Light winds, and only two of us on the boat, so we had to declar non-spin. Very light winds meant that when going wing/wing downwind, we just didn't move like the rest of the fleet, which had their spins up. Course was VNVNV, and as always, the last run to V took forever. On the positive side, it was only 75 degrees, which is a gift in the Chesapeake in the summer, and a beautiul night with no rain/t-storms. Something to be said for that.
Century Club: Richard Turman
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Another night of very light winds, for the most part. Though we were glad we had four of us on the boat for about 10% of the evening, when the wind picked up and we all needed to be on the up side. Misunderstood the start and thought RC called a general recall, but they didn't, so we finally left the starting area far behind everyone else. Decent run from B up to E, and then spin down to N, and then the wind died for the whole fleet as we crawled back to A.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Started at A and went to V and back twice; they didn't shorten course, and the wind came down from light to very light. But since I'd been out with a bad back the week before, it was good to be back on the water!
Sunday, July 4, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Finally took our powerboat down the Severn to plant the three cages-worth of oysters we'd been growing under our dock since last fall. Driving into wind 10-12 mph from the South was no issue, but in the Severn River's narrows the water was so choppy since so many people were out, just as we were, enjoying Independence Day on the water. Dumped the oysters overside at a reef being built for this purpose at a spot marked with 4 yellow flags on the Southeast side of the river from the Rt 50 bridge.
We then looked down towards Annapolis and happened to see two of the three tall ships that were visiting for Independence Day -- the Pride of Baltimore, and Alexandria, VA's Providence. Decided to go down and take a look, buffetted by big waves bouncing off the Academy's seawall as we were. Wonderful chance to see these majestic vessels in Annapolis' harbor!
Saturday, July 3, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Finally cleaned the powerboat in preparation for guests, and then had to take her out to make sure she worked -- which she did beautifully.
Then took out the sailboat on the Severn River's Valentine Creek and Round Bay in the light winds of the afternoon, which ranged from 3-7 mph. Enough to show one of our guests who had never been on a sailboat how they work!
After dinner, took the powerboat out to watch the fireworks off of Sherwood Forest. With a severe thunderstorm forecast to start at 9:30, we were so pleased when the fireworks started early at 9:10, giving us a beautiful show before we pulled up the anchor at 9:25 and drove home before the show was over -- and got home before the other 400+ boats started to disperse, as well as right before the rain hit!
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
15 boats came out, a decent showing. West wind varied from 6-10 and we ran from the top of the Severn's Round Bay (mark A) to the bottom (mark C) and back and then over the end of long point (v) where the RC mercifully shut down the race, since the wind was dying. We had a good run to C, but in rounding the mark we, and the other boats there at the same time, all fell into a wind hole and couldn't move much for about 5 minutes before our spinnakers finally filled, by which time the boats that had rounded before us had taken off. Dying breeze as we headed to the last mark didn't help, but it was a glorious evening which was supposed to have a thunderstorm -- but didn't! Came in a disappointing 12th out of 15 starters, but it still was beautiful.
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Over 90 degrees when I slipped the lines after work, but with 10 mph of steady breeeze from the South, had a great ride through the Severn's Round Bay, making my way from race mark E up to N and across to V and back downwind to E, all at a pretty good clip.
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
For the 4th race in the 2nd series of Round Bay Sailing Association's season, we were Race Committee. Although winds were projected to be 3-5 and dying, they were 4-8 throughout the evening, so we were able to start the race at 6:17 and have the last boat cross the line at a little after 8p.m, with plenty of light left in the evening. Set the course of A to C to A to V and back to A, but shortened it to V, since the wind was still projected to die. The wind was unusually even as the boats headed down the course, so they split evenly on port and starboard instead of favoring port, as usual. Watching them come back to us with their spinnakers in full flower was such a beautiful sight -- which we watched until it was time to head to V and to let the fleet know on VHF that we were shortening the course. The wind did not die, as predicted, so the boats were able to make it to V, and no one was TLE, though one boat left the course and was DNF. Another beautiful evening with no rain, and only 75 degrees warm, so it was lovely!
Sunday, June 20, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
My wonderful daughter bought us two tickets for the Father's Day sail on the Pride of Baltimore II, the 157' wooden replica square-topmast-rigged schooner based in Baltimore. Such a beautiful vessel, and with such a spiderweb of rigging. Arrived in the area a tad early and easily snagged street parking in Fells Point, and got to Pride about ten minutes before 10. 6 crew and about 25 passengers don't feel at all crowded on a deck that's 100' long and 26' wide, and within just a few minutes of motoring away from the dock the crew had three sails up and bearing. Wind was unfortunately light (3-5 mph) for most of the trip out of Baltimore Harbor, filling in only about 11:20, and they had to turn us around and turn on the engine at about 11:40. But a truly glorious voyage it was, and such a treat to have my daughter pick it out as a Father's Day gift -- couldn't have been a better place to be with her. And while passengers don't get to steer, we did get to haul lines to raise the sails, so we did have something to do. And Pride arranges for an NPS historian to accompany the voyages, so we got to hear much about the history of Balimore Harbor on the way out and back, with special emphasis on Ft. McHenry and the War of 1812 -- all wonderfully told while we slowly sailed the sights. Beautiful!
Saturday, June 19, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Quite a day on the water. Left the Annapolis Yacht Club dock about 9:45 to head out to the race area. Had a good chance to find the race marks and get oriented to the course. Wind was higher than predicted -- more like 10-12 than 5-9, though since it was from the West the closer we came to the upwind mark the less wind there was, since the mark was not that far off the land. Great to be out with my fellow Harbor 20 racers, rather than with my normal mixed fleet of J-boats, Catalinas, 39-40 footers, trimarans, and Johnson 18's. That said, i muffed the first start, and never did catch up in the first race. After a tasty PBJ between races, had a much better start the second race, and even crossed ahead of other boats on our way through the first upwind, but were behind by the time we got to the weather mark, and didn't catch up going downwind. Had some sprinkles during the 2nd race, but were happy the races kept going. Had the best start of the day on the third race, but didn't end up faring well at all, in the end. As it was by now 1:30, and T-storms were predicted for 4-5 pm, we took off north to sail the 7.5 miles back home, hoping to beat the weather. Motor-sailed all the way across Annapolis' harbor and up the Narrows until we got to Round Bay, which we sailed across. As we neared its northern end, the wind died, and we put the Torqueedo on again, arriving back at the dock with 17% power remaining -- just enough! We got home about 4 p.m., for about 6 1/4 hours on the water straight, without a break, nor relief. But a beautiful day on the water it was, and a great chance to bond all day with my brother!