Century Club: Bob Ohler

On what could best be described as a “brisk” day, Team Barba Roja took advantage of a northwesterly wind blowing 16 to 22 knots, and with it I logged day #1 on the water in 2023. We sailed out of the Patuxent into the Bay before tacking and sailing up the river to the bridge at Solomons, where we gybed and came south.  The wind was favorable going into Back Creek where we sailed around Molly’s Leg Island up to Washburn’s before turning again and back to J Dock dock at Calvert Marina. The Strava app showed that we we traveled 18.9 nautical miles, with an average speed of 5.4 knots although we were seeing 7.8 to 8.2 knots when we were in the Bay.  It was a great day of Winter Sailing!

With the help of my friends and Dave, my son, today I made it to 100 days on the water!  Most of my days this year were sailing, onboard our Aloha Spirit and racing on Barba Roja. Throw in mornings in the kayak, going out withSteven Birchfield on the SMSA runabout, and today’s charter fishing on Miss Susie II, and I will have logged and made my first-ever Century Club.  Thank you to everyone who helped me get there, especially after injuring my arm!  I can't wait to go for Century Club next year!

My son Dave Ohler wants to make sure that I make it into the Century Club.  We both had yesterday scheduled to sail together.  We eased out of the slip and headed out into the Patuxent River basin and we found the breeze.  We sailed west, before tacking and sailing to the Solomons bridge.  We took turns taking the helm.  I was at the wheel when we sailed under the bridge and after discussing the idea, we gybed, sailed back under the bridge and returned south.  We criss-crossed the water south of Solomon's Island several times, before reluctantly turning for home.  The problem was, neither one of use wanted the day to end. We sailed up back Back Creek under full sail.  We couldn't make the second mark up the creek, so we tacked and headed in a westerly direction for a quarter of a mile, before tacking again and heading north.  We opted to pass up our fairway at Calvert Marina and instead continued up past Zahnisers.  Approaching the old boat sheds at Washburn’s, we again tacked twice, sailing up past Spring Cove, and eventually all the way up to docks off off Holiday Inn.  We sailed back down Back Creek, but still it wasn't enough. We developed a plan to sail into our slip at Calvert Marina.  The yankee sail was furled first, then the stay sail was dropped on deck.  I made the turn down our fairway under full main, dead-down wind.  One final gybe before Dave released the main sheet, and we coasted into the slip. Perfect.  We both agreed that this one will go down as one of our top-ten sailing days ever!  Put a gold star beside this one!

98 is in the books.  I can taste "100" now!

On a cold, blustery day on the Patuxent River, Barba Roja sailed the last race of the Fall Frostbite Series, and the last race of the year. It was a day that rewarded everyone who dressed for cold weather.  I went with my wool socks, base layer, and 2 layers of wool on my upper body.  A fellow crewman gave me a pair of Hot Hands which I eagerly placed in my gloves.  We had winds around 20 knots, blowing right down the river from the North. For me, it was Day 96, in pursuit of 100 and admission into the Spinsheet Century Club.  I have several confirmed dates planned to be on the water.  I can "taste" #100 now!