Realizing that there won't be more evenings around 70 degrees, it was great to get out for 40 minutes on the kayak after the sun went down.
Century Club: Richard Turman
Sunday, October 24, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
I usually kayak just for pleasure, and a bit of exercise, but today was my sailing fleet's annual awards ceremony, and I got to kayak there and back. It was fine going over, with very light breeze from the West, but things picked up by the time I was returning, with wind in the 8 mph range, and I had to kayak against it. But it was no big deal, and it was fabulous to be out on a warm day -- when we may not have many left this year!
Saturday, October 23, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Waving goodbye
Underway
In her new home
Fiona under spin
After seven years, I've sold my Harbor 20, Fiona, to a new owner, and had to deliver her from my dock on Valentine Creek, up the Severn River, to Bert Jabins' boat year in Annapolis, about 8 miles away.
The trip took a bit over 3 hours, since instead of winds being from the North, as forecast, they were from the South, right on my nose. I used my Torqueedo at low speed against the light breeze, averaging around 2.5 mph. Got to put the main and jib up about half an hour in, once the wind picked up a bit. Was fascinating to remember going aground with Fiona on her first voyage up this river from Jabins, back in 2014, right at the entry to Round Bay, off Sherwood Forest -- a mistake I never made again.
My Harbor 20 was a great daysailer for me to explore and enjoy Round Bay on my own, as well as with family, a lot of whom have been on her, including my brother and sister, my parents, and my nephews and cousins. It has been a great family boat to learn about sailing in a small keelboat with. It has also been a fun boat to learn to race on -- figuring out how to win the start, and then try to figure out where the marks are and how to get to them fastest and most efficiently. Learned how to fly a spinnaker, and make all the mistakes one can doing so. Was fabulous to have a great teacher in my teammate and neighbor, without whom Fiona would still have been last every night. And to be joined by another neighbor who joined our team, and to be with them in 2019 when we won a PHRF race on corrected time was spectacular.
All good things come to an end, and I'm planning to buy a bigger daysailor. But Fiona has been a marvel. And a great partner with whom to decompress after work by sailing out and running a course and watching the sun set.
End of an era.
Friday, October 22, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
It was getting late, but I went out anyway, leaving my house around 6, after the sun had gone below the trees. But the water was pretty smooth, and no boats were about, so it was a wonderful evening trip up the Valentine and back down and then up Plum Creek and home. Very few Canada geese left, or else they were unaccountably quiet, but I did see 5 heron (or the same heron multiple times...).
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
With the knowledge that there aren't going to many more warm, lovely evenings in which to explore the neighborhood. Went out into Round Bay, and along the coastline and back. Lovely.
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
is becoming more of a challenge, since the time between the last zoom call or conference call and full-on darkness is getting shorter and shorter. Nonetheless, had a good evening out for a good 40 minutes, up Valentine Creek and over to Plum Creek and home. Many fewer geese this evening, making one wonder if they're all now gone. Lots of herons, though.
Monday, October 18, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Now that I've put my Harbor 20, Fiona, up for sale, and found a buyer, I need a new sailboat! So I needed to spend some quality time at the boat show. Which I then did, going on Friday and on Sunday. One had test-sails available on Monday, so I went out on this Tartan 245 in 15-23 knots off of Annapolis. She was quite stable with the spin up, and then when returning to dock (the Annapolis Sailing School) when the wind kicked up to 20-23, and we banged through the white caps. Intriguing option.
Thursday, October 14, 2021 to Sunday, October 24, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Took her out for what turned out to be a lovely 75 minute trip, starting about 5:15 in the evening, and ending at dusk. Got to revel in the sounds of hundreds of geese flying south, just as I had the night before. Had good wind from the south, allowing me a nice turn of speed, especially since Fiona's bottom had been cleaned the prior week. Took a photo to use in the sales brochure.
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Had a nice 40 minutes out on the kayak in Valentine Creek. Light breeze, and no other boats out when I ventured out at about 6 p.m. Wonderfully, I got to listen to a cacaphony of geese flying south, honking their way in their waves of 'v's. Loud, and wonderful. If I can't race, because we're past the end of Wednesday Night Racing, cool to be able to kayak!
Monday, October 11, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Took my Harbor 20 out for in the early afternoon, whiuch is such a rare treat. 90 minutes was enough to get me into Round Bay and down to V and back, travelling 5 or so miles.