Century Club: Tom Dean

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Saturday, April 15, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
April 15 - Solo sail on a Saturday with Storms

Pretty day - temps in the mid to upper 70's. Winds out of the south 8 - 14 knots. Forecast was for winds 5 knots or less!! Go to the marina a bit later than hoped, as I had stopped by a former marina to see if anyone was around. As soon as I got to the marina, I noted the winds and got busy preparing Bubbles to sail.  Got out of the slip about noon - had the sails up quickly, and tacked down Langford Creek to the Chester. Saw another sailboat motoring out of Long Cove marina and even though I was tacking back and forth to head in the same direction... kept up with him pretty good - think that I influenced him to put his sails up too (even though he kept the engine on). Storm alerts started coming in around 1:30 - primarily for north and west of my area... but one could see the clouds/storms and also the updraft of the leading edge of them so thought it wise to reduce sail. Turned in to the wind, rolled in genoa, dropped main, turned towards home and opened the genoa and ran with the wind up the creek. Figured it was better to be safe and have less laundry out - and be able to pull in what I had out quickly.  All in all, a nice 3 hour sail when I expected to just be in the slip doing routine maintenance!

 

Friday, April 14, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
April 14, 2023 - Work than play
  • New dodger window cover - made from scratch!

Had to do a few chores before I went out - the first being finishing up the sewing and then putting snaps on a new cover that I created for the dodger front window. Our former one blew off in a recent gale. I had been working on it for a while, measuring, making a template and even sewing the top/side seams - but today it had to come together. First added a few snaps to stretch it out. Measured the remaining snaps along the top and installed them. Next, I stretched the fabric and located where the snaps should be along the bottom - made marks and cut them out - then proceeded to decide where the seam should be - and then sewed it up - right on the boat.  Worked out well!

After that job - and a little clean-up, went for a short sail out in Langford Creek.  Ended going up the west fork a bit and just had a bit of fun sailing back and forth. Again, the only boat out... but at least there were some other boat owners at the marina!

Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
April 12, 2023 - AIS works!
  • Going fast! Only have a 25’ waterline!
  • Western side of Chester river
  • Looking forward
  • My AIS Screen
  • Looking back

Mostly Sunny with temperatures between 65 and 78 degrees.  Winds were out of the West from 7 - 14 knots.. with a few gusts but nothing worthy of a small craft advisory that was out. Barometer 29,96 steady. Got to the marina early because the water was turned on yesterday and I wanted to treat the water tanks with some West Marine water tank treatment. So filled the three tanks and then went out to "shake them up" a bit. Based on the winds at the marina and when I got out on Langford Creek (along with the small craft advisory), I decided to reef the main and only bring out the headsail to a jib. Got everything up in Langford Creek as usual - and then headed out on the Chester. Decided to shake out the reef on the main pretty quickly as I was only really seeing 8 - 12 knot winds - and there didn't seem to be any stronger wind further down the river. Tried to stay pretty much on a beam reach - and I flew down the Chester. Got all the way to the north entrance of Kent Narrows before I turned around to head back to Lankford Bay Marina. Found out my AIS works well with my iPad - as I received a warning about a possible collision from a catamaran that was about 1.2 NM from me. The cat never got close as she was under engine and I was under sail! Flew back up the Chester on a close reach to start, a tack to get me to the western side, and then a beam reach followed by a broad reach.  As luck would have it, as soon as I went to douse the sails and head into the marina, the wind picked up! Made it back safely though. A truly lovely spring sail!

Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
April 11 - Weather forecasters were wrong again!

It was Sunny to partly cloudy - temps 58070 and winds - were 8-15+ out of the South - South West. Barometer was 30.22 falling to 30.08 between 11 and 4:30. Winds were much higher than expected by all of the forecasters - and even Predict Wind and Ventusky who all had it light winds - 7 - 10 until very late. With the winds that strong, I decided to go right out instead of plowing through some chores around the boat first. Got the main up quickly in Langford Creek and then got out the Genoa - reefed as a jib and turned the engine off! Pretty much beating in to the wind for the first half - letting the autopilot take the helm while I manned the sails. Had the autopilot sail to a wind direction which did pretty well going downwind... I know it works well on a beam reach too - with good winds, but compass heading is probably better for broad  and running. Tacked down the Chester a few times - and about 1 pm the winds picked up substantially, so on the next tack I stayed into the wind a bit longer and reefed the main - as I was seeing 15 knots steady with gusts. Made it down to the green/red marks 11 & 12 off of Quesnstown Crrek/Eastern Neck Island where I decided to turn back. Before I put my plan into action (tacking/stalling - pulling in Genoa, dropping main, turning the bat to head downwind and opening the full Genoa) I got hailed on the VHF! It was a sailboat testing out their AIS - wanted to know if I saw them. Following that, turned and had following seas and fair winds pushing Bubbles all the way back to the marina. A lovely 4 1/2 hour sail and I only saw 4 other boats out! Shame for such a lovely day!

