Century Club: Richard Turman

Got home from Bergen on a Wednesday evening, and took the powerboat out that Thursday night.  Even though it was 90 degrees out instead of the 50 degrees it was when we left Bergen the morning before.  

We have participated in Maryland Grows Oysters (MGO) program through the Severn River Association (SRA) for years, and got the notice last week that we needed to take our oysters out of their six cages in the water under our dock and go plant them in the oyster colony, which on the Severn is between the two bridges.  Got my oysters into 3 buckets and had a nice ride down the Severn about 8:30 this morning -- trying to beat the heat.

In the early pm, went out with my daughter for her to practice getting SkyLark off and on the lift, and setting and retrieving an anchor.  Was fine when we were out in the wind on the river, but was pretty hot once we returned to the dock.  Headed to 100 today...

Entered the Maryland Cures Cancer regatta, and prepared the boat as best I could, including putting water into the tank in the porta-pottie and figuring out how it works.  Found out the night before the race tht I only had 64% power in my engine's battery, instead of 100%, so it was clear we would not be able to use the engine both ways, which had been the plan.  

With 10-15 winds from the North all morning, we were able to leave my dock at 8:10 am and arrive at Tolly Point, where the RC was stationed by 10:20 -- pretty good time for about 9.5 miles.  Made about 4.3 knots across Round Bay with the main and Genoa up, and then 3.5 knots through the narrows, but 5 knots once the river opened up in Annapolis, and 6 knots once we cleared Greenbury point.  Only used tiny bit of battery whilst getting the main up, so arrived with 62%.  

First race went ok, though it was marred by a repeated problem with our furling line -- it kept putting extra wraps below the drum once we furled the genoa.  Had problems both furling and unfurling.  Did ok figuring out where the marks were, and jibing once down the course to get to the finish -- though could have jibed sooner and stlll made the finish.  Wind 10 knots.

RC started the 1st class of boats on their second race while we were still finishing our first.  We spent most of the 8 minutes until we were in sequence again fighting to get the genoa untangled and furled again.  Then in sequence.  

Second race we did better, though still had furling problems.  Spin hoist and jibes were cleaner.  More wind gave us a faster time around the course, but then, it did so for everyone.  Ended both races 4th out of 5.  

Then sailed back into 10 knots of breeze from the North.  Doing fine at 5 knots until we were between the Academy and the 1st bridge, at which point the wind died and we had to motor sail.  Got down to 54% battery once we'd gone past the 2nd bridge, at which point we had enough wind -- 6 to 10 knots -- to tack our way up the river.  Had a nice ride once we hit Round Bay.  

Home by 5:30.  Tuckered out, but we all felt it was great to be racing on the Bay -- exhilirating to be bouncing amongst the waves, beautiful other boats and great weather.  

Beautiful sunny evening with wind and no rain.  Second best thing to sailing in such weather would be running Race Committee for our Round Bay Sailing Association.  Took two of my crew out and got three starts for our three fleets off in good order, and then watched them as they sailed the length of Round Bay and back, twice.  So fun to watch the spinnakers billow out, and then see how some boats sailed high angles while others sailed low.  Beautiful!