Century Club: Tom Dean

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Saturday, June 3, 2023 to Sunday, June 4, 2023
Number of days:
2 days
Weekend Sail - Full Crew - Overnight at Reed Creek
  • First mate
  • Anchorage

June 3 - Left Lankford Bay Marina on June 3rd about noon.  Winds were out of the east 5-10 but building to 10-15. Temperature was 73 when we left and never got over that. - overnight down to 57. Barometer was 28.88 and rose overnight to 30.04.

After leaving LanKford Bay Marina, we sailed out to Langford Creek where we got the sails up real quick. A couple of other sailboats - including a Trimaran were also coming down the creek. We did a nice sail - very quick - down the Chester to the buoys outside Queesnstown and Eastern Neck Island before turning back up the river towards Reed Creek - where we planned to drop the hook overnight (our first overnight outside the marina this year!) It was a brisk sail - decided to reef the headsail to a Jib which gave us far more control even though we were on a beam reach all the way down and halfway back up - where we moved to a close reach and finally a close haul to get to the entrance to Reed Creek. We saw a rather large Island Packet that seemed to be heading into Reed Creek - Sail La Vie II - but as we were starting, it turned around and headed back out... thought we were going to pass it, but then it turned and headed back in. Never having been into Reed creek before, I had gotten some "local knowledge" from dock mates - so I knew which ares to steer clear of and what marks to use for guidance.  Caught up with the IP - who was in 2 feet of water (he was on the wrong side of the red marker).  He asked what we were seeing - I told him 9 feet, so he backed out and followed me (a bit too closely for my first mate). We navigated the entrance easily and got to the first anchorage area which already had a few boats in.  We headed for the second area, but found the wind a bit more robust there, so we headed back to the first anchorage and joined the other boats as well as the IP who also anchored there. Dropped anchor, put on an anchor snubber, had an adult beverage (or 2) and started dinner. Wind picked up, but nice holding.

June 4 - Woke up at 7:30 and made eggs and bacon before turning on the engine and heading out Reed creek. Winds were now out of the NE 5-10 with a few gusts and the barometer was 30.04.  Chilly - it was a crisp 63 when we departed.... eventually getting up to 73 by the time we got back in the slip.  We got the sails up right outside of Reed Creek as we headed towards to Corsica and just had fun sailing back and forth across the basin area outside Langford, Reed, Grays Inn creeks and the Corsica River.  Wind sorta came and went - some nice runs and some very light winds. Finally decided to call it a day and got to Langford Creek just before the winds gave out.

Lovely first full weekend out... nice sailing and we found a lovely anchorage!  Next week - Fairlee Creek!!

 

Friday, June 2, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
June 2nd - better wind for solo sail

There wasn't much wind predicted - 5 knots out of the Southwest... but the wind was seeming to pick up about 11 so I thought I would chance it - glad that I did, because there was some nice wind - and I even managed to use all of my sails!

Baromter was 29.94 with the temperature about 76 when I left the dock - got up to 86 before the sail was over - which was about 4pm. Winds were out of the Southwest but a bit stronger than 5 knots. I was seeing 7-10 knots until the end of the sail. Didn't venture too far - stayed in the basin that the Corsica river and Langford and Gray's Inn Creeks enter into. Stayed on a close to beam reach most of the time.  Went over and explored the entrance to Reed creek - where we are looking  to drop the hook tomorrow evening.

Working on really balancing the sails so she would steer herself and was pretty successful. Saw a number of boats heading up towards Chestertown. One real idiot - boats name was Rooster Tail - flying up the river at close to 40 knots - sending wake all over the place, cut within 2 boat lengths of my bow. I let him know what I thought of him over the VHF.

Sailed right to the entrance of Reed Creek and checked out the route in - based on discussions with dock neighbors - and it seems pretty straight forward. Ended the sail by turning into the wind, pulling in Genoa, dropping Main and then putting up the Gennaker for the ride hom. Everything went according to plan and didn't drop the Gennaker until I had slid into Davis creek and was getting ready to head to the slip. A warm day - but a fun day with more wind than predicted - although it did really back off.

