Took Lark out two nights running to try to get some more solo practice in. One night didn't take the spin and should have, since we had 6-8 knots of breeze well after 8 pm. The second night got the spin up and she filled. Then the wind died!
Century Club: Richard Turman
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Happened to be in NYC and went to the South Street Seaport museum, and caught a two hour ride on their two-masted 1885 schooner, Pioneer. Great trip out to the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson -- and they even let me steer!
Friday, July 21, 2023 to Sunday, September 24, 2023
Number of days:
4 days
Family get-togethers are a great way to enjoy the water, and in honor of my father's memory, the family gathered on July 22 and 23 to kayak, sail, and powerboat. Fun was had by all, in the manner he'd taught us all.
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 to Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Number of days:
7 days
Never a dull moment, but have had nothing but good weather and decent wind on Wednesdays from mid-July through the end of August. Includes Wednesday, July 12, July 19, July 26, August 2, August 9, August 16, and August 23.
Monday, June 26, 2023 to Sunday, July 2, 2023
Number of days:
7 days
Paris to Normandy (and back...) by boat was a wonderful vacation.
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Having picked up my powerboat from its Boatel on Wednesday to bring it home so I could do Race Committee for the Round Bay Sailing Association, I had to return it to its boatel this morning before driving into the office in DC. Chilly out there this morning!
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Expected to need my powerboat today to serve as Race Committee for Round Bay Sailing Association race, so drove to the Boatel where it is kept in Annapolis and drove the boat home, up the Severn River 7 miles to my home. In 16 knots of breeze from the NE with gusts in the mid-20's. With spitting rain. Annapolis Harbor was pretty choppy, but the Narrows was great, and Round Bay itself was white-capped.
In the event, the race was cancelled, so I have to take the boat back tomorrow morning.
Monday, June 19, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
First really humid warm day -- in the mid 80's -- that I'd ventured forth on Lark this year. Went out mid-day because the wind was projected to build, so left at 11 and returned at 2. Breze 8-11 knots from the South. Still had the jib on, which was good since I was single-handing. Tacked back and forth to good effect to hopefully, finally, get the wind angle calibrated correctly, since we'd been using a bigger offset and I was eventually able to get it to record about 27 or 28 degrees on both tacks. Ran a course that took me first to N then over to C and back to V and then B and home. Great, consistent wind allowed me to get better and better at handling the boat. Which is wonderfully solid.
Sunday, June 18, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
took the six cages worth of oyster spat that we've been fostering under our dock since last September and put them in five-gallon buckets and put them in the trunk of our car and added bay water. Drove to Jabins' boatyard where my SeaRay 205 is, and the boat was in the water by the time we got there at 10:00. Got everything on the boat and drove away at 10:20, by which time the oysters had been out for about an hour. Arrived at the oyster reef being built (re-built?) on the Severn, just south of the Rt 50 bridge. Dumped them overboard and drove back, taking time for a sunday drive, as it were, up Back Creek well past Jabins. Delightful morning, and got to use the boat as a truck, which I always appreciate the opportunity to do.
Saturday, June 17, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
My daughter treated me to a wonderful sail in 15-18 knots of breeze on Woodwind, one of the two 74-foot schooners that take customers out for 2 hour sailing trips. Was a fantastic day with good breeze for a well-founded boat. Travelled up to the Bay Bridge and back, and happened to encounter Falken, a 65' ocean passage-making sloop skippered by Andy Schell, who used to be a deckhand on Woodwind back in the day. Had a good-natured impromptu race on the way back, and while Falken could point higher, Woodwind did better on a beam reach. Glorious sailing weather -- and I got to steer!