Century Club: Tom Dean

Got to the marina early - while it was still a chilly 53 degrees, so I decided that I had time to tighten the rudder stuffing box (leaking a wee bit) before shoving off. Got that done in short order and then got the boat ready for sailing - and was out of the slip by 10am. Barometer was holding at 30.09. Not a cloud in the sky when I took off, with temperatures in the upper 50's.  Clouds - high upper level ones started coming in as the day progressed.

Got the sails up quickly - had to dodge a crab boat setting some kind of traps on Langford Creek. Winds started out strong, so I had the Genoa reefed, but the winds grew lighter as the day wore on. Not only did the wind die off, but it was once again quite swirly - mostly out of the southwest - but some more westerly breezes too - especially the gusts. Was running pretty much close hauled and some close reach so I could keep speed up in some light breezes - down to 3 and 4 knots at times. Bubbles did well - trying to stay matched in speed with the breeze - but it was slow - and a bit of a slog going into the wind. Made it down a little past Piney Neck - when I decided to turn back. I decided that the light air Gennaker (Jenny) was the sail to use, so I rolled in the Genoa, dropped the main and raised the asymmetrical spinnaker. Took off like a shot - was doing a good 5+ knots all the way back to the marina.  A nice day - only one pops on my part.  Trying to douse the gennaker - I forgot to uncleat the dousing line.... couldn't figure out why it wouldn't douse... until I did. Oh, well, something new not to forget next time!

This was the day to finish up the transom - cleaning off and adding our bubble decals.  First mate (with some help from the captain) got to work and had the new decals up in short order! Ate lunch in the slip - and even though the wind was only 3 knots, we were determined to go out. We headed out and found the wind even in the creek was at about 3 knots - and using the binoculars to scan the horizon, it seemed that the water in the Chester was flat, so the first mate who was at the helm, decided to turn towards Cacaway Island where we would anchor for a bit. There was another boat out there also, but we stayed our distance.  Once we were anchored, we did some chores and then I noticed that the wind was starting to pick up. Kept an eye on that as I continued to mull about and eventually it seemed we had a sustained 8 knot wind - so we put up the main, tried to sail off the anchor (but the first mate was having issues with that) so we turned on the engine to get the anchor up and then sailed - close hauled - down to the mouth of Langford Creek, before dropping the main and running back up the creek to our home port - Lankford Crreek marina. Had a nice 1-1/2 hour sail that was unexpected!  Winds out of the south - temps in the mid 70's.

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!

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!