Moving along!!
Back of first mate handling the helm.
Spent the entire weekend sailing with the first mate. Got out early on Saturday, throwing off the lines about 10 on a beautiful sunny day. Winds were forecast to be 10 knots out of the north with waves of 1 foot. Ended up with less waves since the tide was going out - but the winds were a bit more than 10 knots the entire day. First mate took the helm as we sailed around the Chester River basin from Langford creek to Eastern Neck Island, back up the Chester, around Grays Inn Creek, over to Reed Creek and the Corsica before repeating several times. Mainly stayed on reaches - close and beam, but also some close hauling! This was really the first time the first mate had really taken the helm in heavier weather and she did wonderful. Sailed up to Cacaway and anchored there. On Sunday morning, I saw that the forecast had changed and they were predicting some wind (and rain) starting at 11, so we had the sails up and were heading out by 10! It was a bit windier than what the NWS had predicted. We had winds well above 10 with some gusts getting close 20. First mage still at the helm doing another fine job. We added running to her sailing arsenal along with practicing close hauls, beam and close reaches. REally a great sailing weekend - and on Saturday a lot of other sailboaters evidently though so too - haven't seen that many sailboats in the Chester all year!
Had two crabbing episodes... On Saturday, didn't notice and ran over a waterman's marker. It evidently got caught on our centerboard (that I had forgot was down). He was very forgiving and cut his line instead of having me jump int he water.
Sunday - had two knuckleheads out there start yelling and screaming at us because we sailed by their marker - even though we were well over 100 feet from it and them - guessing they were having a bad day with their catch. Just two total jerks who evidently don't know the rules or have any courtesy at all.
Hit my 100th day of sailing on my boat for 2023 on Saturday! I have really learned a lot in those 300+ hours