Century Club: Claude Speed

Went out for a lunch sail in Aspire.  Wind was SSW at 12-14 when we started moving out of the slip and 22-24 kts by the time we made the left turn into the fairway.  Increased to 22-24 in the little creek channel so put the jib out and watched the wind drop to 8-10 in the bay.  Strange day but was an easy sail for a wine and kippers lunch on flat seas.

Took advantage of 70 degree day in February to take the dinghy out.  Rowed up and down the fairways in Bay Point Marina.  Was a little breezy out in the channel - bow caught the wind twice, once pushing me almost into a piling.  Finally regained my proficiency in rowing to establish and maintain the right heading.  Feels strange to be rowing strongly on one side while dragging an oar on the other side.  Sigh.  

Probably doesn't really qualify as a day on the water but had such difficulty in backing the boat into the slip last time out, we took her out today just to turn her around.  Backing out of the slip near the bulkhead was a real challenge.  It helped that the slip across the fairway was empty.  Wind was SW at 10 so getting her going astern sufficiently to maintain control backing in was fun but successful.  Changing the termporary lines out and readjusting the permanent ones, plus redoing the power lines was worth a couple of hours of hard labor - felt like I was ready for a nap after we got her safely and securely back in the slip.  Decided to remove and replace the instrument cluster on the pedestal to resolve some structural and electrical issues.  Then called it a day.  Phew!!

Nice brisk day with 10 kt winds, boat speed 6-7 kts using just the jib.  Decided to practice trimming the jib only so I could see it better.