SMSA Frostbites #2. My brother was in town this weekend so he raced with us on a four-person crew that also included our usual foredeck. Light conditions at the start built slightly and allowed for a great triangle course with a beat, a spinnaker reach, and a close reach. A great race for Michael to do lots of learning about headsail trim and get to go through the spinnaker set and douse process. A mid-pack finish, at 9th of 18 boats.
Century Club: Jonathan Nepini
Sunday, November 5, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Looking picturesque with a spinnaker up
Monday, October 30, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
One last ride for 2023
Today's route
Last 'official' Monday night paddle for 2023, back at Leonardtown Wharf. Windy conditions and the slightest bit of rain served as a reminder that the warm fall this year is becoming increasingly sparse. We fought up McIntosh Run a bit and then had an easy ride back downwind. The Monday night paddles helped me extend my paddling season by about two months over last year and I hope they will continue next year.
Sunday, October 29, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
SMSA Frostbites #1, with weather in the low 80s. Shoreside start in the tight harbor mouth starting area made for some hectic traffic crossings. Got started and had a light close reach most of the way to the first mark. The breeze got extremely fluky just before the first rounding, with several tacks to stay on relatively the same course. Things stayed similarly weird on the next leg, with seemingly random shifts in wind velocity and directon. Finally picked our way through the shifts up to the next mark, and rounded to another close reach to the finish. Tied for 6th of 14 boats for the day.
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
A solid spinnaker run
A Le Mans style start, complete with paddling
Racing a pirate Scot
Flying by RC
Sailed the spicy meatball in Bucctoberfest, an annual fun regatta at SMSA. The event is truly unique, including a scavenger hunt, beverages stashed in the race marks, floating flamingos and unicorns, and even some racing. The rules are pretty flexible, including mark roundings by personal preference, paddling, and creative starting strategies. We had a fantastic day fooling around on the river, and enjoyed a great party afterwards. Bucctoberfest scoring gets pretty creative, and I managed to win the day by finally closing the deal and doing the paperwork on my boat. A super fun and day on the water and a funny way to score my first event victory with the new boat.
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
A few of tonight's crew with the moonrise in the background
A nice sunset cruise out on the Barba Roja. Pleasant but light conditions led us to the bay to seek more breeze. Susan joined us and brought her guitar, and we enjoyed her playing for us and having a little sing along at the mouth of the river. Enjoyed a truly spectacular sunset on the way back in. As Steve put it so well, completing Century Club is going on 100 mini vacations.
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Today's route
Second quick paddle off Forest Landing today. This time I went up the creek as far as I could go. Warm, pleasant temps and good to be out there.
Monday, October 23, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Tonight's crew
A quick Monday night paddle off Forest Landing. Very low tide and glassy calm lent an interesting look to things. Nice to be out, but definitely a bit cold for paddleboarding. Next week will likely be our last Monday for the season.
Sunday, October 22, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
the RC crew
Out on RC today for the SMSA Fall Invitational. Heavy conditions again, and as a result we set a course in the river to spare everyone the significant sea state on the Bay. Set up a course for a nice long-legged windward/leeward inspired by old America's Cup courses. Enjoyed seeing everyone try their best in the demanding conditions.
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Looking good right until we didn't
Raced on Dangerous today for the Hooper/Point-No-Point race. Heavy conditions, with winds steadily in the 20s with gusts to 35 and chop to match. We started downwind and made the decision early to put up a spinnaker. With very active trim we were able to carry it and make incredible speed for about 10 minutes, right up until we spectacularly broached and just about put the spreaders in the water. We got the boat back up quickly and doused the spin, and were underway again in several minutes. On the run to Hooper's we had a hard gybe and sheared the vang bracket off the mast. Our run was followed by an incredibly wet but fast reach to Point-No-Point, covering half the race course in about 2 hours. We rounded the light, and proceeded to pound into sturdy chop all the way back up the Bay. About halfway up we decided we'd had enough and took the jib down and tucked into shore, hoping to find less wind and chop. Finding neither, we continued to sail under main alone and eventually did manage to complete the course. A challenging day on the water for sure, but good to get the boat out in big conditions and learn about how she behaves and what the crew can do to improve boat handling.
Monday, October 16, 2023
Number of days:
1 day
Just a couple of us today
Today's route
Just a friend and I for today's Monday night paddle at St. Mary's College. Cloudy, blustery conditions as we set up gave way to calmer water and a spectacular sunset as we made our way out. Paddled around the new Maryland Dove, then headed up past Pagan Point. Enjoyed the view the whole way back. Nice to get out there despite it being a little chilly.