Had planned to go out sailing, since it was 72 degrees at the time of year when it is supposed to be in the high 50's, but the wind died before I could get off work so I took the kayak out for a nice ride out Valentine Creek into Round Bay, which was nearly still. Great time to kayak with the water getting so clear -- though I could STILL see little jellyfish!
Century Club: Richard Turman
Sunday, November 6, 2022
Number of days:
1 day
Had to get my powerboat out to go pick up a race mark that we'd used on Saturday but that had drifted toward land near enough to shallow water that I couldn't go pick it up via my 24' sailboat that I used to set it. So got my 21' Sea Ray off my neighbor's lift and took it out to hunt down the large fender attached to a 15 lb Danforth. Found it fairly easily and was glad that it wasn't too hard to grab it with the boat hook, put the engine in neutral so it wouildn't get fouled on the prop, and then bring it in. The bottom of the chesapeak remains mucky, but at least I got my anchor back!
Saturday, November 5, 2022
Number of days:
1 day
Weather was supposed to be 10 knots with gusts to 20 at 2 pm, for which we scheduled an Impromptu race in the Round Bay Sailing Association fleet.
At 1 pm it was 10 gusting to 18, but by 2 p.m it was 16 gusting to 22. By 2:30, it was 18-20 sustained with gusts over 23.
Luckily I was able to get two experienced bowmen from a 39-footer in my fleet and from a 46-footer, plus a mainsheet trimmer who skippers the 39.
Put my spin up for the very first time before the race, and successfully jibed. Very heartening to see our boatspeed rise from 5.5 mph without spin to 6.5 with spin, increasing to 7.6 mph in the gusts. That's why we got a spin!
Was 3 minutes late to the starting line since the roller furler inexplicably wrapped the line all around the drum, making it so we couldn't get the jib out. One of our crack bowmen went forward and figured it all out, allowing us to get back to the starting line and head upwind. Caught up to the Beneteau First 27 that had started about a minute before us at our first crossing with them and they never caught us from there. The trimiran had a harder time starting than we did, but they started going over 12 knots upwind, so not surprisingly beat us to the windward mark.
Put the kite up after our mark-rounding, and headed back to the start line. A gust blew us over, putting the main in the water (on starboard tack) and causing the spin to fill and starting pulling us over. Dropped the spin halyard and got her back down below. And then couldn't get the jib out. But managed to run downind with just the main and go 6.3 knots -- which was plenty. In true wind consistently over 20.
An exhilirating day, and proof that the boat is a pretty stable platform in the breeze.
Also got a good list of things to improve/fix. Ranging from the vang and backstay hardware that was installed backwards, needing a stronger mainsheet system, a higher barney post, and a better angle for the mainsheet trimmer. Also need to tape up the leading edge of the fairleads, since the jib sheets were consistently catching on them.
But a fantastic first kite run, thankfully with experienced crew.
Friday, November 4, 2022
Number of days:
1 day
Got to sail with my new boat's genoa for the first time -- its a 155% vs. the 110% jib, and in 6-8 knots of breeze I got a substantial boost in speed. And it was all eminently manageable single-handed. And to be out of a late afternoon in early November going 5 knots in 8 knots of wind, or 4 knots in 5 knots of wind was fantastic. Definitely a game-changer from the jib. Now in the summer in the Chesapeake I'll be able to compete much better in my mixed fleet, many of which have gargantuan genoa's.
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Number of days:
1 day
But switched out my jib for my boat's brand-new genoa and went out anyway, since it looked like there might be little bits of wind. There weren't any, but the good news is that swapping out the jib for the genoa was not as hard as I was afraid it was going to be. Also finally added tell-tales to the shrouds. And benefitted from the adjustments I'd made to the tiller yesterday so that it clears the seats. Still having issues with the wind instruments. Need to figure that out tomorrow.
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Number of days:
1 day
Colleagues on another boat in the Round Bay fleet reached out to let me know that they'd be out sailing on Wednesday afternoon and asked if I was interested in joining. I moved some things around on my schedule and was able to go out. their Catalina Capri 22 had a genoa on it while I had only my jib, but I was nonetheless able to keep slightly ahead going upwind. Started out with them pointing higher, but having another boat to pace myself against allowed me to adjust things so I could point about as high. After tacking, went on a beam reach home, and I was able to catch up and pass them after several hundred yards. They then sent some fab pictures, which was so kind!
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
Number of days:
1 day
Love having the boat in the backyard on a lift so I can take it out spur of the moment at 5:30 and sail until 6:45 -- after the sun goes down. 5-7 knots of breeze, and I had a great single-hand evening ghosting along.
Sunday, October 30, 2022
Number of days:
1 day
Great fall colors on the trees and wind ranging from 6-9 knots from the SE in 61-degree weather gave me a great time to practice going upwind, where I managed to consistently go 5 knots in 8 knots of true wind. Ran a course starting at E and ending at N and then ran home, going 3-4 knots wing-and-wing all the way to the Red channel marker. Then shot into Valentine going 5 knots and furled the jib and ghosted all the way to the slip. Really a beautiful evening. Tightened the top batten, so hopefully we'll lose the pucker there going forward. We'll see.
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Number of days:
1 day
7-8 knots from the South with a high temperature of 62 but sunny proved great sailing conditions to take Lark out with a buddy. First he steered and I crewed and then we switched. He caught up and we passed a Catalina 42 going upwind, which was fun!
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Number of days:
1 day
8 knots from the south was enough to draw 8 sailboats out to Round Bay on the Severn on a fall afternoon with 70 degrees. Took Lark out with a performance-minded buddy and was able to get the main to go up a little higher, and find that the windex was mounted slightly off-center. And that the apparent wind angle shown on the instruments isn't equivalent on both tacks. Seems I need to re-configure some things. Great day to be out, though, regularly getting 3.7-4 knots in 7-8 knots apparent. Lovely day!