Had a good ride in the early evening up Valentine Creek and over to the entrance of Plum Creek and then back home. No other boats out.
Century Club: Richard Turman
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
First race for my Harbor 20 crew and I in ourPHRF fleet. Actually the 2nd race of the season, but only 4 boats from the fleet of 25 went out last week, since the wind was 20-30 mph, and even the 40-footers were getting knocked about. By contrast, this was a steady Southerly in the 8 mph range -- until it faltered as we were in the 4th of a 4-leg race. Had a great initial upwind run, second boat around the mark, fabulous spin run, was first of the fleet around the mark, and then wind faltered as we neared the end of the reach leg, and died as we rounded it. Stuck in doldrums trying to get the spin up, watching other bigger boats head past us. Instead of a top-half finish will be bottom-half, but the first three legs we performed well, so there's hope for the rest of the season!
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Had another beautiful evening sail on my Harbor 20, Fiona, with our racing team -- the second for this year. Wind from the West, so ran a course in Round Bay from race mark A to race mark B, hoiisted the spin, and came down, and then went back up again. Wind died as we came back down, but after a bit, filled in again, so had a chance to spin all the way to the entrance of Valentine Creek, where we dowsed it. Another Round Bay sailor came out on their center consol to visit, and later a neighbor couple came out on their whaler. We got much more proficient in our sail and line handling, and it was fabulous to meet with up friends on the water!
Monday, April 26, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Wanted to sail this evening, but with a dying breeze, and a buddy reaching out to see if I was free to go kayaking this evening, that made the most sense. Left about 6:30 and got home a bit over an hour later. Went into Round Bay and around Kyle Point into the creek between Kyle and Long Point. Beautiful evening, with only 2 boats out on Round Bay the whole night, which meant negligible boat wakes. 70 degrees. Wonderful!
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
High winds again precluded sailing, but that's why we have a kayak. Spent 40 minutes out and did not see a single boat, which was glorious. Up to the headwaters of Valentine Creek, over to Plum and a little ways up, and then home. Beautiful 59 degrees out, with light winds (for us).
Friday, April 23, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Had a great spin practice session with our team, which was the first time the three of us were able to get out this year -- and actually the first time we'd been together since 2019, since we only raced with two people instead of three during 2020 due to the pandemic. Now that all three of us have been vaccinated, it was wonderful to get out again with a good West breeze around 10-11 with gusts to 15 and get moving. Ran a course, with a start at Mark B, up to V and then downwind back to B. The second and third times 'round we put up the spin, which worked beautifully. And was a great way to spend a Friday night!
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Scheduled to head out with my sailboat racing crew to have our first practice of the season, but the wind was too high. Since I was scheduled to go boating, decided to kayak instead, which was possible since the wind was from the South, and Valentine Creek is in the lee, so I had a nice 40 minute ride up the creek and back. Any boat ride is better than no boat ride!
Sunday, April 18, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Good South wind, from 8-12, gave me a chance to remember how everything works! Took 30 minutes to put the jib on the roller furler, which is never easy, and always requires adjusting and re-adjusting. Got it roughly right and then took Fiona out around 3 for 2.5 hours on Round Bay in the Severn River, during which RaceQs says I covered 9.2 nautical miles. Worked upwind to various race marks and then went wing/wing downwind. Some weather rolled by and began to look threatening, but got home before it looked like it was about to hit. And it never did rain!
Worked to get strady 5 mph upwind and 5-6 downwind.
Friday, April 9, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
First sail of the year
About to put her in!
Finally got my Harbor 20 sailboat, Fiona, off the hard and into the water -- complete with new bottom paint, freshly waxed topsides, and a new bilge pump and deep cycle battery. Put the main on and motored out of Smith's Marina into little Round Bay. Raised the main and the 8-12 mph South wind gave me a nice 4-5 mph ride on main alone. Through the drizzle, in the 50 degree weather. Sailed to my dock through lessening wind and increasing rain, reducing speed to about 2.5 mph. Rain stopped as I approached the dock, which made it easier to unload, put the cover on, and futz with setting the docklines up for the first time this year.
Great way to start the year!
Thursday, April 8, 2021
Number of days:
1 day
Kayaked with a friend again this evening. Temps in high 60's, but winds about 10 mph out on the Severn, so we stayed in Valentine, first checking out the headwaters of Plum Creek, where we were able to get pretty far up the creek, since the tide was so high. Then back all the way around Valentine, where we ran into a racing friend of ours from Round Bay Sailing Association who had just had their boat put in the water yesterday, and were happily working on the next round of things that need to be done, now that the boat was finally in! Lovely night out, with folks out fishing in their jon boats and other folks out on Stand-Up Paddleboards. Beautiful evening!