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!
Century Club: Tom Dean
Going fast! Only have a 25’ waterline!
Western side of Chester river
Looking forward
My AIS Screen
Looking back
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!!
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
Highs in the mid-upper 50's, Winds light 5-10 knots out of the south. Barometer 30.39 - fell to 30.33. Set off from Lankford Bay Marina a little after 11 when the winds came up. Got the main up before day mark 7 in Langford Creek. While the winds were light, the direction allowed me to head down the creek into the Chester with just a few tacks.. albeit slowly. Spent most of the day on close hauls, taking back and forth and getting down to Ringgold Point on the west side of the Chester in the large basin area. Winds - which were on and off prior to this became a bit more steady - so I dropped the main, rolled in the Genoa and put up Jenny - the Gennaker and had a delightful sail back up the Chester, into Langford Creek and even kept her up in Davis Creek where I dropped her before heading back to the slip. While I didn't get to sail (no wind) on the first day of spring - the second day made up for it!