Century Club: Tom Dean

Got to the boat early and was planning on doing work, but almost went out on a sail because the winds were kicking up! Another look at the weather report and the sky told me it would be best to stay in, so I spent the day working on oiling the teak and getting the solar array mast ready for deployment (have to still rivet the solar panels to the frame!). Took a ride down to the Rock Hall West Marine store for some supplies and found exactly what I needed to properly secure the attachement to the mast that will allow me to position the solar panels.  The mast was originally built for a radar (Gauhauser), but I have repurposed it to do the solar - and after many attempts using cable ties (nylon and stainless) I finally decided to go ahead and secure the panels with rivets since the frame (which is aluminum riveted) has survived everything Mother Nature has thrown at it - while the connections I have used for the solar have not!  Hope to raise the solar panels on Wednesday - since the winds will be light.

Highs were in the upper 50's low 60's. Mostly Cloudy. Winds out of the south starting off at 5-10, but quickly went up to 10-15. No real gusts - pretty stead. Barometer 30.21 steady. 

Set off around 11:30 out of Lankford Bay marina. Didn't even try to get the main up until I had rounded day mark 7 in Langford Creek as the winds were picking up and the direction was not conducive to raising it ealier. Kept the engine on until I got to the Long Cove day beacon (no. 3) in Langford Creek where put out a reefed Genoa (roller furling) set to about the size of a jib, and turned off the engine. With the reefed headsail, I had good control of the boat in winds ranging from 12 to 19 knots. Stayed on a close haul and made good velocity until getting to the Langford Creek Junction Light out in the Chester, and then I moved to a beam reach sailing back and forth between Gordon Point outside of Reed Creek and Ringgold Point outside of Church Creek. Finally decided to head back, so turned into the wind with the furled headsail out... dropped the main, and then unfurled the headsail to the full 150 Genoa and had a wonderful run back up the Chester, Langford Creek and into Davis creek where I rolled it in, turned on the engine and headed back into the slip. A fun day - even though it wasn't sunny

Arrived after the previous two days of gale force winds to find Bubbles none the worse for wear - except for a bent solar frame and a partially detached solar panel. Took that down to repair (on March 17th) and went for a sail.  Highs were in the low to Mid 50's - beautiful sunny skies with winds from the South - South West at 8 - 10 knots. Left Lankford Bay Marina about noon and headed out towards Langford Creek.  Got the sails up prior to daymark 7 and easily sailed down the creek in 4 tacks. Stayed close hauled on a port tack down the Chester towards Eastern Neck Island. Saw a commercial boat setting/checking their fish pound nets - but other than that didn't see anyone else. When I decided to turn around and head back, the wind had lightened up a little, so I decided to bring out the Gennaker. Got her up with no problems at all and had a nice sail back - all the way in to the marina area in Davis Creek before I doused her. Need to repair the solar, so a St. Patricks day sail may not be in the offing!

Finally got the first mate (wife) to agree to a sail. Small craft advisory out, but as it had seemed - like the past few sails that there was no reason for it... at least when we left the dock! Put the mainsail up after the turn at day mark 7 in Langford Creek and the engine was off soon thereafter as we tacked down the creek in a souther wind 8 - 12 knots.  Wind was steady, so we put Bubbles on a close reach and headed just south of Grays Inn Creek and then turned and put her on a beam reach and were making good speeds as we headed over to the mouth of the Corsica. Decided not to go down the Corsica, and instead stayed out in the basin, so we began heading, on a beam reach, back over towards the western shore of the Chester when the winds began to die off a bit and shift.  I knew the forecast was for the winds to shift about 1 - which happened, and they lightened up substantially - maybe 3 to 4 knots.  When the winds finally finished their shift, they picked up substantially - going from 3 knots to 15 without any warning - gusts 25+. First mate jumped right in and depowered the main, then began to furl up the genoa. That helped quite a bit, allowing us to control the heeling and the boat.  On a broad reach, we sailed back up Langford Creek to our marina - Lankford Bay Marina under some continually strong winds.  At the turn to day mark 7 with the engine on, we were able to safely furl the remainder of the genoa, and then drop the main. A good first sail - even though difficult - because we handled it well - cool, calm and collective which made us both feel very good! Glad I wasn't out there singlehanded... would have been quite a bit more difficult! Pictures only of the easy stuff - we were a bit busy later!!