Century Club: Richard Turman

A day with temps in the high 60's and North winds from 8-14 proved a great day to introduce someone to sailing. One of my racing crew brought a buddy from Uganda who had just graduated with a Masters from Maryland and his prof over so we could go sailing. 
Had a rewarding time showing them how wind power could produce forward motion on a boat, and taught them both how to steer something w a tiller and no brakes. 
One problem, though, came when I went out to get the boat ready to sail. The tide was lower than we'd seen in a year, and it was so low the keel would not extend all the way down and allow the boat to float off the lift. Asked two neighbors if they had a block and tackle, and one of them had two 'come alongs instead. Since it was 10:30 in the am and low tide wasn't until 12:30, we used the come along tied to a 4x4 across the coachroof, help up by about eight inches of 2x4's on each side. Was able to raise the keel a half inch, off the bottom of the lift, get out of the boat to reduce weight, and float it out of the slip. The concealing wouldn't release the tension to drop the keel the needed 4 inches, but I was able to slowly lower it by slowly letting out on the dock line I had used to attach the come along to the 4x4.  That worked, and the keel slid down and we then piled into the boat to go sailing. Took 6 guys an hour to make it work, but it was a great example of ingenuity and helpful and creative neighbors. Whew!

Took a nice 9 mile sail out of Valentine Creek, down Round Bay, around St. Helena Island and back home.  Breeze was classic Round Bay -- light and variable.  Started out mostly E by N, then was S with some E, then back to N with some E.  6 knots then 2 knots then 4 knots, all the time with gusts to 10.  Started about 11, when it was mid-fifties; got up to 60 by the time I returned at 2 pm.  Got some nice 4.5 knot runs in, but spent more of the time at 3 knots.  Not a cloud in the sky.  3 big boats out when I started (46' Bavaria, 40' Catalina, 37' Jenneau), then I was by myself.  Had not rounded St. Helena in this boat, and it is always tricky to get through the wind shadow section, but I made it around, eventually.  With leaves turning on the trees, it was a beautiful day on the water!  Afterwards, since too many birds had been pooping on my boat I gave it a deep clean for a good hour afterwards, finally getting most of it off.  

Took Lark out for 90 minutes starting at 5 pm on a Friday.  Fabulous evening!

Spent a wonderful and educational 3 hours with Tom Guay of the Severn River Association on SRA's SeaGirl to test water quality at 10 sites on the lower Severn River, as part of a data series SRA has been keeping for 6 years at these sites.  On the way back, got to drive past Pride of Baltimore, which had arrived in Annapolis to attend the upcoming Sailboat Show!