunately it landed upright and floated mostly dry right on the surface as I turned the boat around to pluck it out with my dock pole.
Though a rather think layer of cirrostratus blocked most of the sun from getting through, a warm west breeze made for a very comfortable afternoon on the water. I sailed north past Fort Monroe and after passing Buckroe Beach fishing pier turned back towards Willoughby Bay. On the way back the skies cleared and I was soaking up the sun. Shortly after arriving in Willoughby Bay the wind shifted to come from the NE. In no time at all the temperature dropped from mid 70's to mid 50's as a cold front passed. Shirt, long pants, sweatshirt with hood up I was feeling chilled by the time I arrived back at the dock!
Another short afternoon on Willoughby Bay. West winds ~20 knots, but strong sunshine and comfortable temps. I feel the Weather has turned the corner...
Determined to get out on the water ahead of a night on the boat, I motored to the east end of Willoughby Bay and dropped anchor close to the shore so the east wind was reduced a bit. Fortunately the drizzle stopped and in spit of the cool weather it was fairly comfortable through the afternoon. One other boat from the Norfolk Navy Club was out, so I got a few shots to share with their club.
I had the opportunity to bring along one of the surfers I know from photographing on the beach. She picked it right up and really enjoyed being at the helm.
Almost dead calm, but I motored out onto Willoughby Bay to take care of a few chores on the boat and fish for a while. I haven't been seeing indications of fish on my on depth finder lately but a pod of dolphins were swimming around me meaning it was worth a try...