Crew: Brian, Bob, Seth & RW
Course: X to Intrepid to Vixen to X Total distance: 4.4 nm
Winds: SE (avg 110 dg), 8 to 14 kts (avg 12)
Average Boat speed: 4.7 kts
Current: ebb 1827 Ram Island Barometer 30.25″ Temp: 70 to 69 F
It had been overcast all day, one of those rare flat low ceiling days with 20 miles visibility and 10 knot easterly wind. Over the previous 24 hours, the forecast moderated from winds in the mid to high teens down to 8 to 10 kts.
Following the motor out to the Groton Long Point starting area with occasional gusts to 12, Brian cinched the lowers down two more turns. I’ve been erroring with the rig on the soft side, and in retrospect we would have faired better with four turns on the lowers and two on the uppers.
Crew: Brian, Bob, Seth & RW
Course: s/f to Drop Mark to s/f, 1.5 nm at 235 degrees, two laps
Total distance: 6.0 nm Winds: W (avg 233 dg), 9 to 18 kts (avg 15) ; Average Boat speed: 4.9 kts
Current: ebb 1310, flood 1921 Ram Island Barometer 29.86 to 29.92″ Temp: 82 to 77 FÂ
I am hoarse today and apologize to my crew for my raised voice last night, though most the yelling was necessary to be heard over the wind. Considering the forecast I had cinched the rig to the heavy air settings of +5, +4 & +3 turns each on the aft, uppers shrouds earlier in the day. Yet checking with Ric at Life Star prior to leaving the dock, I found the weather forecast calling for the Groton winds to diminish 9 kts by 1800 our start time. This trend seemed to be substantiated on the motor Groton Long Point. So 15 minutes prior to the start I had Brian ease up on the rig two turns each. This resulted in a more powered up rig than optimal for the conditions proved to be and as my back and shoulder muscles are reminding me today. I am using the old kick-up rudder this year while the better balanced fixed rudder is a being repaired and re-faired.
Crew: Brian, Seth, Megan & RW
Course: s/f to Vixen to s/f, one lap Total distance: 3.0 nm
Winds: W (avg 275 dg), 4 to 16 kts (avg 10) Average Boat speed: 4.1 kts
Current: flood 13:30 Ram Island Barometer 29.61″ Temp: 81 F
The forecast was for wind in the mid-teens and gusts to 20. Yet on the motor out to the old Groton Long Point starting area, I began to question whether cinching up the shrouds to their medium setting and reeving the first reef had been necessary.
Crew: Brian, Seth, Bob & RW
Course: s/f to W, 2 laps Total distance: #.# nm
Winds: SWW (avg 195 dg), 4 to 6 kts (avg 4.7) Average Boat speed: 2.0 kts
Barometer: 29.91, Temp: 81 F
Current: ebb 13:12 Ram Island
With such a dismal performance, I write this with little enthusiasm. With the prospect for wind meager, the RC wisely chose West Harbor, the last resort for wind.
Crew: Brian, Bob & RW
Course: s/f to North Hill R’2′ s/f, one lap Total distance: 2.7 nm
Winds: SSW (avg 205 dg), 4 to 7 kts (avg 6.2) Average Boat speed: 2.8 kts
Current: flood 13:58 Ram Island
Sailing again with a crew of three (Seth & Megan on their honeymoon), Brian thankfully back from Alaska, we motored out towards the GLP starting area with two hours remaining of the flood.