Finally warmed up enough to get out for a shakedown after getting all the sails and lines back on. Barometer was 30.02 and falling slightly, Temp range was 48-54. It was mostly sunny with the wind out of the south about 10 knots on a falling tide. Left the dock about 11 - Bubbles engine started right up! Got to the first daymark, headed into the wind and started getting the main sail up - followed by the genoa. Tacked down Langford creek on a close haul to the mouth and then headed off towards Reed Creek. Saw a workboat out with two guys tonging for oysters - something I hadn't seen in the Chester before. Winds started getting a bit lighter and about 1:30 turned and started heading back in. Was able to stay on a broad reach back towards and up Langford creek until turning back into the wind, dropping the sails and heading back into the slip. Had a few lines I had to straighten out during the sail, but everything was in good shape for the most part. A little cool, but a lovely day!
Century Club: Tom Dean
I, as has every other person with a boat in the water up in the Chesapeake area, have been watching the weather closely - seeing if the groundhog was right and we are going to have an early spring.... well, for the next week - except for the weekend, we are supposed to have some nice warm weather - temps up in the 50's and 60's - and I will sail in that kind of weather! So on February 20 & 21, I went to work, hanking on the sails, running all the lines, putting on the canvas, taking up extra lines set for winter, attaching the jacklines, and just making sure that she was ready for her first sail of the year. Took the better part of two days at the marina, but she is ready to go - and hopefully her first sail of the season will be on February 22nd!
Saw the forecast saying sunny and 60= degrees in Rock Hall - and even though it was only 40 and overcast/foggy in Newark, I headed to the marina in hopes the forecast was correct. Did a bit of work on Bubbles - installed a 12 volt outlet in the v-berth and worked on some piping and then headed off in the kayak. Heard a lot of shotgun blasts and other explosives from some nearby duck blinds, so I didn't venture out too far, but had a lovely paddle around Davis creek and around the marina. Lovely day - hope we have some more.... and hope I get my sails back soon so that I can sail instead of paddle!!
The first mate (admiral) and I decided that we wanted new lifelines for Bubbles for Christmas, so we went ahead and spent a boat dollar on the items. Got Stacor Stainless sta-lock kits (2 for each side) along with enough wire rope to do the job. Ordered them through Bosun Marine and really have felt great about the purchase.
The learning curve is not bad - however, at first it pays to go slow and not make any mistakes... but the process sped up as I went, but it still took the better part of two days to completely finish the jbb. Learned a lot that will help me as I continue to work on the sailboat and eventually the rigging!
The first mate and I decided to treat ourselves to new lifelines for Christmas - so I spent the day putting the new ones on. I purchased Suncor Stainless lifelines and wire rope for the new lifelines from Bosun Supplies. Suncor made me aware of Bosun when I emailed them. The purchase was easy - Bosun had GREAT prices and the suncor product was fantastic! Easy to install and they look great!
Had the full crew - headed to the marina, got there about 11 and decided to head out around noon. There wasn't much wind, but we put a sail out anyway while keeping the engine on. Winds were out of the south about 5 knots, temp was in the lower 50's and the barometer was 30.12. First Mate was at the helm and we went up the east fork of Langford Creek for a bit before returning to the marina and taking down the sails to send them off to the sail loft for cleaning and fixing - and removing all of the other canvass. It was a sad day, but it was nice that we got one last one in!
Got to the marina late morning. Winds were out of the west at 10 knots, but dropped off quickly after 2. Temps were in the low 50's and the Barometer was 29.8 and falling. pulled out of the slip at noon and sailed until 3. Headed straight down the Chester before turning around to head back - and along the way, the wind just ended up dying so in order to get back, had to fire up the iron genny. Still nice to get out - and the sailing was great while the wind lasted!!
Well, had been waiting for a nice day after getting back from Thanksgiving for a day to go out - and finally got one on the last day of the month. Had a couple "gale" days earlier in the week, but while chilly (42-51) it was a nice mostly sunny day with good winds out of the south - so I headed down to the marina and out on Bubbles. Shorter sail - 11:15 - 2:30 with a barometer at 30.14 and falling. Winds initially started out at 5-10, but they began picking up in the early afternoon (about 1) which is when I turned and started heading back. Was on a close haul from 11:30 until 1 at which time I started going on a broad reach to head back. Winds had picked up to 15 knots or better soon after 1. It was nice to finally get back sailing - and with the wave action, I noticed how light the boat was with all the water being out. Cold, but a lovely sail and some really nice speed!!
Was forecast to be a lovely day with good winds, so I headed to the marina early. Temperature was 57 and got all the way up to 65. Barometer was 30.02 and falling and the skies were partly Sunny. Pulled out of the slip at 10 and headed on down Langford creek in the Chester River. Found the winds to be 10+ out of the south, but there wasn't much in the way of waves. Had a nice sail around the basin area and even headed over towards the Corsica - as I didn't want to fight the winds, so staying over by the Corsica let me keep all of the sails out. Managed to go wing on wing on the way back up the creek as I was headed back to the marina. Winterized before I left - just in case!! All in all a nice 5 hour solo/singlehanded sail!
Well, finally after waiting for three days - finally headed to the boat. The NWS and NOAA said no or little wind, but I found a good 10 knots when I got to the marina (goes to show... don't always take the NWS and NOAA's forecast as being true!!). Left the dock about 11:30 under a very low tide. Temperatures ranged from 52 to the upper 50's. Barometer was 30.39. Found the winds to be out of the South 5-10 knots with some gusting well above 10 and with the boat being empty of water, she sails pretty well under these conditions. Got the sails up quickly and began tacking down the creek. A friend started texting me about a problem they were having with their AIS and as I was tacking, I was trying to see their screen shots and help.... big mistake. Got involved in one response and didn't see the depth drop off until Bubbles gently rested on the bottom, Tried to motor off - that wasn't happening.... tried to pull myself off with an anchor - did manage to move the front around but still no go... Tide at the very precipice of low - so I knew before too long, I would have enough water, still kept working on the problem. Put the Genoa back up and that started to pull her around. Managed to tighten up the sail enough to heel over pretty good - that along with an anchor on the boom - hanging out, I managed to get her to heel enough that we got free and back into deeper water! Continued sailing for a bit having finally gotten myself free - and I put the cell phone down and didn't pick it up again until I was back in the slip. Had a nice 4 hour sail total (that includes stuck time!! Still an enjoyable day - and I learned some new tricks for the next time I get grounded