Holiday cruising stories

sailingdog · May 25, 2009

Mine went really well. I did a sailboat delivery from Annapolis to Marion, Mass. The only problem we ran into was a small short in the stern light. Weather was pretty good, since we decided to go straight from Cape May to Block Island, instead of going up through NYC and Long Island Sound, which got hammered by thunderstorms about the time we would have been there.

Tim R. · May 26, 2009

We had a great weekend. Nice sailing Friday night out to Jewel island. More great sailing on Saturday to Orrs Island. Sunday it rained with little or no wind so we motored to the gosslings where we met up with MainSail but mid afternoon the skies cleared and Monday offered us perfect weather for sailing home. No problems on the boat and our new main sail performed nicely.

We anchored the first night using our new ground tackle. 35# Mansen Supreme, 50ft. 5/16" G40 chain, 200ft. 1/2" nylon 3 strand. The anchor held like a 500lb mushroom and pulled up a hefty piece of Maine real estate

. I had to spend about 3 minutes with a hose to break all the mud off. And this is considered a challenging anchorage although I have never had a problem with any of my Bruces or Mansens.

Next up, first wed. night race of the season tomorrow night. Forecast is for 10-15kts, rain and 48°.

DannyS · May 26, 2009

We had a great weekend with a little sailing. Since we just splashed the boat the prior weekend, we spent Sunday putting the boat back together from a LONG winter layup. Saturday we splashed my sister-in-laws trailer sailor (Catalina 22). The weather both of those days was perfect, sunny and high 60's to mid-70's. Then, Memorial Day, the day we wanted to get out to sail, weather forcast was for (spoken in my best monotone computerized weatherman voice) "variable winds around Lake Superior to 10 knots". We left the marina and decided just to motor into the wind a while and jib sail back. My true intention was just to motor out somewhere to try out my new Manson Supreme! WOW, I love that anchor! Anyway, the variable wind to 10 knots turned into a 20-25 knot screamer out of the NE. We were flying along and having fun until we tried rolling up the jib. It's always been troublesome but especially so in bigger wind. We had to sail past our marina to get some protection to roll her up with less wind. Finally, got her in but now we had to get back into our slip with the full force of the wind blowing us off our finger pier. My wife usually brings us into the marina and this day she was not going to be denied. The long winter had me rusty with some of my skills, but she NAILED the landing in some of the worst conditions we've had. She rocked it!
A look up the mast with the binocs showed a little bit of halyard wrap, so it looks like a project and a trip up the mast are in order.

Ron20324 · May 26, 2009

My sailing club- Singles on Sailboats- tried a 35-boat raft in the Rhode River just south of Annapolis Saturday night. It was a little too windy to do it safely, so anchored in pods of 3 to 5 boats. Sunday night in San Domingo Creek at the back door to St Michaels. We are presently holed up in Mears Marina in Oxford, MD, while the wind is blowing 30 to 35 at 0800. We'll be sailing until a Saturday Parrothead Party in the Wye then back home on Sunday. Looked for Ross,but he must be home by now.

biggio · May 26, 2009

Sailed Sunday in Lake Ponchatrain. The winds got up to about 10 kts and we were having a great time. All the sudden the boat just stopped. Sails were full, wind was still constaint and we were in 20 ft of water.
It took me about a minute to conclude we have snag something. Time to drop the sails (no Furling). I droped the swim ladder and wished I had bought a swim mask already.
My #3 son who just returned home from the Southland Conference baseball tourney in Corpus Christi the day before. He was named to the all tourney team as a DH:dance: wanted to go in and unsnagg us. There were 3 floats snagged on the prop.
We get underway again.

Heading back to the slip (thru a narrow bayou) I'm making my last turn and hear crash with bumps (thought I had hit a submerged log or grounded). The debris from the cypress tree started raining down on the boat. Thankfully there was no damage to the mast or rigging.
That is the first time that tree ever came into play comming in or going out.

I am securing for the day and had sent the family home but had enough time for one more foul up. I pulled my jib halyard up the mast without attaching it to the jib bag.
After a half hour I was able to snag the halyard and pull it down.

But all in all in was a great outing.

