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!