Storm came through later in the evening - seems that Chestertown got hit pretty hard... just a few flashes, booms, and light rain here.

Thursday, June 1, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
June 1st - wind late… after already out kayaking
  • Duck blind with a bump!
  • Bird in flight
  • Bird hunting for fish
  • Angry bird

Deadly still - no wind when I got to the marina - also very hazy. Saw that predict wind was saying some wind should come in  after 1 - so I waited, but nothing came, so I headed out on the kayak to explore Langford creek - down towards the RHYC. About 45 minutes into the paddle, the wind did start to come up... but it was coming up from the Chester - SW. it wasn't huge, but enough to sail. Once I got back to the marina - after 2 hours out paddling, the wind shifted and was back from the North... and then it slowed down again. Oh well, at least I got out on the water which is the most important thing... and I got to explore some shoreline that I normally can't get very close to so that was nice. Hioefully the wind will pick up for tomorrow - although the forecast is not very promising.... guess I will keep the kayak ready as I really hate to run the engine more than I need to - after all she is a sailboat! Maybe it is time to invest in a small dinghy ssiler!

Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Wednesday, May 31. No Wind!
  • Beautiful little sailboat near the headwaters

Lovely day, except there was very little wind - and what little three was, was variable in direction - so I decided to forgo sailing and head off with the kayak after tending to some chores. I headed off to the headwaters of Davis Creek.... made it down there in about 45 minutes and then turned back around. Had to fight the current on the way back - not too bad and I also had to dodge the Maryland School for Sailing boats who were practicing docking both on the way out and the way back in. A nice little 2 hour workout - and if I can't be sailing... at least I am still on the water!

Monday, May 29, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Memorial Day Sail - May 29 - With Crew!

Temperature was 69 degrees at 9:45 as we left the dock. Barometer was 30.0 and falling.  Winds were out of the East 5 - 10 and it was mostly cloudy - becoming cloudy later in the day... with a few drops.

Got underway early as we had slept over on the boat and wanted to get a sail in before the rains came. Got the sails up quickly in Langford Creek and shut off the engine. Decided to stay in the upper basin, so we were sailing back and forth between the Corsica River, Reed Creek, and then over towards Grays Inn Creek. Had some nice wind most of the day - and when the skies started to look threatening (about 1:30, decided to reef the headsail a bit - preemptively as to not get over powered. Had good control and nice speed even though partially reefed. A lot of "collision alerts" from the AIS - and only one closer call - evidently there was no one on watch!

Started heading back about 2pm... when the really dark clouds started moving towards us from the east - very odd... usually checking out the sky to the west for storm clouds! Got back in and tied up before the little bit of rain came.  Got to catch up with some dock neighbors - so.a plus of coming in early. A little blustery, but as always , a fun day on Bubbles!

Sunday, May 28, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Sunday May 28th - Day 50 with Crew!
  • Moving!
  • Lots of sailboats
  • Lovely day
  • Lots of sailboats
  • First mate
  • First mate and captain… upside down.
  • First mate with captain boomies bling

Pulled out of the slip about 11 am with my regular crew (wife). At that time, mostly sunny 67 degrees... eventually got up to 72 and became mostly cloudy. Barometer was 30.13. Winds were out of the East at 5-10 knots with a few higher gusts.  Got the sails up right away - even before the first day mark in Langford Creek. Headed down Langford Creek into the Chester on a Beam/Close Reach all the way down to the markers outside of Queenstown/Eastern Neck Island before turning and heading back on a Beam/Close reach sail. Much better winds than forecast! Had a few drops of rain, but nothing much.  Ended up back at the marina about 3 - a four hour sail... then headed to waterman's in Rock Hall for oysters and beer!.

Saturday, May 27, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Saturday May 27th - Still no crew!!