Ron20324 · May 26, 2009

sailingdog said:
Mine went really well. I did a sailboat delivery from Annapolis to Marion, Mass. quote]

SD, was that a new Telstar from the Annapolis manufacturing place? I believe it's right across the creek from my marina.

Brian Schwerdt · May 26, 2009

My wife, son and I had an incredible day sail yesterday on Oneida. With plenty of wind to go around, I was surprised and disappointed at how few boats were on the lake. We practically had the whole thing to ourselves, save for a fishing boat here and there, and an occasional power boat pounding through the chop.

sailingdog · May 26, 2009

No, we were delivering a Gemini catamaran, not a Telstar. Four of us would have been a tight fit on a Telstar.

Ron20324 said:
sailingdog said:

Mine went really well. I did a sailboat delivery from Annapolis to Marion, Mass.

Click to expand

SD, was that a new Telstar from the Annapolis manufacturing place? I believe it's right across the creek from my marina.

sailingdog · May 26, 2009

Tim—

I'd highly recommend going up to 5/8" line on the anchor. The 1/2" is way too light for a boat the size of yours, and is a gross mismatch with the 5/16" G40 chain.

Tim R. said:
We had a great weekend. Nice sailing Friday night out to Jewel island. More great sailing on Saturday to Orrs Island. Sunday it rained with little or no wind so we motored to the gosslings where we met up with MainSail but mid afternoon the skies cleared and Monday offered us perfect weather for sailing home. No problems on the boat and our new main sail performed nicely.

We anchored the first night using our new ground tackle. 35# Mansen Supreme, 50ft. 5/16" G40 chain, 200ft. 1/2" nylon 3 strand. The anchor held like a 500lb mushroom and pulled up a hefty piece of Maine real estate. I had to spend about 3 minutes with a hose to break all the mud off. And this is considered a challenging anchorage although I have never had a problem with any of my Bruces or Mansens.

Next up, first wed. night race of the season tomorrow night. Forecast is for 10-15kts, rain and 48°.

Tim R. · May 26, 2009

sailingdog said:
Tim—

I'd highly recommend going up to 5/8" line on the anchor. The 1/2" is way too light for a boat the size of yours, and is a gross mismatch with the 5/16" G40 chain.

Thanks for the heads up Dog. I should have stated that not all the ground tackle is new. the 1/2" 3 strand is left over from the previous owner. I also have some 5/8" 3 strand but for the type of anchoring I do, the 1/2" is sufficient. I bought the larger chain mainly for weight.

I keep the 5/8" on board if needed.

Salty · May 26, 2009

It's nice to see a lot of folks had fun sailing this week End because it was a beautiful weekend. Mine didn't go too well. My brother and I were leaving the mooring far a great sail when mooring lines got fouled on the prop (Story posted "Foul Prop"). Other that, the weekend was great.

sailingdog · May 26, 2009

I'd point out that you want the thicker rode on the good anchor... and if you're in the midst of heavy weather, switching rodes isn't an option. I also recommend octo-plait over three-strand, though I use both. The octo-plait doesn't hockle or kink as easily and stows more compactly.

Tim R. said:
Thanks for the heads up Dog. I should have stated that not all the ground tackle is new. the 1/2" 3 strand is left over from the previous owner. I also have some 5/8" 3 strand but for the type of anchoring I do, the 1/2" is sufficient. I bought the larger chain mainly for weight.

I keep the 5/8" on board if needed.

Calif. Ted · May 26, 2009

Decided to skip the weekend, sailed Thursday & Friday, early Saturday morning snuck up to the "fortress of solitude" hidden in a box canyon at 6000'. Today it's back to the boat, load with ice and off to Catalina. Thursday is "Taste of Avalon" to kick off the "Flying Fish Festival" now if the sun would just make an appearance thru' the haze.:dance:

Sailnchk · May 26, 2009

Wonderful weekend of sailing and friends

We left the dock on Saturday morning and had a great 5 hour sail up the Neuse River. Averaged 6.5 most of the way on one tack. We got up to South River around 5:00 and three of our friend's boats were already there. Rafted up for drinks and snacks until dusk and then unrafted for the night. The next day we had a fantastic breakfast and spent the whole day doing small projects while we were on the hook. We had dinner with some friends on their boat and a rousing game of dominoes until bedtime.
Monday morning we slipped out of South River at 7:00 am. Motored for a little while until the wind graced us and then had a leisurely sail back to New Bern.
Life is good!

