Century Club: Tom Dean

A little warmer - temps 78-83 degrees.  Barometer was 29.75 falling slightly. Was cloudy, then turned partly sunny as the day went on with winds out of the NW at 5-10. Flew down the Chester on some nice winds on a broad reach - jibing back and forth. Had to work a bit harder coming back! Took a side trip over towards the Corsica before heading on back. Left the dock at 10:30 and pulled back in at 3:30… so a nice 5 hour sail where I got to practice all the points of sailing!

Cooler day - temps 74 - 80 degrees, barometer was 30.08 and falling winds were out of the NW 10+knots with some nice gusts to the higher teens. Mostly. Lousy, but the sun came out.  Got the main up quickly - right outside of Davis creek, but waited for the Genoa until close to the Chester.decided to go up the Chester since the wind was good - and headed off that way.  Had to do a couple of tacks to get through the narrow area that opens up into comely[s blight on one side and conquest beach on the other.  There was another sailboat out who forced me to tack a few time prior to when I wanted to - but all was good. Pretty much on a close reach most of the day - a few times a close haul. Turned around after well past conquest beach and headed back for the basin outside of Langford creek.  Made it part way up the creek before I had to start the iron sail... just not enough room with a wind that had shifted and was coming almost due north! Got out of the slip at 10:30 and didn't go back in till 3:30.  For what it is worth, according to my calculations - this was my 89th sail of the year so far - woo hoo.  Not only will I make over 100 days in the water - but also over 200 days of sailing!

Decided to go off on a little trip - no agenda, no real destination... wherever the wind lent itself is where I was heading. Got to the marina a bit later than I wanted on the 15th - had to provision for not only the four days, but also the weekend... which took time.  Pulled out of the marina at 11:45am under partly sunny skies, temp of 83 and barometric pressure at 29.77.  Winds were out of the South 5-10.  Meandered my way down the Chester and was just outside of Queenstown Harbor where I would normally turn to head over towards Love Point when the weather (and the sky) indicated that bad things were coming. Thinking about possibilities for anchorage or safe areas and knowing there was none, I turned and headed back up to find an area to hide out from the storm.  Got sails down and prepped for what was going to be bad... and it was.  Upon reflection, should have anchored, but instead kept moving and when the storm hit - motored into the wind.. just enough to keep me safe.  The Bimini suffered some tears, but otherwise everything ok.  Went back to the marina, repaired the Bimini and got ready to leave the next day.

Day 2 - Got out at 9:45 - still no idea where I would be headed.  Partly cloudy, winds out of the WNW at 5-10, but diminishing as the day went on.  Started out 76 degrees, got up to 83. Made it down to outside of Kent Narrows in good fashion, but only averaging about 4 knots or so, and then because of wind speed and direction, had to turn on the engine. Winds never picked up so outside of Love Point, made the decision to go to Swan Creek as it was the closest. Got into Swan creek and anchored in the normal area - there was a trawler, catamaran and another sailboat there also. Dropped anchor and had a very nice, but warm night!

Day 3 - Pretty much a chore day and then a kayak day since there was little to no wind.  Kayaked all around Swan Creek - down by the marinas and further up the creek. Found all of the dinghy docs and other places that a tender could be put ashore! Very rocky and windy anchorage overnight - winds picked up mightily, but the anchor held!!

Day 4 - There were calling for W winds 10-15 with gusts to 25 and seas 2 feet - and they weren't kidding.  Had at least that - except the wind seemed more from the WNW than just west. Got the Main up at anchor because didn't want to be out on the deck in what was predicted.  Engine off right outside of swan creek - and rocked and rolled all the way down into the Chester. Decided to furl in my headsail outside of Kent Island (was going almost dead downwind) and got it wrapped on top of itself - so when I turned to go up the Chester - really into the wind (winds were really out of the NW at this point) had to motor the rest of the way, but easily fixed the headsail at the dock.  

Wonderful little outing - a bit of everything... Storms, Light Winds, No Wind, and Heavy weather.  Fun, challenging, and engaging!

Headed out at 10 am with the full crew under sunny skies - hot... temp was 87 at 10 am. Winds were out of the south 5-10 knots... Barometer was 29.9.  Unfortunately, the first mate got a little bit seasick so wasn't able to participate much, but I still had some fun! Stayed in the basin area where Langford, Reed, and Grays Inn creeks all enter into the Chester down to the Queenstown area just going in the direction that the wind was blowing and having some fun. First mate wasn't suffering too much, but decided against staying out on the hook as planned, so headed up to Cacaway Island to make dinner, and then came back to the slip for the evening.