Century Club: Richard Turman

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Thursday, May 6, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
First two-fer day of the season

Our SeaRay 205 powerboat had refused to start this spring when I first tried three weeks ago, but luckily when our boat doctor mechanic made his house call today he got it running.  So after work we had to go take a quick voyage.  Explored Valentine and Plum creeks and then went into Round Bay and opened her up.  Wonderful to skim across the water going 35 mph, and run race marks around the edges of Round Bay and back home.  So delightful

Then took the sailboat out from 7 p.m through 8:15 p.m. for a beautiful evening ride in 5-7 mph of breeze from the NW moving to W.  So beautiful out,with only 2-3 powerboats out to make waves.  

Two boat rides in one evening -- lucky we are!

Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
2nd race of the season -- too much wind

Forecast wind was 10-14 knots.  Actual was  more like 16-18 with gusts to 26, from the NW.  Temp was 68 dropping to 60 within the hour.  Luckily the water that came over the bow and soaked us was warm.  Had four on-board instead of our usual three to race, and what a blessing that was.  Started out downwind with a reefed main, and pretty quickly was going 7.7 mph (note hull speed is 5.9 mph).  Went upwind for a bit to see how that would go, and moved along at 5.4 mph upwind with just the reefed main, no jib.  Proceeded to starting line, which was further downwind and had good-sized waves and whitecaps.  9 boats came out to race; 2 retired before starting.  2 ran agound during the race, in part because the water was down due to the high NW winds, a 41-footer and my Harbor 20.  The finishers were a 46, a 40, a 39, and a hardy J-27.   We managed the first upwind from B to E and then flew downwind to N.  Then up to A, this time with the jib up since the wind had moderated a tad, where we ran aground.  Used a mix of engine and jib to get her off, and then sailed home.  We persisted, and wanted to finish the race, but that was not to be.

Saturday, May 1, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Sunday late afternoon sail

Had a great trip out that I didn't want to end.  Two hours starting at 5:30 in 8 dropping to 5 mph.  Ran around Marks B and up to E and back twice around,  Thence back home up Valentine Creek, but went up to the headwaters because it was such a nice 70 degree night and didn't want to head to the dock just yet.  Chatted with a fellow racer who was on his dock about the previous night's race -- I love being in a water community!

Thursday, April 29, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Kayak ride

Had a good ride in the early evening up Valentine Creek and over to the entrance of Plum Creek and then back home.  No other boats out.

Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
First race of the season

First race for my Harbor 20 crew and I in ourPHRF fleet.  Actually the 2nd race of the season, but only 4 boats from the fleet of 25 went out last week, since the wind was 20-30 mph, and even the 40-footers were getting knocked about.  By contrast, this was a steady Southerly in the 8 mph range -- until it faltered as we were in the 4th of a 4-leg race.  Had a great initial upwind run, second boat around the mark, fabulous spin run, was first of the fleet around the mark, and then wind faltered as we neared the end of the reach leg, and died as we rounded it.  Stuck in doldrums trying to get the spin up, watching other bigger boats head past us.  Instead of a top-half finish will be bottom-half, but the first three legs we performed well, so there's hope for the rest of the season!

Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
More spin practice

Had another beautiful evening sail on my Harbor 20, Fiona, with our racing team -- the second for this year.  Wind from the West, so ran a course in Round Bay from race mark A to race mark B, hoiisted the spin, and came down, and then went back up again.  Wind died as we came back down, but after a bit, filled in again, so had a chance to spin all the way to the entrance of Valentine Creek, where we dowsed it.  Another Round Bay sailor came out on their center consol to visit, and later a neighbor couple came out on their whaler.  We got much more proficient in our sail and line handling, and it was fabulous to meet with up friends on the water!

Monday, April 26, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
No wind; go kayaking

Wanted to sail this evening, but with a dying breeze, and a buddy reaching out to see if I was free to go kayaking this evening, that made the most sense.  Left about 6:30 and got home a bit over an hour later.  Went into Round Bay and around Kyle Point into the creek between Kyle and Long Point.  Beautiful evening, with only 2 boats out on Round Bay the whole night, which meant negligible boat wakes.  70 degrees.  Wonderful!

Saturday, April 24, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Kayaking in the evening

High winds again precluded sailing, but that's why we have a kayak.  Spent 40 minutes out and did not see a single boat, which was glorious.  Up to the headwaters of Valentine Creek, over to Plum and a little ways up, and then home.  Beautiful 59 degrees out, with light winds (for us).

Friday, April 23, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Finally, spin practice

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!

Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Kayak if you can't sail

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!

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