Clark · May 26, 2009

Ours was a bust. Clouds, gusty winds, showers, heavy rain, thunderstorms off/on since Friday.

Maybe next weekend.

Stu Jackson · May 26, 2009

Anchor System

Tim & Dawg - The potential "mismatch" of the 5/16 chain and 1/2 inch rode is not an issue IF the anchor SYSTEM is designed and taken into account. We've written many times about how a SYSTEM is required, based on boat size, type, freeboard and most important, anticipated wind strength. Up to you, your boat, your choice.

As far as this weekend was for us, while the weather was truly cold and miserable, we went out on the boat for just the second time since I broke my leg in January, and the first time we had a sail (yup, you guessed it, only the jib!) up. Wonderful seeing the Master Mariners Race at the turning mark at Blossom Rock (starboard tack gybe to broad reach turning mark) and the finish line east of Treasure Island.

The light su*ked for photos, but the scenes with the "old woodies" were wonderful, winds between 15 to 20, topsails galore. It was great.

Next steps for me: 1) getting BOTH sails up and 2) anchoring.

I can't wait. It's great to be back out there.

Mike P16616 · May 26, 2009

My weekend was a mixed bag, Saturday the breeze came in during the afternoon on Smith Mountain Lake, Nice sailing, Sunday, showers, cleaned the boat, Monday more showers. Headed home.

moparv104x4 · May 26, 2009

Just Work

My weekend was all work and no play. Due to the wet and cold spring we have had here in Michigan I am still making fiberglass repairs to the bottom of my Islander B30. After final sanding we need to put on the barrier coat and the bottom paint. I also spent some fun time replacing the fuel lines to my Volvo diesel and bleeding the fuel system. I am also almost done installing a strainer in the raw water pickup for cooling my engine so it doesn’t get plugged with little critters like last year. We are also in the process of getting the oxidation off the hull and putting a shine back on the old girl and resealing a leaking window. I would like to think she will be in the water in two weeks but with the boat two hours from home unless I take some time off work to get the repair work done it will be more like three weeks unless the weather gets me again.

Ross · May 26, 2009

We left Perryville on May 12 and sort of sailed with the tide. We motorsailed tuesday and stayed at Warton Creek. Anchoring was easy in a flat calm. The next morning we didn't hoist a sail and motored in a flat calm to Rock Hall. At Rock Hall the forecast was for winds 20-30 knots with rain. The forecast held with wind from the south. About noon we discovered that we REALLY needed a pumpout. So with Nancy at the helm and me on the foredeck I shipped the anchor and we went to Graditude for the pumpout. That dock is set north-south so I just eased into place and we picked up the lines. When we left we just untied and were blown out into open water and went back to our anchorage. Friday we woke to a flat calm and fog so we motored to Kent Narrows and from there to Wye River. Saturday we decided to sail up river in winds of 5-8 and were doing great for the first couple of miles and the wind strengthened. The Wye is crooked and the bottom is very lumpy and hard. (I know it is hard! we bumped it a couple of times) So back to our anchorage. Had lunch and a nice supper, played scrabble and went to bed. Woke up Sunday morning to heavy rain. Book reading time. Monday was a little better but we didn't need to be anywhere else so we stayed until Tuesday and motored in almost no wind to St. Micheals for a pumpout. The wind improved a little so I hoisted the main to stablize the boat against the powerboat wakes and we proceeded to Rock Hall. Without the engine I could sail at between 2 and 3 knots according to GPS. Nancy wanted to be anchored that night so we motor sailed. Wednesday the wind was good and we sailed to Still Pond and anchored in the cove on the south side in completely calm winds. Thursday we headed for home with south winds at 10-12 and an ebb tide. That was the toughest steering that I can remember. The waves were steep and short. We were back in our slip by mid afternoon and enjoyed the rest of the day and night. We came home Friday afternoon and avoided the world for the weekend.

Holiday cruising stories

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