[Public-list] anybody been sailing?

[Gordon Laco]

Hi there - 

I have just returned from a two-dayer probably the last of the year.  Kinda
late for the Upper Great Lakes but we made it OK.

Saturday gave us a howling westerly that we beat into for hours with my
high-clewed working jib and two reefs in the main.  For those with access to
an atlas, we went from Midland to the western side of Giant's Tomb Island on
southern Georgian Bay.  Having satisfied ourselves that the wind did not
hold us back from seeing the far side of the island we went about and shot
back down wind broad reaching at speeds up to 11 knots.  We went into the
islands and channels up the Musquash Channel (still galloping) and anchored
in Longuissa Bay.  Had a feast, told stories, stoked up the woodstove and
turned in.

Woke at about 2AM to re-stock the stove and noticed that the boat was no
longer yawing at anchor in the high wind...we were gently aground in the
marsh at the leeward side of the bay.  Turned up all hands and kedged back
to the middle of the harbour (love that Boston Whaler Squall dinghy) and set
three anchors nicely spread and this time not in the weeds.  The horizontal
rain and wet snow was pretty in our spotlight beam.

Stood watches all night and were glad when the dawn came.  After breakfast
we recovered our tackle and set off home.  Wind went to over 40 knts and was
steadily around 30.  Driving cold rain and awkward short chop...nice of it
to develop some south in its direction when we had to go a little south to
get home. Ahhh yachting!

Got home to find friends amazed and horrified that we had come back down
Severn Sound in the blast...we are now stocked with stories to last a while
and are glad it really did snow a little because now we can say we kedged in
a snow squall without having to lie about it.

Really pleased with the boat's performance under both sail and
power...Getting out past Hochkiss Rock we were putting the bow under waves
in the narrow channel dead into a screaming wind; and were able to keep up 4
knots.

Gord #426 Surprise








> A bunch of us have just spent a week cruising the Chesapeake Bay and
> Chester River.  Gail and I came back a day early, crossing the Bay on
> Friday because stronger, and more adverse, winds were predicted for
> today (Saturday).  I don't know how the winds turned out on the Bay,
> today, but they seem to be very gusty on the Magothy River.  When we
> crossed, the winds were southerly at 15 knots, building to 20 with gusts
> to 30.  Fortunately Gail went below for the trip across the bay, or I
> fear it would have taken a great toll on her back.  When the wind
> increased, we were overpowered with the #2 genoa and reefed main.  Even
> letting half the main luff, the rail sometimes dipped under.  The waves
> jumped from 1-2 feet to 3-4 feet in moments.  Since we were nearly
> beam-reaching, and the wind was oscillating, we cork-screwed our way
> from mid-Bay to Baltimore Light.  The boat, and autopilot, handled it
> all with ease.  We celebrated with much wine and enjoyed the shelter of
> Red House Cove for the evening.
> 
> - George
> 
> Patty J wrote:
>> I went sailing with some of my buddies today on my boat here on the
>> beautiful expansive Mobile bay and we had a blast.  I usually don't just
>> go out for a sail, usually race, but there were plenty of boats out
>> today cruising along to race.  Light wind and then it kicked up a notch
>> or two and we fairly flew past the Hunter 27 and nearly caught the Laser
>> 28, (course, he wasn't racing, or there'd be another story).   Anywho,
>> the big Wadewitz (our 1st commodore at FYC) regatta is next weekend and
>> hopefully we will kick some you know what butt!
>> 
>> I need a decent 130% or a 140% if anyone has one for sale.
>> 
>> Patty
>> Timbuktu #461


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