Thunderstorm predicted on radar for 5:45, so the Round Bay Sailing Association wisely postponed our normal start time from 6:15 p.m. until the thunderstorm threat passed. We all assembled off Long Point, but there wasn't enough wind to start for about 15 minutes. There were 3 mph when RC started the sequence, but once our start took off, the wind died back. We moved forward about .7-1.1 mph for about 20 minutes, not getting very far from the starting line as the next two waves of boats joined us in the race -- and not moving much. We started with the wind on the North, but it moved to West after a short bit, and eventually filled in from S, so we put up our spins and finally made it to the original windward mark, going downwind. A bizarre race, but our Harbor 20 had line honors, which has only happened once before in the 5 years I've been racing here. I'm now just hoping for a finish in the top third of the fleet once the handicapping math all gets done. Pretty cool, though, for us to end up looking back from the finish line at all the spinnakers coming at us!
Century Club: Richard Turman
I'd not been on it since we'd finally managed to get it running a month ago, so after working on the sailboat to replace the mainsheet block on the barney post, came to check and see if the powerboat lift would work, since a plastic motor cover had been broken. It worked, so I then needed to see if the boat would start. It did, instantly and easily, so I then took her out for a spin. 70 degrees and 12 from the S, so took her out in Round Bay. Pounding all the way down to Long Point, and then took a wide turn and came back around. Kept her around 28-30 mph the whole time, and she purred right along. Great to have her out for a spin!
Wind from the N in the ~12 range, with gusts to 15, and 80+ degrees. Took my brother out on his last day before he flew home to MN, and had the most wind in the week he'd been here. Reefed the main and took off downwind to N, and then turned up to return to A. Quite glad we were reefed once we came upwind, since the water down there was beginning to whitecap, and without a third body, we had a hard time keeping the boat flat. Beautiful, zesty ride back upwind, and then turned home to get him back to his evening dinner appointment. Wonderful afternoon on the water with my sibling!
Managed to get two trips in on Saturday afternoon before our family had our first post-covid get-together. 8 of us, all vaccinated, in one room. How amazing it was to just hang together, for the first time in 18 months.
And to go sailing to boot was a bonus. Wind from the N was light and variable. First went out with my brother, and then came back to the dock and picked up our sister and took her out. Two hours each trip was great, though with it being 90 degrees we had to stay hydrated.
Managed to get out on Friday afternoon with my sister, who had not been able to join me at all in 2020, so we had a great 'get re-acquainted with the sailboat' time for 2 hours on Friday afternoon. Winds 7 with gusts to 10 from the S; air temp in the 80's.
With that practice under her belt, my sister then joined my brother and I to race in the first Friday Night series of the Round Bay Sailing Association. Joined by two other boats, a 31 footer and a 39 footer, we had a leisurly sail from Lindstead pier to Long Point and back. The 31-footer had line honors, followed by the 39 footer, but I'm waiting for the handicapping math to be done, since it is conceivable that we might end up on top. Was a lovely evening in any event, and pretty darn special to be able to sail with my brother and sister, and to race with them for the very first time ever. And the first time I'd ever had my spin up without my normal Wednesday night crew, since my brother learned how to get the spin up -- and jibe with her! Wind S and pretty light, but enough to get the big boats moving.
And this time we had enough wind to finish the course, but not too much, as has happened twice before this season. Finished mid-fleet among about 15 boats, and still waiting for the results of the handicapping math, which I'm hopeful puts us in the top 40% of boats. We'll see. Light winds from the South, but steady enough to keep us moving well except for the last 150 yards, which were excrutiating. We had four on our boat instead of our usual three, but with additional hands were even better able to stay in trim going upwind, which helped on our performance. Wind picked up after the race was over, so held spin practice for another half an hour, which was glorious. Most boats stayed out to sail afterwards, too, since it was such a pretty evening. Wonderful all-around!
I am always interested in going sailing, so when my racing partner said she had friends in town who might want to go sailing, I was all-in, and just hoped there would be wind. There was about 10 mph from the South when we started, so we had a nice upwind run and then as the wind faded to 5 mph had just enough to get the spin up, and let them handle a spinsheet for the first time ever. Great night out, and got to meet some new friends!
We're so lucky to live in a community in Crownsville, MD, where the water is close-by, and where we can decide on the spur on the moment that we're tired of yard-work and errands on a Saturday, and want to go sailing instead. And then see which neighbors want to join us. Which is how on Saturday at 4:00 I found myself on my Harbor 20 with two neighbors, one who races with me regularly, the other who had not been on it. We had just enough wind to get out and put up the spin and have a lovely spur-of-the moment Saturday afternoon adventure on the water. So lucky to live here!
Had a late lunch outside at Pusser's in Annapolis, but still had time afterwards on Friday night to have 90 minutes out by myself on my Harbor 20, which was a fabulous way to end the week.
Even though I had Zoom calls through 6 p.m., I was still able to get out for 90 minutes on my Harbor 20 in the 5-7 mph evening winds, which was delightful.
And to get back to the dock at sunset is glorious.