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2004 Sailing Digest
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This is a new feature for 2004. On
this page, I will detail, to an extent, a sort of daily vessel log,
including brief outings, maintenance, and short sailing
descriptions. I intend this to be a way to keep track of my
sailing and maintenance days, in a format that will be easy to maintain
and read. From time to time, as conditions dictate, I will
continue to post more detailed sailing and cruising logs, but I thought
it would be interesting for you--and me--to see, come the end of the
season, how many days I made it out to the boat, and what I did on those
days. We'll see how it all goes! All times listed in the
entries are approximate.
Newest
entries are at the top of the page. Refresh this page to ensure
that you receive the newest information.
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Click here to go to the beginning of
the 2004 digest in May, 2004, and work your way forward; each month's
entries are located on a separate page. You can click on the links
just below to go directly to any month's page.
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May
2004 Digest | June 2004 Digest | July 2004 Digest
| August 2004
Digest | September-October 2004 Digest
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Continue with September Entries. Click
here.
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August 28, 2004 | Sailing Attempt
Heidi was away for the weekend, so I invited my sister out for a
sail. We grabbed some sandwiches and headed to the boat on a hot,
hazy August afternoon, but there was no wind at all--anywhere that we
could see--so we didn't rush through lunch. Unfortunately, no wind
picked up during the afternoon, so we never left the mooring. Still,
it's always nice to be out!
On board: 1215-1530
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August 26, 2004 | Sail
After a rapid early-morning trek 179 miles each way to Putnam, CT and back
to pick up my new
boom at Metalmast, I decided to try going sailing. It was a
beautiful day, and there was a nice breeze when I got there. On the
mooring, it was about 15 knots or so, and since it was late morning, I
figured that discretion was the better part of valor, so I tucked one reef
in the main, as I expected that the wind might pick up a bit more while I
was out.
Right outside Clapboard Island, the wind was howling, however: a
solid 22-25 knots true (30 apparent). Waves crashed over the boat,
drenching everything aft to amidships. Nonetheless, I decided to
continue, as the boat was fairly comfortable with the reef--I was so happy
I had put it in early, rather than thinking it would be OK and then having
to be faced with putting it in while the boat surged through the
chop.. As it happened, the wind settled down a little bit over the
next hour or to, back to about 20-22 knots true--still plenty of
wind. The boat was screaming along at 5.5-6.3 knots upwind
(including whatever current there was). It took me no time to
run an 8.43 mile course that often takes three hours, and I sailed back to
the mooring, after seriously considering dropping the sail outside the
anchorage. Even on the mooring, the wind was a steady 18-22 knots
when I returned.
On board: 1045-1400
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August 25, 2004 | Shoreside Boat Check
Tragically, I've been busy catching up on everything this week; it killed
me, as today was gorgeous and perfect in all ways. I mean, it's not
like I just stepped off the boat after four weeks of cruising or
anything. Oh, wait: yes, I did. Never mind...
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August 23, 2004 | Unloading and Cleanup
 After
a couple days at home to get reacquainted with real life and the backlog
of mail, email, and chores, I headed to the boat early in the morning to
bring her into the dock so that I could unload the now-unneeded cruising
gear, dirty laundry, etc., and give the boat a much-needed (and deserved)
washdown and, as it were, refit following the cruise. I arrived at
the boat just after 0600, rowing out in the PYC dinghy. Our dinghy,
which we had left astern, was half full of water from heavy rain last
Saturday, the day after we returned from cruising. (See why we came
home Friday?)
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the next six hours, I unloaded, reorganized, and then thoroughly cleaned
the whole boat, inside and out. It was nice to see her decks clear
of jerry jugs, and to see interior and exterior shine once more.
Reluctantly, I departed at about noon, as I had so many chores and the
like with which to catch up.
I thought it might be interesting to show a
photo of the anchorage in Falmouth Foreside, where I keep the boat.
This is the view from the top of the long pier at PYC, looking out over a
small portion of the anchorage towards Clapboard Island. There
are 1300 moorings here; this view shows about 1/4 of the total anchorage,
which expands for some distance in both directions out of frame.
On board: 0600-1200
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July 23, 2004 - August 20, 2004 | 2004 Maine
Cruise
Full log posted.
Click
here to read it.
On board: 1000 (7/24/04) - 1800
(8/20/04)
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