Felt weird to start so early, 6 pm instead of 6:15, and still have the sun go down during the race. Very light winds from the south, and the course was VAVAV, which they shortened to VAV. Unfortunately, the wind died as we were rounding A and we couldn't make even this shortened course, so for the first time of the year we had to retire from a race. Bittersweet way to end the racing season, since I'd begun to plan to sell Fiona, my Harbor 20, that I'd raced for the past 6 years.
Century Club: Richard Turman
Sunday, September 26, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
with a bottle of wine. Since it was red, of course I spilled it, but no harm done. Once I got back to the dock, just after sunset, it gave me a good reason to wash the boat's floor, and luckily the red wine came right up! Another beautiful evening, put-putting around, and listening to the Canada geese (noisily) flying south.
Friday, September 24, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Had a wonderful evening anchored out on our powerboat with my wife and our daughter, who had some work news that we got to celebrate. Beautiful sunset evening watching the boats go by -- and listening to the waves and waves of Canada geese go by. Great to drink bubbles together and hang out -- great way to start the weekend!
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Big wind and rain kept us from racing on Wednesday night, and high water that night and the next morning pushed two of our dockboards up and off the dock. I took the kayak out on thursday night for 40 minutes to look for them -- and found 1 of 2. Hadn't been on the kayak in months, since my back had given out, and I was overjoyed that it didn't hurt my back. My chest and arms were another matter, since I'd not been out for months. A great evening on the water!
Monday, September 20, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Had a nice singlehanded sail after work into a light breeze from the south. Went from E to B and back. Days are getting shorter, so nice to still be able to sail of an evening!
Sunday, September 19, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Woodwind II is a glorious 2-masted schooner, and my sister and I had a great time in 10-12 knots of breeze. The skipper had the crew of 3 raise the main within about 100 yards of leavimg the dock, and once it was up, cut the engine and we were sailing. Got the rest of the jibs, staysails, and fishermen up and the boat really took off. Had a turn at the helm once we were out in the bay, and boy was she responsive and easy to steer. Avoided the RC for a laser race, and then got to go through the tail end of a race by the Navy 44's with their spinnakers up. A lovely afternoon it was to be out, and made it about to mid-bay before we had to turn back, so the boat could be back by the end of the 2 hour scheduled cruise. Beautiful!
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
After the last time the boat was used (not by me....), it was down to 1/8 of a tank, so it needed filling up. Had a beautiful evening run, leaving at 6 and returning at 7, just at sunset, to put a hundred bucks worth of gas in the boat. Which I'd not filled up since April, so it isn't all that bad. Had a fabulous ride!
Friday, September 17, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Unfortunately, only one other boat showed up, and it takes 3 to have an official race. We did lay a course -- A to V and back, and ran a starting sequence, but a 39' vs. a 20' isn't much of a race.
Was a beautiful night out anyway, with light but fairly steady breeze, which allowed me to enjoy singlehanding my way through the course.
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Race started with good wind in the 10 knot range, but it didn't stay up as long as one would have liked, and the race committee chose not to shorten the course,, which was ACAVA, or 5.68 miles, so we sailed the last 20 minutes in complete darkness, which made it a challenge to find the last mark and then to find the RC at the end. Was pretty cool, though, to have 20 boats out -- we're all hungry for chances to race, clearly!
Sunday, September 12, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Wonderful to be home again, and sailing on my own boat. Had some good breeze, so ran a course from E to N and back, something over 3 miles. Love watching sunset from Fiona, even though sunset is now coming earlier and earlier.