Had a great spin practice session with our team, which was the first time the three of us were able to get out this year -- and actually the first time we'd been together since 2019, since we only raced with two people instead of three during 2020 due to the pandemic. Now that all three of us have been vaccinated, it was wonderful to get out again with a good West breeze around 10-11 with gusts to 15 and get moving. Ran a course, with a start at Mark B, up to V and then downwind back to B. The second and third times 'round we put up the spin, which worked beautifully. And was a great way to spend a Friday night!
Century Club: Richard Turman
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Scheduled to head out with my sailboat racing crew to have our first practice of the season, but the wind was too high. Since I was scheduled to go boating, decided to kayak instead, which was possible since the wind was from the South, and Valentine Creek is in the lee, so I had a nice 40 minute ride up the creek and back. Any boat ride is better than no boat ride!
Sunday, April 18, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Good South wind, from 8-12, gave me a chance to remember how everything works! Took 30 minutes to put the jib on the roller furler, which is never easy, and always requires adjusting and re-adjusting. Got it roughly right and then took Fiona out around 3 for 2.5 hours on Round Bay in the Severn River, during which RaceQs says I covered 9.2 nautical miles. Worked upwind to various race marks and then went wing/wing downwind. Some weather rolled by and began to look threatening, but got home before it looked like it was about to hit. And it never did rain!
Worked to get strady 5 mph upwind and 5-6 downwind.
Friday, April 9, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
First sail of the year
About to put her in!
Finally got my Harbor 20 sailboat, Fiona, off the hard and into the water -- complete with new bottom paint, freshly waxed topsides, and a new bilge pump and deep cycle battery. Put the main on and motored out of Smith's Marina into little Round Bay. Raised the main and the 8-12 mph South wind gave me a nice 4-5 mph ride on main alone. Through the drizzle, in the 50 degree weather. Sailed to my dock through lessening wind and increasing rain, reducing speed to about 2.5 mph. Rain stopped as I approached the dock, which made it easier to unload, put the cover on, and futz with setting the docklines up for the first time this year.
Great way to start the year!
Thursday, April 8, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Kayaked with a friend again this evening. Temps in high 60's, but winds about 10 mph out on the Severn, so we stayed in Valentine, first checking out the headwaters of Plum Creek, where we were able to get pretty far up the creek, since the tide was so high. Then back all the way around Valentine, where we ran into a racing friend of ours from Round Bay Sailing Association who had just had their boat put in the water yesterday, and were happily working on the next round of things that need to be done, now that the boat was finally in! Lovely night out, with folks out fishing in their jon boats and other folks out on Stand-Up Paddleboards. Beautiful evening!
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Had the longest kayak ride yet this season on a Wednesday evening -- since our sailboat races haven't started yet. Air temp 70's again, and wind 5-7 from the South. Kayaked out the Severn River's Valentine Creek south into Round Bay all the way around Kyle Point to the south of us, and then back. Wonderful ride, with quite a few power boats out. Including one towing a wakeboarder -- in water that's less than 55 degrees!
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Had a lovely Tuesday evening out on kayaks with a friend. Weather low 70's, and wind 5-8 from the S, so we were able to start on the Severn's Valentine Creek and head south on Round Bay nearly to Kyle Point. And then had an easy ride back, since the wind was with us. 3-4 boats out, but not too many wakes, which was nice.
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
The wind was up on the Severn when I went out at 6:30, blowing 13-18 from the SW, but I stayed in Valentine Creek, where the wind was 3-4 with fluky gusts over 10 coming from every-which-way. Kept the kayak on the right side of the water, and didn't venture out into the Severn. For the first time this year saw three other kayaks out with me. And again no power or sail boats. Wonderful!
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Nice to be out on the kayak after a day off due to rainstorms. Glassy water again, and no boats out. Probably the last time of the season, since more and more boats are getting de-winterized and out on the water here on the Severn.
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
must mean spring is upon us, which it literally finally is, though with cold days alternating with warm ones it is hard to tell. Glassy water, light winds, a friend to kayak with, and not a boat in sight made it a beautiful evening to be out -- the third day in a row.