Sunday, April 9, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Easter sail - April 9

Sunny - mid to upper 50's, winds NE 5-10 knots moving to West 10-15 knots after 2pm. Barometer 30.48 and falling slightly. Sailed with full crew. Started the day doing some measuring for a replacement dodger window cover waiting for the winds to pick up a bit, left the dock about noon under fairly light winds, but that was more about wind being blocked going down Langford creek.  Once out into the Chester, wind was nice and we got on a starboard tack towards the Corsica river with the first mate at the helm. We did a tack (practice for the first mate) and started heading back in the general direction of grays inn creek when the wind started to change direction. When it finally settled, winds were out of the west, so we took advantage to make a run down towards eastern neck island. Winds began picking up substantially (not predicted) and on our return back up the Chester heading back to Lankford Bsy Marina, we decided to reef the headsail from the Genoa to a Jib which made a huge difference. Winds died s bit getting back into Langford creek, so we slowly crept back up the creek. All in all, a lovely 4 hour sail with the full (regular) crew!

Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
April 5th - In like a lamb, out like a lion

Sunny - Mid 60's when I arrived - 78 when I got out of the boat. Barometer was 30.09 steady. Winds out of the south - growing.

Arrived early at the marina as I wanted to check the tension on the standing rigging at dock with no wind. Found all shrouds and stays were well within expected range - except on. The back lower shroud was a bit loose (compared to other side - but I did find out from a Maryland School for Sailing video about checking the rig that the mast should be a bit bowed out at the lower shrouds... which was why the front lower shrouds were a bit tighter than the back lower shrouds. After finishing the check and putting things back - got the boat started and pulled out - as the winds were expected to pick up a bit after 11.

Motored out of the marina and got the main up pretty quickly as I turned south in Langford Creek - then motor/sailed until reaching the day marks the one into the creek. Wind picked right about when they said - 11am... up to 7 knots for a bit, than 9 knots, then started building gradually. As the weather helm increased, I decided to reef the Genoa - which was smart because after not too long after 1 pm (again the weather guys were right on) it picked up significantly... 15 or more knots, gusts up to 20. The seas got a bit angry too - picking up quickly to a foot than more... and the wave length was quick - felt like it was hitting me every second. Since I had made it down the Chester, getting almost to Eastern Neck Island - beating with 4 tacks I decided to concede and turn to a broad reach. Made good time and speed going back up the river on two tacks. Got into Langford creek and not sure whether everything picked up more, or the wind was funneled down the creek - because it was really gnarly! Fun putting down the mainsail singlehanded! Re-wrapped up the Genoa and headed to slip at Langford Bay Marine. Fun day and I reefed early!

Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
April 4th - 5 hour Sail!

A beautiful day for a sail! Sunny, mid 60's when I left the dock - 70 when I returned. Barameter was at 30 and steady. Winds were out of the South 10 - 15 knots for most of the day. Left Lankford Bay a little before 10:30 am and got the main up as I made the turn down Langford Creek at day mark 7. Kept the engine on - held a port tack down the creek a bit until there was room to go on a starboard tack. Decided to try a reefed Genoa - and make it a Jib since I was getting some good wind and waves - didn't want to be overpowered singlehandling.

Beat down the Chester to the Red and Green Buoys off of Eastern Neck Island - and Queenstown Creek - Chester River Channel Markers 11 & 12. where I turned in to the wind, pulled in the Jib (genoa) and dropped the main. Since I was going to be on a run or close to it back to the marina, I let out the full Genoa in 14 - 15 knot winds and began flying back. 

Took some time to check the tension - with a gauge - of all the stays and shrouds.  Did it under load on both Starboard and Port - and then with just the headsail up. Very interesting... going to have to speak with the rigger at the marina after I do measurements at the dock tomorrow. 

Sailed from 10:30 until 3:30.  Longest sail of the year so far - went about 20 nautical miles when one counts the tacks!

Monday, April 3, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
April 3rd - 6th Work Day and Hopefully last!
  • Solar reparied and re-mounted

The wind was blowing a might bit - so took the day to do some needed maintenance.  First I changed all of the fuel filters - the one on the engine and also the fuel water seperator - both which needed it.  Also found some gunk in the bottom of the seperator, so I gave that a bit more love.

Next, I moved to the impeller since the engine had run with the water closed for a bit of the winter. Sure enough, one of the fins were broken - found it hiding in the heat exchanger.

As always with projects something has to go wrong... I dropped the water pump cover into the bilge - took a while to fish that out - but got it done!

Discovered that the water back where the centerboard post is (under the floorboards) is being caused by the water tank overflow NOT the centerboard!! 

Finished riveting the solar arch/array and put it back up!  Yea!

Monday, March 27, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Another work day - 5th one for the season

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.

Sunday, March 26, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
March 26 - Sail with Crew

Was a lovely day - was 52 when we got to the boat and got up above 60 before the day was over. Barometer was at 29.97 and falling slightly - Winds out of the west and were at 10-16 knots most of the day, except for about 15 minutes when they fell off.  Left Lankford Bay Marina about 11:00 or so... first mate had a tough time leaving the slip as well as getting the main sail up, but with the Captains help, managed to get it up before heading down Langford creek on a close/beam reach. We furled the headsail to a jib just to keep us well balanced - and that worked nicely.Headed down the Chester staying primarily in the basin area between church, grays inn, reed, and Langford creek just having some fun on a nice springy day. Wind dropped off right about 2pm, so we turned back and unreefed the headsail, but the wind filled in again and we were a bit overpowered with a 150 genoa out. Had a nice breeze all the way back up the Chester and into Langford creek before dousing the sails as we headed into Davis Creek and Lankford Bay marina.  A lovely spring sail with the First Mate!!

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