Temp's in the 80's inland for the first time of the year. Steve C came out to Annapolis to putter on his boat, "Blithe Spirit" a Tartan 4100. The air was super light at the dock but we motored out to find a beautiful 8 - 12 knots on the Bay. Cruised across, back and forth a few times. Strange to see only one ship anchored because of the FSK bridge collapse. The tugs and tows are still out though so you still need to pay attention.
Century Club: John Zseleczky
Friday, April 26, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Scudding across the Bay
The Osprey's are back and staking their claims
Light air was forecast but decided to give it a go since it was a beautiful blue sky day. Wind was South starting near 10 kts with whitecaps but drifting down to near zero. Got in a nice romp across the Bay before it fizzled out. Cold in the shade and warm in the sun. Perfect sailing weather.
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Sailed Tom P's IOD "Flicker" for the first Wednesday Night of the Series. A beautiful night with 5 - 8 knots NW and a great sunset. Had five people on the boat which is normal for IOD's but that seemed pretty crowded to me. Not sure how we finished, we sailed in PHRF, but we beat a J/80 which owes us time.
Monday, April 15, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Went to the boat to do some jobs but it was 74 degF, blue skies and the forecast was for 6 kts. Very sailable. Motored out the creek and hoisted sail in Whitehall Bay but the wind never filled in. Floated around an hour or so and decided to head back. Got some exercise putting the sails up and down anyway. Lucky to be on the water at all.
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Shoulder down and working to windward
A beautiful early spring day
Got out on Tom P's IOD again, this time for some practice with another boat and with five crew total. Wind was 15 - 25 knots S. I was bowman and did my job well as primary windshield. Got soaked and freezing cold by the time we went in. It was a beautiful day though and fun to see how these boats handle a breeze.
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
A little sailing, a little music
Sailed into the slip
Got the riding mower at home running (long story) and lawn mowed then headed out to the boat for my reward. Did a few token boat jobs and headed out into a southerly breeze similar to the day before. The wind lightened up so I didn't get much past the radio towers before heading back. Brought the cello along and got some practice in well out of earshot of the neighbors in Whitehall Bay.
On a lark I decided to try sailing into my slip at Whitehall Marina. The little wind we had was generally from behind so I took down the main and sailed the tight turn into my alley under jib alone using the roller furler as a throttle. Docking went smoothly, grabbing the line on the piling and getting it around the jib winch to brake. Brake may be an overstatement given my sub-one-knot boatspeed.
Another gorgeous day!
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Beautiful but chilly sailing
Went to the boat with hopes of getting off the dock after doing a few boat jobs. Installed the freshly rebuilt raw water pump, put the engine room back together set up the boat's running rigging, bent on the main and roller furling jib. It was only 4pm and I didn't have to be home so "Old Blue" headed out to the Bay.
It was a gorgeous day with land temps near 70 degF. The water in the Bay was only 55 degF though so it was chilly out there. I had two jackets and two drafty watch caps on. The breeze was forecast to be light and shifty but it was blowing up to 10 kts on the Bay. Sailed in to Annapolis Harbor and took a loop around the docks as the sailing team kids were coming out from AYC in their 420's.
A much warmer trip back home, downwind. Couldn't believe what a beautiful sailing day we had so early in the year.
Friday, March 8, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Ready to go
Check the jib, we're actually sailing
"Flicker" put to bed
Tom P invited me over to Gibson Island for a daysail on his International One Design (IOD). The wind was 1-5 NE and we debated going out or just enjoying lunch on the park benches overlooking the GI inner harbor. The thought of missing out on a Century Club sailing day was eating at me so we did both.
The IOD has an outboard motor but it's extra effort to rig up so we drifted out of the slip, got the sails up and lo and behold there was definitely enough wind to manuver and sail around the harbor. We made five or six circuits of the harbor, taking a good hour or so, thoroughly enjoying the silky smooth feel of the boat in a deserted harbor filled with syrupy smooth water. It would have been a shame to miss this day on the water.
Thank you Century Club for the push.
Monday, March 4, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
No sails yet so this was a motorboat ride
It was in the upper 60's on Monday and the plan was to do some chores on my 1973 Pearson 30 "Old Blue" at its slip in Whitehall Marina.
But the temp was forecast to be above freezing for the week ahead so I couldn't resist de-winterizing the engine. The 50 year old Atomic started on the first crank, burned off the fogger oil and seemed ready to go. Why not a little boat trip to get a day on the calendar? I ended up motoring from the slip at Whitehall Marina out to the Whitehall Bay entrance buoy and back.
A gorgeous sunny day! Time to put the sails back on.
Saturday, February 24, 2024 to Sunday, February 25, 2024
Number of days:
2 days
Arriving in Gulfport
Nice to see palm trees
Moths rigged up
On water photo from a few years ago
The first sail of the year for me is usually in Gulfport, Florida for the Classic Moth Midwinter Regatta. It takes about 2,000 miles of driving round trip but well worth it in February. We usually set up and go for a sail on Friday but it was blowing 15 - 25 and no one wanted to break anything the first day in town.
Saturday blew 10-20 as the day progressed and even though it was 68 degF out we were all shivering after a few races. Everyone in my Class capsized at least once and when you were wet the wind really chilled your bones. Sunday was warm and light, a little too light, but all of us northerners really enjoyed the sun's warmth.
A great way to start the year!