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!!
Century Club: Tom Dean
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
We had spent the night on Bubbles on the 9th - used our new diesel heater for the first time and it was nice and cozy! It was cold, but I decided I wanted to sail, so the first mate went along, albeit reluctantly. Winds were out of the NE between 5 and 10 knots, Temps ranged from 46 when we left the slip to a high in the mid 50's. Barometer was 30.46 and it was cloudy to start - but the sun did come out and warm things up a bit. The first mate had the helm most of the time (we switched as we tacked back up Langford Creek to get back to the marina) while I worked the sheets and traveler. Managed to get in about 3 hours of sailing.... although the first mate expressed her displeasure a number of times about the temperature! Usually dont go out until it is at least 50, but didn't want to waste the day!
Got to the marina early - There was a SCA out for the day and when I arrived, found winds at 10+ knots.... but it wasn't too bad. Temps ranged from 61 - 68 degrees and the Barometer was again at 29.82, so it regained what had fallen. Winds were out of the Southwest - so that meant tacking down Langford Creek out into the Chester. Saw one workboat - not sure what they were fishing - sort of a strange configuration - and once again, a couple of other sailboats out. Winds did peter out a little later in the day (left the slip at 10:30... didn't get back in until after 3), but I had enough to keep the sails up and full almost the entire trip. Another lovely fall sailing day!!
Got to the marina early and saw that there were good - very good winds, so I headed out about 10 am with winds from the SW at 10 knots or better. Temp range was 61 - 68 degrees and the barometer was 29.82 and falling. Headed out and got sails up pretty quick. Because of the SW winds, I had to tack down Langford creek - but with very few crabbing boats still working, it was a breeze! Got pretty far down the Chester before the winds died out. Saw Starfish out along with another sailboat. After the wind died off, decided I had enough out to fly the gennaker back, so I put that up (made the other sailors jealous as they had to fire up the iron genny!). All in all a very nice November day and a very pleasant sail!
Stayed at the marina for the weekend - first mate joined me on Friday evening. It was a lovely weekend, but there was NO WIND - I mean NOTHING!! Even the sailing school didn't even bother going out.... However, it was a lovely couple of days weather wise - so we used the time to kayak - exploring Davis Creek, Langford Creek, the East Fork of Langford Creek and of course Cacaway Island..... spent about 2 hours both Saturday and Sunday just exploring and enjoying the weather! Forgot my phone... so no pictures!!
New Upper Chesapeake Sailing Burgee!
Wing on wing
Got to the marina for the weekend about 11 and was out of the slip by 11:30 am. It was sunny, temperature was 52 - eventually got up to 57 degrees with a barometer at 30.43 and falling. Winds were out of the south at 10 knots with gusts up to 16 knots. Got the sails up quickly in Langford creek and headed down the creek towards the Chester river. Had to tack a few times before I was out which made it fun! Once out, I stayed on a close haul for a while before switching to a close reach and then a beam reach. A catamaran was also out sailing - but I found I was able to point much higher than it could. Eventually turned around and started heading back under a broad reach and finally wing on wing where I actually caught up with the catamaran!! Fun day out - bit chilly, but that is fall sailing. Hope the winds hold up for the weekend!!
Decided to go to the Upper Chesapeake Sailing Facebook group meetup on Saturday October 28 at the Maryland Marina in the Middle River. Checked out the weather and decided to head out on Wednesday and try to make either swan creek or Fairlee creek (Fairlee preferred) for the first leg, stay for a day and then venture over to the middle river on Friday.
Wednesday the 25th - Left Lankford Bay marina a bit later than I wanted - got out of the slip, after provisioning, at 11:30. Temp was 62-75, Barometer was 30.30 and falling. Winds were out of the west at 5-10. Motor sailed down the Chester and saw a bunch of ships heading up to Chestertown for the Sultana Downrigging. Took pictures and shared them. Got the sails up around Kent island for almost the rest of the trip up to fairlee creek. Turned on the engine again about 5 - as the wind had petered out (of course, as soon as the engine came on and sails were down... the wind came back up!) because I wanted to make the anchorage before sunset. Got in - only two other boats in the anchorage. Had a lovely evening and a fun sail.
Thursday the 26th. Spent the day at the anchorage, doing some work on the boat - but also taking the time to kayak around fairlee creek a couple of times. Did both a morning kayak and an afternoon kayak... both for an hour or so. Prepped the boat for the next day sail.
Friday the 27th. Had the engine on at 9:45. Barometer was 30.14 and falling. Temperatures ranged from 65 - 78. Winds out of the southwest at 5-10 under partly to mostly cloudy skies. Headed out of Fairlee at a little after high tide and headed across the bay. Had never been to the middle river or on the other side of pooles island or anywhere near Hartt-Miller island - so this was all new. Not many boats out - but some fishing around pooles island. Lots of crab pots still out!! The wind died out right around the entrance to the Middle River... but I saw another Pearson 35 - a yawl model right at the mouth and we had a nice conversation (no wind). Managed to slowly make my way up the middle river to Frog Mortar creek, where I turned on the engine to get up to the marina and into the slip. Arrived at 2pm and checked in. First mate arrived that evening.
Saturday the 28th. Spent the time prior to the meet up on the boat and kayaking around the creek. The meet-up started at 3 and was a lot of fun. Got a Upper Chesapeake Sailing burgee which I promptly put up. Nice group of people!
Sunday the 29th. The first mate departed after breakfast to drive back home. I left the dock at about 9:30 under cloudy skies. Temp was 62-70... so a bit cooler with the Barometer at 30.04 and falling. Winds were out fo the NW at 10+ knots. Got the sails up right as I got out of From Mortor Creek and had a fantastic sail all the way back to Lankford Bay Marina. Was on a Port tack all the way down to right outside of Kent Narrows. Wind died off a little bit there, but came on strong again once I was around Eastern Neck island. Sailed all the way up the Chester and into Langford creek before dropping the sails and into the slip at about 5pm. Great sail - great weekend!
Temperature was 66, Barometer was 29.68 and falling. Partly cloudy with winds out of the south 10-15 with gusts to 20.
Besides going out for a rather exciting sail with some excellent winds, I also used the time to re-calibrate the wind direction instruments. The first mate had noticed (as did I) it was slightly off... and we really caught it when going into the winds to put up the sails. Took my time and dialed it in so it is very accurate now. Had a great sail - got out of the slip at 11:30 and didn't come back in until 3:30. Got the sails up quickly in Langford creek and sailed around in the large basin area of the Chester - going through all the points of sail. Noticed that the rudder stuffing box was leaking again - so I put that as a chore for Saturday - since both Saturday and Sunday looked a bit too rough to head out (first mate wouldn't be happy!). A dock neighbor caught a nice picture of Bubbles as she was heading back up the creek. Lovely day for a sail!