Hello Members,
Saturday we were treated to a physics lesson on the upper Chesapeake Bay.
With winds in the 15 to 20 knot range from the northeast/north we were out sailing our new-to-us Caliber 28 to see how we sould handle her in those conditions. Down the Bohemia was a close hauled sail. Since we are new to this boat we eased the sails a bit rather than push the issue. Once we moved into the Elk River we eased the sails more to a close reach. With the GPS showing 5.8 to 7.2 at various times we were feeling pretty happy with the performance of our boat! A few gusts gave us cause to head up or ease the sheets now and then.
As we headed toward Turkey Point we saw an O'Day Daysailer heading up the Elk along the eastern shore in front of Crystal Beach. Two people aboard and FLYING! We could tell the people aboard were proficient sailors because that boat traveled fairly flat as they hiked out to windward.
We sailed as far down the Elk as Chesapeake Isles and then turned back putting us on a beam reach with wind from the port side. (Now, I'll admit that the tide was coming in.) Once we had the sails set the boat picked up speed and the GPS read consistantly in the mid to upper 7s and we saw 8.2 several times! Wow, were we ever moving!
Glancing toward the eastern shore we saw that Daysailer coming toward us across the channel. He was in our forward, starboard quadrant so I began to think about the appropriate way to change my course to allow him to pass unobstructed. Before I made a move (and while he was a over 200 yds away) he turned in what appeared to be a move to pass aft of us. That was NOT his intent. He turned again and paralleled our course up the Elk. The crew, an adult on the rail handling the mainsheet and a teenaged boy on the tiller, clearly wanted to race!
They started their attack from about 50 yds astern and literally "blew our doors off"!
That crew knew what they were about as they handled that small O'Day with precision in the wind. Even as they went through our disturbed air they kept the boat moving well and planing over the surface. The young person at the helm will remember that day for a long time. His dad (uncle, brother, friend) taught him well.
Our hats are off to those two sailors for a great demonstration of sailing ability. We regret that we did not have a camera to record their skill. I'm sure they will be telling that story many times..... "Yah, we went past that big boat like it was sitting still!" Really, as I mentioned above we were in the mid to upper 7 knot range most of the time.
Best Wishes, Phil
Saturday we were treated to a physics lesson on the upper Chesapeake Bay.
With winds in the 15 to 20 knot range from the northeast/north we were out sailing our new-to-us Caliber 28 to see how we sould handle her in those conditions. Down the Bohemia was a close hauled sail. Since we are new to this boat we eased the sails a bit rather than push the issue. Once we moved into the Elk River we eased the sails more to a close reach. With the GPS showing 5.8 to 7.2 at various times we were feeling pretty happy with the performance of our boat! A few gusts gave us cause to head up or ease the sheets now and then.
As we headed toward Turkey Point we saw an O'Day Daysailer heading up the Elk along the eastern shore in front of Crystal Beach. Two people aboard and FLYING! We could tell the people aboard were proficient sailors because that boat traveled fairly flat as they hiked out to windward.
We sailed as far down the Elk as Chesapeake Isles and then turned back putting us on a beam reach with wind from the port side. (Now, I'll admit that the tide was coming in.) Once we had the sails set the boat picked up speed and the GPS read consistantly in the mid to upper 7s and we saw 8.2 several times! Wow, were we ever moving!
Glancing toward the eastern shore we saw that Daysailer coming toward us across the channel. He was in our forward, starboard quadrant so I began to think about the appropriate way to change my course to allow him to pass unobstructed. Before I made a move (and while he was a over 200 yds away) he turned in what appeared to be a move to pass aft of us. That was NOT his intent. He turned again and paralleled our course up the Elk. The crew, an adult on the rail handling the mainsheet and a teenaged boy on the tiller, clearly wanted to race!
They started their attack from about 50 yds astern and literally "blew our doors off"!
That crew knew what they were about as they handled that small O'Day with precision in the wind. Even as they went through our disturbed air they kept the boat moving well and planing over the surface. The young person at the helm will remember that day for a long time. His dad (uncle, brother, friend) taught him well. Our hats are off to those two sailors for a great demonstration of sailing ability. We regret that we did not have a camera to record their skill. I'm sure they will be telling that story many times..... "Yah, we went past that big boat like it was sitting still!" Really, as I mentioned above we were in the mid to upper 7 knot range most of the time.
Best Wishes, Phil
