A fun sail with S and H. Predicted winds were lousy (3-5 kn) but wind picked up nicely as we were rigging -- had probably 6 in the inner harbor up to 12 gusts in the outer harbor, with scattered whitecaps. It was sunny and not too cold. Almost made it to the FSK buoy but wanted to be sure to be back by 4 in case the wind died. Which it didn't.
Century Club: Robert Coker
Friday, November 22, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Didn't do any actual sailing (heck, it was snowing!), but worked on one of the DSC cruisers for 4 hours or so. Well, T did most of the work, but R and I helped. It was more up front and personal time with an engine than I've ever had (well, excluding rocket engines...). Changing air (seriously, the old filter was...just...gone...) and oil filters, looking over the belts, pumping out and refilling the oil, greasing up some valves, changing the impeller (salt water as the fluid results in a very different design than LOX...). Corrosion is everywhere salt water touches regularly, so watch your through holes carefully. A good manual is key (if I ever get a boat, it would have to have a more thorough manual, since not knowing if you have the right piece is maddening...). More remains to be done...
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
A lovely sail with R out to the FSK buoy and back. Wind was 10 knots, slowly rising throughout the sail to maybe 13 at the end. Gusts were ok for most of the sail but slowly kicked up to probably 20 knot peak by the time we docked. Cloud cover slowly increased too so it got cooler. Waves started kicking up too (even in the inner harbor), making for some fun near any docks or walls (as the waves bounced and reflected). Thought the gusts would give R a rough time docking but nope just dropped the sail, whizzed around and slid along the dock. Great sailing day.
Monday, November 18, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
I nice sailing day -- did first real single-hand practice with R -- it was pretty brutal -- really have to pay attention and keep doing stuff to keep on top of the changing environment. And every boat will be a bit different. Then went out on a cruiser to do some drills and sailing as night fell. Good sailing day.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Did a short sail with R out in the harbor for a few hours -- a chilly fully overcast day with light winds -- so no one else was about -- tried some solo-handing thangs, but we really weren't up for that. Just a relaxing day on the water.
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Went out with two other skippers on a J22 to just relax. Had a steady 8 knot wind mostly abeam, so we made it all the way out to the (remains of) Key Bridge. It was a lovely relaxing day.
Friday, October 18, 2024 to Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Number of days:
5 days
We did a liveaboard (so on the water the whole time) while diving the Red Sea. It was fantastic, even though the locals said the weather was bad because it was windy (10 knots at least constantly -- not great for diving but nice sailing!) and wavey (1-2m swells -- again fun sailing but it made diving via zodiac quite interesting).
Thursday, October 10, 2024 to Monday, October 14, 2024
Number of days:
5 days
While in Egypt, between all the pyramids and temples, we squeezed in nearly a week of sailing on the Nile. A felucca is about 15m long typically used for fishing, with a single large lateen sail. Pushing the tiller requires one's whole body. Control is interesting to say the least. We sailed on one for a day around Aswan. Then we sailed on a dahabiya for four days down to Luxor. At 50m, with one massive lateen sail on either end, it is a fascinating boat -- and again turning the wheel is a workout!
Friday, October 4, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
Mellow couple hour sail in the harbor before the rain came; wind was rather light too so we kept it short.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Number of days:
1 day
A lovely sail with two newish crew (sailed with both before though) on a J22. Winds were ok (5-7 knots I'd say) with light rain and mist. Docked at sunset (with a broken main sheet cam cleat).