[Public-List] Start of Annapolis Racing Season

[R Kirk]

kvell'ing ???

 

    On Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 03:54:51 PM EDT, Jonathan Bresler via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:   

 (NOTE: Gord is inimitable. Please dont expect a Gord-quality racing email.)

Last night, Wednesday April 23rd, was the start of Alberg 30 Annapolis
racing season.  Happy to report that Skybird launched, prepped  and made it
out from her winter on the hard in Whitehall Marina to the start.

Alas, the wind started dropping at 6pm, the time of the first start, fading
away from about 4.5kts to less than a knot inside 20 minutes.  The race
committee decided to call it night and send everyone home.  Home?  First
race and we're going home?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWtY1sM8uUc

Skybird and Constance decided, "Hey, we're out here.  Crew's aboard. Some
have driven from Virgina to Annapolis facing rush hour. ".  Let's at least
get in some practice, raise and lower the sails, set, gybe and douse
spinnakers, make sure all the strings and rags work.

And so we started our own race from R"8" to Y"A" and back.  Within a few
minutes of starting in very light conditions, thank God for freshly painted
bottoms on both boats, a bit of breeze began to show off toward Bembe
Beach.  Rode that breeze on port tack till we could clear R"4" and lay
Y"A".  Round the mark, leave R"4" to starboard and pop the chute!
Uh....that's not right.  Shouldn't the kite be taller than it is wide?
Down on deck she goes, re-attach corners and back up...so much better.
One gybe and here we are at R"8".

Hey, Skybird, should we do another lap?  Yes!  Queue the re-match!

Back out both went, round the windward mark at Y"A", clear R"4", round R"8"
to port and let's head for AYC....we've got 10kts.      Up Spa Creek we
went, skipping from puff to puff as the breeze funnels between the
buildings and down the streets of Eastport to the (virtual) finish line
between Annapolis CIty Marina fuel dock and AYC.

Back in the slip by 8:30, with the boat tucked in bed for night, beers and
salty/crunchy snacks in hand, kvell'ing with the joy of being back on the
waters of our beautiful Bay with good people, good boats, and good
weather.  We get to do it again next week...six days till the next race.

Jonathan

PS wind graphs available at https://buoybay.noaa.gov/locations/annapolis




-- 
Jonathan M Bresler
S/V Constance Alberg 30 #262
Annapolis/Eastport MD
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