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.