Out on Neptune's Wager for this week's Wednesday night race. I very recently learned how to set up & execute dip pole gybes, and came on Neptune's Wager to help get them up to speed. The race was a real drifter, and I don't think we got the boat over 2kts for the whole race. We had some trouble keeping steerage and had to tack a couple times to make the top mark, and found little breeze on the way back down. Shortly after rounding the breeze filled just a bit from the wrong side of the boat, and I had to figure out a gybe after the sail had mostly blown inside the forestay. I got everything sorted out and we sailed a slow, deep course to the finish. Despite being the last boat across the line, we had a fun race and the crew appreciated gaining some new knowledge.
Century Club: Jonathan Nepini
Paddled off Leonardtown Wharf today. Light breeze until I rounded the corner, where wind was funneling up Breton Bay. A pretty great workout paddling upwind out to Mulberry Point, and enjoyed just enough breeze and waves to get into light surfing conditions on the way back. I managed to get the board to top out at 6.3kts. I caught a gorgeous sunset as I was getting packed up as well.
Today's route
A quick sunset paddle after a busy day. Nice light wind conditions and a pretty sunset at Forest Landing.
Today's route
Decided to get a quick lap in after being out of town for the weekend. I started off Clarke's Landing into fierce, gusty conditions. I hugged the shore for half an hour up to Forest Landing Cove, hoping for a speedy downwind run back. Unfortunately, the wind died off by that time, and I was left doing a bit of work paddling back. Beautiful golden hour light and a great workout!
Today's route
Decided to get a quick lap in off SMSA before heading up the road this morning. Beautiful conditions, if a bit breezy, for a trip up Back Creek and back.
Today's route
A nice evening paddle with Dewey from Abell's Wharf to Leonardtown Wharf and back. Light-ish conditions and warm weather made for a great evening as we chatted and caught up on what we've been up to. We enjoyed a picnic dinner on the water. The breeze kicked up a little on the way back and we had to work a bit to get back in. A great way to ease into the weekend.
Crossing tacks with Microburst
Skippering Red Baron today in Dion's absence, as he was skippering Harm's Way. We had trouble with the new motor and ended up having to sail out to the course. Finally some moderate conditions allowed us to put up the nice new 140, and we enjoyed fast upwind performance as a result. We sailed clean legs, but I delayed the douse for too long on the first downwind and cost us time saling away from the mark, but we caught back up some on the second upwind. In hindsight there are a number of small tactical decisions I could've made to improve our standings, but the crew handled the boat very well. Not enough to pull off a podium finish, but still a pleasant day on the water.
Today's route
A nice Monday paddle from Forest Landing to Clarke's Landing and back. Pretty breezy on the way out, particularly at the mouth of the river. For my work paddling upwind on the way out I enjoyed a relaxed downwind ride back.
Headed out of the river
Up in Baltimore this weekend to sail the BCYA Icebreaker race on the J/35 Incorrigible, one of Michael's usual rides. We set off in pleasant but gusty conditions for an all-reaching course, and worked with some brand-new sailors on active trimming to keep the boat performing in the gusts. We briefly launched a spinnaker on a short leg on the way back up, but didn't have much success and had a difficult douse as the angle was too high for it (not my decision to launch). In the end we managed a third place finish. Overall a fun day on the water, and I got to learn more about how to execute dip-pole gybes.
A cool shot of a helicopter training during the race (courtesy of Steve Birchfield)
Out for a very sporty Wednesday night on Red Baron. We got out early despite some motor trouble, put some tacks in to decide if we were comfortable racing, and ultimately decided to go for it. We pulled off a tidy, if slightly late, downwind start, and sailed a clean, conservative leg to the first mark. As we were rounding up to beat to the bridge, we tore our jib on the pulpit and had to retire. We had a leisurely sail back in under just the main. Disappointing to have to stop what was shaping up to be a promising race, but still glad we got out there and put the boat through her paces in some heavier conditions.