Had to pack for the weekend - so I got to the marina a bit later than I wanted. Started out Mostly Sunny then moved to mostly cloudy, 73 degrees - pretty constant. Barometer 30.24 and falling slightly. The NWS was predicting 10 - 15 knots with gusts to 20 out of the East for today.... I found winds from the ENE 5 -10... no real gusts to speak of... at least in the Chester! Started with a reefed headsail, but let that out pretty quickly.  Saw a lot of sailboats - and powerboats heading up towards Chestertown for the tea party. All in All a nice sail with fairly light winds that would from time to time kick up a bit. Was looking forward to the heavier winds, but some wind is better than nothing - and a.day on the water always beats a day on land.  Crew should be joining me this evening - and tomorrow I should hit the halfway point - day number 50!!!

 

Friday, May 26, 2023 to Saturday, May 27, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Friday May 26th - back to singlehandling

Mostly Sunny 70 - 73 degrees with the barometer 30.23 and steady. Got to the marina before lunch, but had some work to do - had to check the water in the batteries and do a bit of cleaning before I could have some fun! Got out of the slip about 1:30.  Winds were out of the north 5-10 and slowly building throughout the day. Had to keep the engine on a bit longer than I wanted - some other boats in the way, but once I got to the mouth of the Creek and the Chester - was off an running with full sails! Cruised around the basin for a couple hours before heading back.  Lovely day, and a lovely sail!!

Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Wednesday May 24th - Annapolis and the Blue Angels!!
  • Oldest on watch
  • Crew washing dishes
  • Youngest at the helm

Well, the youngest daughters flight out kept on getting delayed, and then finally cancelled... so a bit after midnight we crashed at home and headed back to the marina about 7am for a sail to Annapolis for the Blue Angels!. Winds were very light - 5 knots.. starting out of the north and then later in the day turning from the southwest.  Barometer was at 29.9 and fairly steady - and temperatures were upper 60's into the mid 70's.  Got the gennaker up as we were leaving Langford Creek, but we were only making 2 knots.... and knowing we had to be in place by 2 pm... we dropped her after a half an hour or so and turned on the engine.  Motored down and got a great place to watch the show!  It was the first time that the girls had gone under a bridge - and of course, going under the Bay Bridge is an awesome experience! Had a great spot for the show.... with the only problem being the shit show that happened after the show with all of the powerboaters plowing through the anchorage with absolutely no courtesy at all. We stayed anchored until 4 and then began our trek back to the marina. After going under the bay bridge, enough of the wake had subsided (as all of the idiots had gotten past us) and we were able to get the gennaker up and sail along Kent island and across Love point, before we had to drop it because of wind direction.  Our youngest took the helm with the gennaker and really did a nice job handling Bubbles! Another great - and last sail... as both girls had flights out the next morning.  Got back to the marina a bit after 9pm.  Long day - but a wonderful day.  1st mate really liked having additional crew on board!!!

Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Tuesday may 23rd - Second full family sail!

After a Ferko family day up in PA, we hit the boat again on Tuesday the 23rd for what we thought would be the final family sail for the week (younger daughter set to leave that evening), Sunny again, 68 - mid 70's. Barometer 29.91 and holding steady.  Winds were forecast to be out of the East 5-10... but they were NOT, instead, the winds were coming out of the South West and were kicking up a bit.  We initially started with just a reefed headsail... just rolled her up to the size of Jib, but later in the day we dropped the mainsail down a bit to put a reef in her - just to make it a more comfortable ride - and it was.  Saw wind speeds in the upper teens!  Sailed around the basin...  as we had to be back in to the dock by about 3pm or so.  We were hoping to at least catch a glimpse of the Blue Angels doing their practice - and lo and behold... a little after 1 we did see four of them fly by in formation... but that is all that we saw. Had a lovely day out.... oldest daughter helped putting up and down sails/rolling them up. Both girls took turns pulling and setting sheets too.  Again, with so many on board didn't get any pictures of the sail - only the crew at the end!

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